Cervelo P3C vs. P2C?

I am in the market for one of these bikes, yes, I am a Cervelo sheep…I can’t figure out the 900 bucks price difference between the two. I realize P3C has a slightly shorter head tube enabling bit more aggressive aero position which at my age I probably can and want to do without…seems silly to buy a P3C then insert spacers…what is really different between these bikes that warrants that much price differential? Other than brand and snob appeal of course…900 bucks gets me halfway to a fancy set of wheels.

Frank

I’d ask myself the same questions. In theory the P3C should be marginally more aero due to the shorter head tube and different wheel cut out, but how much does that really matter unless you’re a top TT’er looking for those last couple of seconds.

Unless you can consistantly ride low enough to take advantage of the P3C geometry, IMO there is little point in choosing it over the P2C. Nothing would look sillier than a P3C with a stack of spacers.

$900. will buy a nice set of aero wheels.

Read Dan’s review of the current Cervelo line-up on the main page.

About 3% of riders should ride the P3. They are fast, flexible, and want to have their nose on their front wheel. About 1% of ironman racers can maintain the position a P3 is built for over 112 miles.

About 97% of athletes should be on a P2 or Dual. They aren’t as flexible and don’t want to ride as low. They might be just as fast or faster than the guys on P3’s. And, they don’t look like idiots trying to turn a racecar into a Buick.

900 bucks also gets you a powertap and a disc cover…priceless…

As the proud owner of a P2C, I think you have hit on the main difference. For the me the differences were the head tube length and $800. I would suggest getting fit on both and seeing which one you prefer. The other differences are that P3C’s seat tube is more aerodynamic than the P2C (I am not sure of the magnitude of this difference) and the cosmetic difference between the color schemes. I was able to get plenty of drop on my P2C and like the color scheme (I know that some do not like it).

Also that $800 could buy a used powertap which in my non-expert opinion when combined with smart pacing can more than make up for any time differences between the two bikes.

They’re all missing the point. The P3 is way more cool looking. You can find 30 bikes today with a minimal rear wheel cutout but only a few with like features of the P3 rear wheel cutout modification.

the P2C is where you hit a magic point, and that is, a bike above which you can’t realize any REAL advantages as a triathlete.

in other words, you aren’t going to be more comfortable on a P3C, and you also aren’t going to get 3rd instead of 4th, or 12th instead of 13th, by having any bike OTHER than a P2C, and that includes the P3C.

now, if you look at the results in a grand tour prologue, and the difference between one place an another is a second, or two, or three, then yes there may be enough difference to justify the P3C over the P2C. but that’s not your sport.

of course there are other bikes that fit that description, including bikes that cervelo doesn’t make. would peter reid have beaten faris al sultan if peter had a different bike? would normann have failed to win kona if he had something a bit lesser than the kuota kalibur?

the point is, you can’t buy a better finish line result by spending more than your P2C costs.

Do you like red $800 more than blue? Or just think of it as buying 2 extra spacers at $400 apiece.

Frank,

There are several great tri-bikes out there.

Have you ridden either bike yet? That’s the first step.

The five most important aspects of bicycle buying:

1.FIT
2.FIT
3.FIT
4.Frame material=ride quality
5.Warranty & shop service

Go luck and fast racing with whatever you decide.

I own a new P3C and I hesitate to even enter this argument. If the previous posts are all true, then why are you even looking at a new bike. You should be just fine with whatever you have been riding. Now, obviously that not being the case you are looking for a new bike. I will admit that my P3C purchase was probably more emotional than anything else but down deep I was looking for a slight comfort advantage over the alum P3. I, thankfully, found it to be true. I like my P3C. In fact I like it a lot. I bought it 2 months ago and never once have I looked at it an thought…geez…I paid too much. What was I thinking? In fact all I can do is stare at it and pray for warmer temps. Buying most anything is usually emotional in nature. If you will always wonder down deep “what if I had bought X”, then buy “x” and don’t look back.

P2C with Powertap 404’s for me…

Why?

Fit better without a stoopid looking spacer stack (the reason I can afford one is I spend 12-14hrs a day chained to a desk no amount of Yoga is going to help that!), I think looks cooler, removes a little of the “all the gear, no idea” stigma, and saved enough money that I could get the Powertap on the 404s therefore get my pacing sorted out much better - which, as the poster above suggested, is going to save me more time than the difference between the two bikes is ever going to give me.

The five most important aspects of bicycle buying:

1.FIT
2.FIT
3.FIT
4.Frame material=ride quality
5.Warranty & shop service

95% or more of all racers can easily fit perfectly on one of the Cervelo frames. This may not be true for the brands that only have a few sizes, but is not the case with Cervelo (or Felt or whatever brands have the complete spectrum of sizes).

Also, I care way more about aerodynamics and price than ride quality or warranty and shop service, and I suspect an awful lot of others on this group feel the same. This whole slowtwitch mantra of “fit, fit, fit”, “service, service, service” is just tiresome.

“This whole slowtwitch mantra of “fit, fit, fit”, “service, service, service” is just tiresome.”

Tiresome as it may be, you don’t have to go far in the triathlon world to see an aweful lot of triathletes ill fitted on their bikes. Ditto - the customer service levels you see in many shops.

Fleck

would peter reid have beaten faris al sultan if peter had a different bike?

Are you kidding me?!?

Reid’s one-off S-Works is as nice a bike as gets racked at any IM.

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/whatsnew/Reid_bike_HI04_d.jpg

http://www.3athlon.de/3athlon/img/im_germany2003/race__13072003/reid_peter_bike.jpg

Other than being a tad lower in front, what could be better?

Thanks for all these responses, very helpful. This will be my first TT/Tri geometry bike, been doing my tris on a road geometry bike w/ clipons, does not work. Getting into long distance events now. Have trialed the P3C not yet the P2C. I don’t think anybody has to defend their choice of the P3C, it’s an awesome bike. I was merely trying to figure out the positioning of these 2 bikes given the substantial price difference. Frank

What’s so special about this bike?? I see a very fat downtube and only minimal if any seat cut out?

The five most important aspects of bicycle buying:

1.FIT
2.FIT
3.FIT
4.Frame material=ride quality
5.Warranty & shop service

95% or more of all racers can easily fit perfectly on one of the Cervelo frames. This may not be true for the brands that only have a few sizes, but is not the case with Cervelo (or Felt or whatever brands have the complete spectrum of sizes).

Also, I care way more about aerodynamics and price than ride quality or warranty and shop service, and I suspect an awful lot of others on this group feel the same. This whole slowtwitch mantra of “fit, fit, fit”, “service, service, service” is just tiresome.
Well said and I agree 95%.

Francois wasn’t that a P2C that your were dragging my sorry butt around the desert with?

What’s so special about this bike?? I see a very fat downtube and only minimal if any seat cut out?

Frame aerodynamics are complete bullcrap, or very nearly so. Rear wheel cutouts are a marketing ploy.

What Reid’s bike does is put him in a steep and low aero position optimized for his biomechanics. The bike fits like a glove.

The only production frame I’m aware of that he could achieve that position on is a P3. Considering Specialized has a bit more spare change laying around to sponsor athletes with, I’d venture that Reid is more able to focus on training aboard a Specialized than a Cervelo. This increased focus on training more than makes up for a speculative aero benefit between the two bikes.

I’d venture that a custom Specialized - with a nice check to go with it - is as fast a bike as enters any transition area.

Dan

RE: P2C & P3C

Is there a difference between the quality of the carbon frames?