Cervelo sticks with a straight 1 1/8in steerer tube on the S3 in order to minimize the bike's frontal area.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Team-issue SRAM Red DoubleTap levers feature a bigger logo than consumer versions to make them stand out more in finish line photos.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo) has thrice finished second in the Tour of California and is hoping to move up that final step this time around.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo) likely has the option to use Shimano's latest carbon-bodied Dura-Ace pedals but doing so would put his bike below the UCI minimum weight.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The SRAM Red rear derailleur is bolted to a replaceable aluminum hanger.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Aero road frames oftentimes carry with them a harsh ride but Cervelo has built some vertical flex into the rear end of the S3.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate's aluminum rear hub allows mechanics to true the wheel if needed.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Derailleur cables are fed into the frame behind the stem, where the air is supposedly already 'dirty'.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo) prefers the flatter profile of fi'zi:k's Antares saddle.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie's (Garmin-Cervelo) fi'zi:k Antares saddle is built with braided carbon fiber rails and a carbon fiber shell.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The sleek Mavic Cosmic Carbone front hub uses an all-carbon shell.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The SRAM Red front derailleur (with pro-option steel cage) is backed up with a Rotor chain catcher.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Lightweight carbon fiber Arundel Mandible cages hold tightly on to Camelbak Podium bottles.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Cervelo S3 down tube stays narrow through most of its length but flares out at the bottom bracket.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rotor's BSA30 cups allow the 30mm-diameter spindle to work in the Cervelo S3's standard threaded bottom bracket shell.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The standard SRAM Red brake calipers are fitted with carbon-specific SwissStop Yellow King pads.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Gore Ride-On Professional System cables are installed on David Zabriskie's (Garmin-Cervelo) Cervelo S3.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cervelo uses aero-profile tubes on just about every section of the S3 that matters but designers were free to leave the chain stays big and fat.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The chain stays on David Zabriskie's (Garmin-Cervelo) Cervelo S3 are as big as some down tubes.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo) has his Garmin Edge 500 computer mounted in a rather different manner than usual.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo) is using a Rotor 3D+ crank with an SRM power measuring spider and Rotor's solid, round outer chainring.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cervelo apparently feels that 3T's Funda Pro fork is a worthy match to its S3 frame aerodynamics-wise.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tubulars with blacked-out logos are mounted on Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Garmin-Cervélo rider David Zabriskie has thrice finished second in the Amgen Tour of California, including the two most recent editions, but is hoping to finally win the event this time around. If all goes according to plan, Zabriskie will do so aboard Cervélo's slippery S3 carbon aero road machine.
Detractors will scoff that little has been done with the S3's shape since its last major redesign in late 2008 (though some spy photos suggest a new version may drop later this year). However, there's little arguing with Cervélo's proven formula: a carbon frame with an airfoil-section down tube, seat tube, head tube, seat stays, and seatpost but with a weight that's only marginally heavier than the company's non-aero R-series machines, all with supposedly similar levels of rear-end comfort, too.
Indeed, actual frame weights hover just slightly on the north side of the 1kg mark and Zabriskie's machine is only just barely UCI-legal at 6.82kg (15.04lb). Some torsional and drivetrain rigidity is undoubtedly sacrificed relative to the R-series with the S3's straight 1 1/8in front end and narrow down tube but it's partially offset by the down tube flare at the bottom bracket, the unusually bulbous chain stays, and Cervélo's so-called 'SmartWall' construction, which places additional plies of carbon fiber on the sides of the tubes.
The build kit is rather straightforward for the most part with SRAM providing its flagship Red DoubleTap levers, brake calipers, and front and rear derailleurs, plus the PC-1091 chain and PG-1070 cassette. Rotor provides its slick 3D+ hollow machined aluminum crank, however, and while the S3 frame uses a standard threaded bottom bracket shell, the 30mm-diameter aluminum spindle still fits thanks to the company's own BSA30 external-bearing cups.
The front end of the bike comes mostly from 3T, including the Funda Team aero-profile carbon fork, ARX Pro forged aluminum stem, and Ergonova Team carbon bar. Even though the Amgen Tour of California roads don't include any cobbles or strade bianche like some of the European races, Zabriskie still prefers to have his bars double-wrapped. Aside from that and a preference for his brakes to be set up "really tight", team mechanics told Cyclingnews that Zabriskie otherwise doesn't have any special requests in terms of equipment.
Rounding out the build is a fi'zi:k Antares saddle with a carbon shell and braided carbon rails, Mavic's versatile Cosmic Carbone Ultimate carbon tubular wheels, Gore Ride-On Professional System derailleur cables and housing, a Garmin Edge 500 computer (unusually mounted directly atop the handlebar clamp), Shimano aluminum-bodied Dura-Ace pedals, and Arundel Mandible carbon fiber cages.
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Complete bike specifications:
Frame: Cervélo S3, 56cm Fork: 3T Funda Team Headset: FSA Orbit integrated Stem: 3T ARX Pro, 11cm x -6° Handlebars: 3T Ergonova Team, 42cm (c-c) Tape/grips: 3T, double wrapped Front brake: SRAM Red w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads Rear brake: SRAM Red w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads Brake levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap Front derailleur: SRAM Red w/ steel cage Rear derailleur: SRAM Red Shift levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap Cassette: SRAM PG-1070, 11-26T Chain: SRAM PC-1091 Crankset: Rotor 3D+, 175mm, 53/39T Bottom bracket: Rotor BSA30 Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL PD-7810 Wheelset: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate Front tire: 22mm tubulars Rear tire: 22mm tubulars Saddle: fi'zi:k Antares w/ braided carbon rails, carbon fiber shell Seat post: Cervélo Aero SL Bottle cages: Arundel Mandible (2) Computer: Garmin Edge 500 Other accessories: Gore Ride-On Professional System derailleur cables and housing, Rotor chain catcher
Critical measurements:
Rider's height: 1.82m (6' 0") Rider's weight: 70kg (154lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 772mm Saddle setback: 93mm Seat tube length, c-t: 525mm Seat tube length, c-c: 480mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 592mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 106mm Head tube length: 160mm Top tube length: 565mm Total bicycle weight: 6.82kg (15.04lb) w/ cages and computer mount
