Shimano Ultegra Di2 on this complete Cervélo R3 makes this the everyman pro racing bike. Both the components and the frame have seen action at the World Tour level. Both are priced well below that pay grade. When you get on the bike and ride, you could be hard-pressed to notice any difference.
 
The R3 frameset, in its previous iteration, was used at Paris-Roubaix, as recently as 2013. This version is a step up from that one. Thanks to the RCA, the same technology has been applied to this frame. You've got the tapered steerer going from 1 1/8" at the top to 1 3/8" below. That alone makes the head tube 24% stiffer, which is hugely important for the lateral plane—think sprinting out of the saddle and cornering. You'll need less energy to turn the bars and less to hold them straight. The bottom bracket, highlighted by the BBright standard is 8% stiffer for more forward force from the same legs. The tubing, if it's right to call them that, is Squoval 3, a more aerodynamic iteration of the Squoval 2 of the previous R3, which will save seven watts. And while it looks as if the R3 has been designed for electronic shifting, it actually has internal routing for both electronic and mechanical shifting as well as electronic and hydraulic braking. All you have to do is change the plugs to stops and the ports to plugs.
 
Shimano's Ultegra Di2 6870 eleven-speed shifting is great—and is also race at the World Tour, albeit a bit under the radar. Small hoods, light touch buttons, and long life on a charge. It's mated to an eleven-speed 11-25 cassette and Rotor's 3DF BBright 52/36 semi-compact crankset with a beefy 30mm thru-axle for even greater drive train efficiency. The crank offers up both a huge big gear and a small low gear and twenty steps in between.
 
Finding a Cervélo that fits has gotten easier. While they follow a modern convention by using top tube size as the name, they really focus on other dimensions, which can be quantified by stack and reach numbers, to get a more precise sense of how to fit a Cervélo. This way, it's easier to figure out what size, as each size is longer and taller than the previous.
 
Rounding out the bike are the Fulcrum Racing 5.5 wheels. They benefit from similar thinking about design, from the oversize hubs for stiffness, asymmetric rim profile in the back for balancing out spoke tension, and from differential rim heights to balance the needs of front and rear wheels.
 
The Cervélo R3 Ultegra Di2 Bike is a pro bike for everyday riders.

 

 

    FrameSquoval Carbon Tube Shapes
    ForkCervélo FK32
    HEADSETFSA IS2 1-1/8 x 1-3/8"
    SeatpostFSA SLK
    Front DerailleurShimano Ultegra Di2 6870 11spd
    Rear DerailleurShimano Ultegra Di2 6870 11spd
    CranksetRotor 3DF BBright™ 52/36
    Bottom BraketBBright™ PF-30
    Brake CalipersShimano Ultegra 6800
    SHIFTER / BRAKE LEVERSShimano Ultegra Di2 6870 11spd
    CassetteShimano Ultegra 6800 11spd 11-25
    ChainShimano Ultegra 6800 11spd
    WheelsFulcrum Racing 5.5
    HandlebarsFSA Energy Compact
    StemFSA SLK
    Saddlefi’zi:k Antares
    TiresVittoria Diamante Pro Light 220 tpi 700x23c