Cervelo or Lightspeed? Carbon or Titanium?

Joe Incardona has taken a fancy to either the R3, the RS from Cervelo or the Ghisallo from Lightspeed. This comes down to Carbon verses Titanium which we have looked at many times before. He has also listed his component choice, so we discuss that too

Question: I am an avid recreational roadie. I am interested in choosing between two frames for my next bike build.

I am comparing the Cervelo R3 or RS to a 2008 Lightspeed Ghisallo frame.
I will outfit the frame with carbon tubulars, durace gruppo, FSA compact carbon crank, FSA carbon cockpit, Alpha Q GS10 fork.

I love both frames and am leaning towards the Ghisallo. The Ghisallo is approximately 600-800 more. Why go TI over Cervelo carbon?

Hi Joe,

You ask "Why go Ti over Cervelo carbon?" Well, we don't think you should. Titanium is a nice material for bike building, its light and will last a life time, but the draw backs out weight its advantages. Many people who I have talked to who own or have owned Titanium frame all say the same, its comfortable, but feels soft and a bit dead. This is great for long rides or on rough surfaces as the frame will take the shocks. The disadvantage with this is that you don't get a stiff, solid performance, unlike the ride you get from Carbon. Some say that a carbon frame gives a harsh ride, this maybe true, but it gives you the performance you want from an expensive bike.

Carbon does take the rough with the smooth as the weave of the carbon is so manufactured to be stiff in the direction you need it and pliable when you need some comfort. So our advice is to go for either of the Cervelo's, forget the Lightspeed unless you want comfort over solid performance.

Now as to your choice of components we like all of them, Shimano Dura-Ace group set, FSA Compact Carbon chain set and carbon wheels with tubulars, but which handle bars are you thinking of? You say you want the FSA carbon cockpit, I hope this doesn't mean that you are considering the FSA Wing road bar? These bars are comfortable, especially with your hands on the flat section at top of the bars, the problem is where the cable goes through the bar, it can be tricky to replace the outer cable as the holes are quite small and it can be fiddly. As you are using Shimano it's not as bad as the gear cable is exposed, but for Campagnolo the gear cable has to bend at an acute angle to enter the bar, which is not great for shifting and a big job to replace, which you need to regularly as the outer gets twisted. This is not only an FSA Wing problem as Cinelli RAM is similar, but you want Shimano so if you want FSA Wing go for it.

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