Fit aside, are there any good comparisons between the Cervelo P3 Carbon, Felt DA and 2008 Specialized Transition? I’m looking at test riding these out over the next couple of months, however I was hoping to find some technical and real world user information prior.
Which frame would provide greater stiffness and transfer of power for a larger rider?
Is the 2008 Transition even available yet? (You mentioned test riding in the next couple of months, and I didn’t think it’d be out by then.)
Steve
The Specialized Transition is due to be out in mid December or early January. We have all models including S-Works coming in then.
Robert
wait until next year, lol…Giant is coming out with a new tt frame…the rep said “one word…integrated”…that’s all he’d tell us…
Is the 2008 Transition even available yet? (You mentioned test riding in the next couple of months, and I didn’t think it’d be out by then.)
Steve
Don’t forget about the new Kuota Kueen-K.
I’ve been told that the Specialized is due December/January…placing a deposit would help. Although, I’m a little hesitant on placing a deposit on a frame that I can’t test out just yet.
Is there any data available for the frames (i.e. Cervelo, Felt, etc.) ability to transfer power, efficiency, stiffness, etc. to be found? If not how does the characteristics between the P3 Carbon and DA differ?
I’ve seen the Specialized Trans up close and it’s got a lot of “funk” to it - the kinds of things that will either make it brilliant or a nightmare: breaks tucked and hidden, internal upon internal cable routing, and gadgetry associated with those elements that only Maxwell Smart could dream of. I would let that bike go for a year and watch and listen - the P3C and DA are fairly proven and working very well.
Ian
Let’s suppose for arguments sake we throw out the P3, just 'cuz everyone’s already got one, and it’s nice to have something a little bit unique. Then what would you choose? Including these and other brands is fine. ie., Orbea, Elite, Guru, Trek etc.
I like some of the bikes you named. I think it would be good to now consider the new Jamis. It’s time for full disclosure - I’m going to tout steep bikes (77ish degrees) and short top tubes. Jamis had a steep bike at the show so they get all new props in my eyes. What else…oh yeah - I’m all about the under dogs for Trek and Cannondale just won’t make my list (even if they built a bike with the geometry I like) because…well…they are Trek and Cannondale.
I saw a sexy Velo Vie at the Hermosa Beach Triathlon on Sunday. It was ridden (very well) by teen Corey Farrell. He won the overall. The bike is 76degrees and the top tube seems long so while it was purdy it probably won’t get the nod.
Ian
What do you like best for long legs medium to short torso and limited flexibility climbing challenged?
A prefit with me on my Waterford Fitmaster in my garage then about 20 minutes of web searching to compare the numbers off the prefit to the bikes that are out there in the world today. Not a satisfying answer but its the complete one.
Ian
I would let that bike go for a year and watch and listen - the P3C and DA are fairly proven and working very well.
I saw the bike up close and it seemed straight forward to maintain. The seatpost on the P2C/P3C can be a pain–as specially if you’ve got the seat far forward in the rails.
Dan, I think I know of what it is you speak. There have been some issues with the seat clamp slipping a bit and there by tilting the seat up or down depending on where the pressure is - if it’s way forward on the rails then you’re probably speaking of a down tip. There was a posting here recently about how much torque to put on the clamp so that those groves can “bite” into the carbon post hole.
I ride a P2C and had that happen just last Sunday at the Hermosa Beach sprint. I’ve put a ton of mileage in the last 2 years on this bike - much of it “tipping the saddle” and this is the first time it’s happenend to me - but I’ve heard it be an issue for others. And, let me say, it’s not the oly issue with the P2 and P3 Cs - the drop out screws (that determine the tuck of the rear wheel) - BLOW!!!
This is kinda my point here. The new, super sexy TT bikes are all so “cutting edge” that there are issues - not many and not too serious but I wanna wait and observe what the user experience of the Specialized bike is for a while before I judge. Of all the Felts I’ve fit there haven’t been any problems there that I’ve seen, but I can tell you that building up a Transition looks hellish to me.
Ian
Just ordered the Transition on our team order and did not hear there would be any delays in shipping - only a wait for SL2s. We’ll see how that goes. I’ll let you guys know how the ride works out. The only report I’ve heard so far is from a guy who won Nationals on it and was 6th at worlds - he likes it a lot.
I have tried the Spé Transition Carbon.
The thing I remember the most : the incredible lack of stiffness of the horizontal tube. Otherwise, nice to ride at continuous pace.