I am a 5 foot 10 male with a 32 inch inseam I am in the market for a new tri-bike and I listened to everyone on this forum and went to get fitted by a Fist certified & Serotta certified fitter. The fitter put me on a Serotta size cycle and took some measurment and then recommended that I would fit on Cervelo P3C 51 cm. Because this seemed smaller than I would have guessed I went to see another Fist Certified fitter, who actually put me on the P3C (size 54) and watched me ride it on a trainer (he also measure various of my body’s angles while on the trainer). This fitter told me that I should be on a P3C 54 cm, not a 51 cm and said that I could fit really well on the 54 cm. He said a 51 would require too long of a stem. The previous fitter said 54 would be too big. I am now pretty confused. I have two so-called experts saying two very different things.
My questions is how do I determine which size bike to go for? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also, I would be curious to know, for those of you riding P3Cs what size frame did you buy and what is your height and inseam. I am curious to see what people with similar body types as me riding. Many Thanks.
5’9" 32.5" inseam. I ordered a 54cm in February. But since I haven’t gotten it yet, can’t tell you exactly how it fits. I am going with a fairly long stem. (110 or 120mm)
Go with the 54. I switched from a 51 Cervelo Dual to a 54 P3C. Both fit fine, but the 54 fits better; 5’9", 31 in. Plus, 54 will have a better re-sale when the P3C+ (plus) comes out next year. My FISTer was Don at austintricylist.com.
I ride a 54 R2.5 and and a 53 P3-SL. I spoke with Oly at Cheeky Monkey cycles (FIST certified) and he reckoned I’d need a 51cm. I had planned to use the HED aerobar. But given there aren’t any 54s or 51s in Australia, and aren’t due until August, it’s quite difficult to test it out
My details as follows
Height
5’91/2”
Inseam
33
Seat Tube
Weight
156LB
Shoe size
45
Shoulder Width
41
If someone can give me some thoughts, that’d be helpful
I just got a P3 Carbon…56c. I’m 6’1" with a 33" inseam. I believe it’s a good size for me, but I’ve only had it since Friday and have ridden it just 3 times thus far. My “guess” for you is the 54c. I previously had a custom Serotta 58c.
Let me know if I can offer any other insight. I got my bike at Mission Bay in Chicago.
I know what a P3C is. My question was, what is a P3+ (plus) as mentioned by Turq? I was looking for insights as to “what” is going to change for next year. Since he implied he had some insight.
I have a 56cm P3C that fits me very well. I’m 6’ or just a shade under with a 32-1/4" inseam. It depends somewhat on how you set it up. Mine is pretty steep (seat fully forward).
See, this is why I am so intersted because you and Ponyboy have similar builds and believe you are better off on different size P3Cs. I bet if you polled 10 different fit experts, you would have 5 of them tell you that 56 is better for you and five of them tell you a 54 is better
It makes sense if you look closer. JohnA has a longer inseam but shorter torso than me. He also rides in a more slack position…so 54cm for him and 56cm for me.
I believe your torso length is the most important along with the seat position you prefer. Your inseam is less important because it is much easier to just adjust your saddle height for that.
My inseam is nearly two inches longer than Ponyboy, but we are the same height, so I have a shorter torso. He may need a top tube length of 545, where I would want something closer to 530. At the same time, my saddle and stack height would be higher. Could I fit on a 56? Probably, but I would need a very short stem.
My P3 was a 55cm so I had the dilemma between 54cm and 56cm P3C. I emailed my measurements to Gerard as well as Patrick at All 3 Sports and both recommended the larger frame.
I made up the P3C+ (plus) in anticipation of what Cervelo will do with the P3C in 2006, after the 51s and 58s make it through. Already they have improved the paint job (and have changed the colors somewhat - but probably a new batch of paint) to prevent chipping.
I expect modification to the fork and other modifications after the TdF. Other changes should be the seat post bolt (for the rails on the seat).
