I know I’m gonna catch sh*t for this : If they both fit, and if after 25-30 miles on either you feel just as good, get the one that you like to look at more and you think is ‘cooler’.
I LITERALLY went though this decision in the past 7 days. I was initially looking at the P2C, but I could not stop staring at the P3C. I wasn’t as ‘attracted’ by the P3 alloy of last year, but the carbon version is something else alltogether (IMO). I didn’t want to impulse shop, so I left the bike shop. In the next two days I rode a Kalibur and the Plasma LTD. After 5 miles (of 25) the Kalibur was out of the question for very non-specific reasons. The Plasma was a darn nice ride, very nice indeed. But when it came down to the hair splitting of the actual decision it came down to these factors:
It is easier to get into my ‘perfect’ position on the P3C. It’s simply a more adjustable bike. I can go way up or way down on the fork to test position vs. power vs. comfort. Same with the saddle position and seat tube angle.
I prefer the dropouts, and adjustability, of the P3C. The dropouts of the Scott are 90% what the dropouts of the P3C are, but heck, when I’m spending this much $$$$ I want the other 10% too.
Believe me, a good part of me didn’t want to be a ‘cervelo sheep’ as someone posted earlier. But the fact remained, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. The Scott was easy one the eyes too, but it did leave my mind a bit easier.
Either of these bikes are 300% more bike than I’ll ever need. Heck, last year’s QR Kilo is more bike thank I’ll need. Making the comparison between these two bikes is like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamorghini. They’re both outrageously nice. Each has it’s own merits. What it comes down to really (assuming you can fit both), is which one do you simply like more? My decision given the last example would have been picking one car over the other because I thought the seatbelt was nicer in one than the other. Fortunately we’re in the position that other people would wish to have such problems (that didn’t make sense, but you know what I mean). In the end: You’re the one driving, not all us other fools.