Wondering if anyone could give some insight on the positives/negatives of converting a P3C to a road bike. I currently ride a 51 P3C, and thinking about getting the same bike for the road. Im on the front hole with the seat post on the p3.
Why? Well I want something aero, and the Soloist in red I don’t like the color. I could get the SL, but that’d be another $1500 additional just for color and 200 (non-rotating) grams less. Secondly, I like how the p3 handles, rides, looks. I could paint the soloist yes, but thats the same as an SL after shipping, painting, hassle etc.
If possible, would I be using the rear (2nd hole) in the seatpost or would I just keep them the same as to not play with angles too much? The idea (I know it’s crazy) is that I really enjoy tt and am somewhat good at it. Maybe I could practice tt’ing on my road bike and vice-versa, as far as muscle groups etc.
Any insight, advice, suggestions would be appreciated. Has anyone done or heard of this done before?
That sounds a really odd idea to me. If you move the seat, put on drop bars and adjust the height of the front end then why not get a road bike? You’re frankenbike won’t handle or ride how it does now and will look awful! Given they were your three reasons for doing this route I’d have to say just get a road bike.
Get an aluminum Soloist Team… you can find 2006 versions in black still, and the 2007 version in the dark gray looks good too. I would vote a big NO on the p3c franken-bike.
Agreed. You like how the P3C handles set up how it was designed to be ridden. Trying to change it’s basic geometry very well result in an uncomfortable, ugly $3500 paperweight.
Agreed. You like how the P3C handles set up how it was designed to be ridden.
How do you know? Most people I see on P3C’s might as well have drop-bars, it would a better aero-position.
I am sure I have seen a few ITU (drafting) Pro’s riding tt/tri (bikes marketed as non drafting) bikes with drop bars on? Maybe they just have the one frame on which to race both drafting and non drafting or perhaps they were Orbea’s or some other TT/tri wwith slack geometry?
Maybe an Orbea could be an alternative with there more road like geometry but similar P3c looks?
I like this idea, put the seat all the way back, get a riser stem and some road bars, and you have yourself a road bike even more aero than the soloist!
There’s a guy on ST who’s done this with his P2K. He’ll probably post a picture. He claims it works well, but wouldn’t be my first choice for a P2K set up.
A guy in our roadie group used to come out with a QR tri bike that he made road worthy, complete with 650c wheels, drops, STI, set back seat post and spacers. So like I said, it can be done but…
I know one guy that shows up to races around here and destroys in both road races and time trials on his one and only P3C. He had a set of custom drops made that he swaps in when he is doing road races. I gotta say that his position is so low in a road race that he doesn’t offer up much draft. I wouldn’t do it, but it seems to work just fine for him.
yes, you are right, some athlete have tri bike with road set up. It s not the best idea as it wont handel as well as a road bike as the weight distribution is different. Some athlete(jill savage) use a orbea ordu as a road bike, yes, it s more slack of a bike but still not the best idea.
there is so many awsome looking road bike that could work well for you, look around, it will grow on you and the riding will be so much more enjoyable if you find the right bike.
what about the cervelo r3…very classy, amazing comfort and will be matching with the p3c… it s one of the most beautifull road bike there is!
Actually, one of the World Cup guys uses a road set up with the P3C. I can’t remember who, off the top of my head, but I think it’s one of the British guys. Of course, he uses some slam bars on it, too.
You know Cervelo is not the only bike brand out there and different bikes usually come in different colors. I am sure you can find your favorite paint somewhere, if you keep looking around.