You know, I see MANY Cervelo owners on this site. I think that it is great that they are an awesome sponsor…I have even eaten lunch at the “Down the Hill Grill” with a few Cervelo employees. However, not to say that they dont make great bikes (they certainly do)…why are they so popular - even with all the other great bikes out there? Are they just the “Flavor of the Month”? Are they THAT much better?
I guess I would like some answers from Cervelo owners as to why Cervelo? Why not a Kestral, Trek, Quintana Roo, Softride, Litespeed and on and on and on…what draws you to Cervelo?
Where I live the choices of tri friendly LBS and LBS that carry tri bikes are limited. When I bought the P2K recently I had a choice of Cannondale Multisport, Litespeed, Nineteen, custom or mail order. Now both the Dale and the LSpeed were being sold by a generalist store and a hard core road LBS respectively.
However, I wanted to buy a bike from someone who knew about triathlons (even better if they raced) and could talk to me sensibly about the differences in position, someone who has actually ridden a tri bike. Basically I bought on the recommendation of a LBS who gave me four choices: P3, P2, Nineteen, custom. I have no idea why he would not carry the Dual. I think he also refused to carry the new One, but he really liked the old One. Of those, I chose the P2 simply because when I asked him which one would he would ride if he paid for it, he said the P2. I am sure the other bikes would do me just as well (especially the CDales) but I am very happy with my choice.
Essentially, I bought a bike on the recommendation of the owner of the LBS who I trusted knew what he was talking about. Simple as that.
I was looking for a steel road bike. I thought the Prodigy was the best value for the money. I must also say that when I did my homework, I liked what I read and found out about Cervelo as a company.
Last year (and even early this year), I was a hard core, never ride anything but a Cervelo P3 fan. This was based on some great bike splits and TT’s and learning a lot about what goes into building these bikes. Also, Gerard is great and I love supporting good businesses with good people.
Well…I got tired of waiting. In fact, I missed most of my cycling season and my first few tris waiting for my new P3. I picked out the new Cannondale IM 5000 and now I’m faster than ever. Guess it’s more about the engine, and less about the bike…but we already knew that…didn’t we ; ).
I am sure there are other great bikes out there too. I bought one of the first P3s off the line. I did it after a lot of home work about what was really aero. Cervelo had by far the best explanations. The only other good story at the time came from Softride. I didn’t believe them at the time, though history has proven them right.
I imagine there are other good stories out there now too. If I were to buy again, it would be from Cervelo again, but this time because of the support. Gerard is great and his attitude permeates the entire company. It is a class company with great support and excellent products. You can’t ask for more than that.
Is my P3 faster than those other quality bikes out there? I don’t know. But are any of those bikes faster than my P3? I am satisfied that they are not? I really don’t believe that the frame (assuming fit) is that crucial for most of us, but my triathlon bike envy is gone.
I ride a cervelo (P3) because it’s a fast bike that works very well…(and it looks cool). I also like the companies dedication to it’s customers. I think Dan once said that Cervelo is one of “us” vs some other companies that are not. Cervelo takes the time to listen and if you have any problems or issues they will be there for you.
I could go on with lots of other reasons…bottom line is its a great company with a great product.
I was in the market for a road bike to be used for triathlons, the soloist fit the bill. I support my local bike shops and two of which sale Cervelo. I paid to get fitted by several different shops and they showed me the different brands that would fit my measurements. I ended up buying the soloist and am very happy I did. I love my bike. Got it set up now in the forward position with aero bars after a triathlon this coming saturday I will move it back to the road bike position and go out and ride with a group for the next month or so until my next triathlon. Can this be done with other bikes? probably yet I accomplished a few things buy buying the soloist: 1. I got a bike that fit and handles properly as both a road bike and triathlon bike. 2. I supported my LBS. 3. I don’t have bike envy anymore, I have almost all the bikes I need in this one if I could put some shocks on it and knobby tires then I would really be set.
I stressed over spending a lot of money for a new bike and spent at least 6 months looking and testing. (I was riding a 1986 Centurion – Ironman Dave Scott version). It came down to a Cervelo P2K and a Kestrel and the Cervelo was a much better ride to me. I love it and Gerard, Phil and everyone at Cervelo were so responsive to questions, etc. that I bought a Prodigy. I’ve know more than a few people who have recently had to send their Kestrel frames back to Kestrel for various things.
Things I like about Cervelo:
Owners are accessible and seem to understand the sport Great designs and innovative products My bike fits me perfectly and thanks to this site and cervelo.com and my LBS, I made a great choice in fit and wheel size.
Things I do NOT like about Cervelo:
Customer service - my dealings with them have not be overly pleasant. Maybe they’re just overworked - but have not had a lot of luck actually speaking to anyone there who could either answer a technical question or in-stock status. Inventory Management - see all the complaints about delivery times? It took MONTHS to just get a P3 frame…and that carbon seatpost I paid for is where? Quality is questionable…why not a lifetime warranty on the frame?
The fit and function of the bike lead me to purchase it…but having waited and gone through all that it took to get another one - I am not sure if I would buy another…we’ll see in a few years when its time to swap this one out and see what the market is offering for it.
Why Cervelo? Because triathletes are all a bunch of lemmings of course! And yes, I am the proud owner-lemming of a shiny blue P2K. I’m finally going to replace the bright blue bar tape this year…but am augmenting with a very cool matching blue hardware kit that Transition Sports is selling. Why? 'Cause I want my P2K to be different than everyone elses (that’s gotta make me cooler, if not faster). Problem is that Krag will sell this kit to every other P2K owner in the East Bay, and I’ll again be screwed.
