After several years of racing on a road bike with aero bars, and finally finishing grad school, I’m looking to purchase my first tri bike. I’ve done a bunch of lurking and reading on this forum and I understand that fit is everything and the better bike will be the one that fits best. That being said, if both bikes fit well which would be the better way to go?
Both bikes are considered entry-level and the same price with full or mixed 105 components, exposed front brakes, and wheels/other parts that will probably need to be replaced down the line. Cervelo has a proven history of excellent aerodynamics and probably a bit easier to work on. BMC has rear storage but difficult to wrench due to the rear brake, which can also make wheel and brake pad swaps difficult. Both owner’s threads are filled with happy owners as well.
Is there anything else I’m missing that separates the two other than the Cervelo’s ease of wrenching (and better aerodynamics) and the BMC’s rear storage? Would the aerodynamic advantage change by adding some type of aftermarket storage to the Cervelo vs the integrated BMC storage? I tried searching but no results seem to compare the redesigned BMCs that have rear storage.
Tmo2 is the better buy for sure. I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t more aerodynamic than the p2 in the first place, and after factoring in storage, even more so.
I wouldn’t necessarily say the P2 is more aero. The P2 has a more expensive pad/extension clamp, but unfortunately it limits adjustability. The BMC has the bar with independent pad clamps which is a plus IMO. I like the M-long of the BMC if you are 6’ or so. It’s long-low for modern tri bike, and you can get a riser kit for the bars if you want more height.
EDIT: I was wondering because when I looked up TM02 on the BMC site it had Ultegra and was more expensive. So:
I wouldn’t necessarily say the P2 is more aero. The P2 has a more expensive pad/extension clamp, but unfortunately it limits adjustability. The BMC has the bar with independent pad clamps which is a plus IMO. I like the M-long of the BMC if you are 6’ or so. It’s long-low for modern tri bike, and you can get a riser kit for the bars if you want more height.
Cockpit/basebar is something I assume I would end up upgrading down the line.
If you want to optimize your position it will be an evolving process. So much better if you have a setup that is conducive to experimentation… whether you do it on your own or at ERO or a wind tunnel.
The basebar could be improved. I looked at these recently and the Pro alloy basebar looks like a good design and price.
Have you had an opportunity to ride them both? I’ve had a fit customers ride both and report back that they ride very differently. If you can get an opportunity to ride them, that might be worth it.
I’ve had a fit customers ride both and report back that they ride very differently.
Details? Did you have coordinates set up exactly the same on both? Tires pumped to the same pressure? Saddles are very different, how did you account for that?
I’m assuming that he’s at least partially referring to handling. the BMC has a slacker head angle than the P2, and weight distribution will be different…
The BMC does have a slacker head angle, which probably translates to better high speed stability. But weight distribution would be basically the same if the sizes are similar.
The BMC does have a slacker head angle, which probably translates to better high speed stability. But weight distribution would be basically the same if the sizes are similar.
I’ve had a fit customers ride both and report back that they ride very differently.
Details? Did you have coordinates set up exactly the same on both? Tires pumped to the same pressure? Saddles are very different, how did you account for that?
I didn’t really intend to get too detailed with my post, as to not sway the OP’s perception of either bike regarding any specific characteristic. The reason for my post was simply to suggest to the OP that a test ride might make a difference in their choice. As a fitter, I often get asked about stuff like “would you prefer X over Y” and that’s a really difficult question to answer because a) I haven’t ridden every bike out there, and b) what feels good to me might not feel good to someone else.
Rear centers are only 3mm apart, so if you are comparing 2 frames with similar front-center then weight distribution will be the same.
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of course they will be. my point is that they don’t have the same front centres through the size run.
Weight distribution differences generally have a trivial effect on anything anyway.
Disagree. It’s fresh in my mind, cuz I just switched from a 51cm P2SL to a 54cm P2K (identical position on both), and the 54 is much more stable. Didn’t matter too much on straight/flat roads, but once some corners or descents enter the picture, it’s a massive difference.
The reason for my post was simply to suggest to the OP that a test ride might make a difference in their choice.
But unless you are comparing two bikes that are set up with the same fit coordinates, same saddle, same tires, same pressure, then you can’t tell if “they ride very differently”. The only chance of being able to do an honest comparison is if you go to a dealer that sells both and they take the time to set the bikes up identically. It would certainly be nice, but how often does that happen?
The reason for my post was simply to suggest to the OP that a test ride might make a difference in their choice.
But unless you are comparing two bikes that are set up with the same fit coordinates, same saddle, same tires, same pressure, then you can’t tell if “they ride very differently”. The only chance of being able to do an honest comparison is if you go to a dealer that sells both and they take the time to set the bikes up identically. It would certainly be nice, but how often does that happen?
this I do agree with. I’ve bought all my bikes on “spec” (except my full squish mountain bike, since I wanted to see how the suspension reacted to pedaling). Once I have it set up for my position on the bike, they all feel pretty much the same other than handling.
The basebar could be improved. I looked at these recently and the Pro alloy basebar looks like a good design and price.
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll have to look into it more. Any thoughts or opinions on Tririg? I know they usually get a lot of love around here.
