by theloper

Scott Foil +'s

Scott Foil -'s

Cervelo S5 VWD +'s

Cervelo S5 VWD -'s

I have been tossing around the idea of building a new bike over the past year. I just really didnt fall in love with anything special last year. So I decieded to wait....and keep riding my current bike (Cervelo slc-sl). I have really enjoyed riding the Cervelo slc-sl. It's fairly stiff, has a decent amount of rear compliance and until recently was the lightest aero rode frame ever made (approx. 980 grams). On top of the fact that I live in south Florida where the roads are flat and straight that beg for an aero bike with deep carbon wheels.I have narrowed my choices down to the following 2.1). Cervelo S5 VWD (avail. 1/12) - msrp - $5,9002). Scott Foil 10 (avail. 10/11) - msrp - $3,000I have a friend that owns a shop that carries both brands. So I have already been told what price I would pay on both frame modules (sorry I cant disclose that info out of respect for the other dealers out there). The bottom line is even at my price I would be paying approx. $2,500 more for the Cervelo. Both frames modules come with the exact same components (frame, fork, seat post & head set). I could almost but 2 Foil modules for what I would pay for 1 Cervelo. I have no dought that the Cervelo is more aero. But the Scott has its upsides as well. Here is the way I broke it down to try and help me make a desision.: lower weight vs. the S5 vwd (840 vs. 990) / stiffer frame vs. the S5 / PRICE! / has 3 color choices vs. Cervelo only having 1 / I beleive the foil will handle cross winds better than the S5.: Less aero vs. the S5 / I know of someone that has test ridden both frames (actually it was the Cervelo S5 team not the VWD). He said the Foil is very stiff and feels much like an Addict. He said over all the Cervelo had a more compfortable ride than the Foil.: More aero vs. the Foil / has more rear compliance vs. the Foil / allows different mounting positions for bottles (including being able to use an aero bottle and cage with no drag penelty like there is with a reg. bottle / BBRIGHT.: PRICE! / 150 grams heavier vs. the Foil / only 1 color choice in the S5 VWD / difficult to control in heavy cross winds.I know I could also go with the Cervelo S5 TEAM (msrp $3,800 for frame module). This uses the same mold as the VWD but has a different lay up. The TEAM S5 frame weighs 1,260 grams!!! Thats 420 grams heavier than a Foil! Even the S5 TEAM is several hundred dollars more than the Foil. That is why I chose the VWD version (competitive weight). I'm not a counter of every single gram but 420 grams is a lot of weight.Regardless of the frame I choose the rest of the build will be basically the same.Group set - Shimano Dura Ace 7900Wheels - Zipp 404 firecrest carbon clinchersBars - Zipp Vuka SprintStem - Zipp Service Course SLSaddle - Fizik Aerione w/carbon railsPedals - Time I-Click titanTires - Schwalbe UltremoBoth are great bikes and I know there is no going wrong here. Is it worth $2,500 more to build the Cervelo with the same spec? If money were no object I would build the Cervelo. Hell if money were no object I would build them both!