Reason I bought the P2K: 'Cause Krag recommended it. The company has a fantastic rep. The fit was perfect (and as I get older I can change the tube angle if need be which I really like). I did the standard upgrades (wheels, bars, saddle) and am happy I did so.
However, they are becoming harder and harder to get due to their popularity. There’s many other great bikes out there of course. Fit and value are king. Go to a FIST dealer for a great fitting and you’ll get a bike you can ride for years. PS: Other choices I looked at were Guru, Litespeed, and Calfee. Although I own a Trek and have ridden Cannondale I didn’t seriously consider them 'cause they weren’t heavy into tri technology…although Cannondale is making a spirited effort this year (not bad for a bankrupt doofus motorcycle wannabee manufacturer…what was up with that anyway?). My friend bought this years Felt and it’s a really nice ride as well (doesn’t have the cool adjustable geometry though).
I had decided on a new bike for Kona 2001, and had looked around at several options. On the short list were Softride, Lightspeed and Cervelo. I was leaning toward the SR, but didn’t like the LBS that carried them (nominally “local”, but heavy on the “BS”…tried to convince me I’d be just as well off on a Schwinn with a forward post. “just as aero, and a better company backing them…blah, blah”). They lost the deal with Softride shortly thereafter.
Then, there is the fact that my wife races IMs as well, and also needed a new bike. We were able to get a deal from our LBS that carried the Cervelos for two P2Ks for about what I was thinking I’d spend for the LS Saber. That sealed it for me (that, and everything I’d read, and my test ride on the Cervelo were postive.)
We’ve never looked back, and have no bike envy at all. Love 'em, totally.
As for customer service, I haven’t had occasion to contact them for some time (“knock on wood”), but when I did, it was always first rate…in one case Gerard personally offered to bring me a new frame (he was coming to the race), and to see that my components were switched over and that I was properly set up. Fortunately, the issue was resolved short of needing the new frame. Another time they overnighted a part to me at a race venue (actually sending me two of the same part…“just in case”).
I’ve heard from the LBS were I bought the bikes that Cervelo has been tougher to deal with lately. Growing pains, I’d guess. And it seems that the deal with CSC has taken their attention to such a degree that they’re maybe too busy or distracted to deal with things as they did in the past. Too bad, now they’re just another “good” bike company that makes great bikes, rather than the little, “great” company that makes great bikes. Still love the bikes, however.
As an old Schwinn rider, I always look to see if there’s any at races…funny. Nobody’s riding Schwinn these days
I’ve always been tempted to pick up a vintage Schwinn Varsity on eBay and do a sprint tri on it. Complete with tennies and tube socks. Maybe some vintage 70’s Nikes.
“I’ve always been tempted to pick up a vintage Schwinn Varsity on eBay and do a sprint tri on it.”
There is a woman we know who runs only one sprint tri each year in her home town. She wins her 40-45 AG every single time and usually is in the top three women over all. She rides a 70’s Sears 10 sp.
Because I’m a cheapskate. I was looking for something under $1500 that I wouldn’t feel like I’d have to replace/upgrade in a couple years. I ended up buying a 2002 One on clearance since it was comfortable and seemed like the most bang for the buck in that price range.
There were no other aero-tubed, Ultegra-equipped, nicely made new tri bikes on the market for $2,100. I bought my P2K in 2001 and it was by far the best value around in that price range at the time. Hands down.
Dan recommended it. The LBS recommended it. The guys that had them loved them. The P2k was an easy choice. (and I’m not even lusting after a P3)
the engineering (aero-ness, no bs on the website, horiz drop-outs, etc) and gerards availability on the net got me to look at the bikes, but the ride surprised me enough that it was an immediate must-have. I love a stiff responsive bike, but had come to expect that I would get the crap beat out of me to get it. the p2k proved me wrong.
as for the others? someone else mentioned the us and them thing. that played into for sure.
trek - maybe for a road bike, but seriously, for a tri bike?
litespeed - the blade is my current definition of a marketing hype bike. those tubes are not aero and what’s with the freakish top tube? does that really serve a purpose? I also don’t care for the flex in the ti frames I’ve ridden. I have owned an alum litespeed road bike in the past that I liked.
softride - not interested in the bobbing. I’ve never tried, but frankly don’t plan to.
QR - see litespeed above. my question would be for recent model QR purchasers, what attracted you to QR? they seem to be very “me-too” since the ABC buy-out.
cannondale - not exactly aero w/ tubes the size of pop cans. I have owned a cannondale road bike in the past that I liked quite a bit.
as for the other nice small tri mfgs (felt, guru, elite…), it’s tough to find them locally (seattle) to give them a test ride.
The notion of Cervelo as the “in” bike is both true and ironic ironic, 'cause these guys built what they’ve built VERY much against the standard ‘run of play’ in this industry.
They didn’t start by paying pros to ride them, or taking out flashy advertising.
They started by taking apart the problem, for example, of how to build absolutely the best TT bike one could design (the P3). Look at all the parameters at work and the various tradeoffs across them, and come up wth the absolute optimal solution. Push the envelope in every direction, even as regards what is UCI legal. They took a similar approach to other models for other racing/riding applications.
Word got out because triathletes and TT’ers will ride the best frame they can get their hands on – not what their sponsor requires them to (though rebadging can occasionally overcome this, eh Tyler/JaJa?). They just want to go faster, period.
I won’t go into names here, but coincidentally an ace UCI neopro who raced in Philly last Sunday arrived at my door last night to ask to borrrow my P3 so he could race it in the US nationals TT in Texas on July 3. He can likely get any frame he wants via his sponsor, but he’s asking to borrow my P3 instead (I said OK). What does that tell you?
If nothing else, it tells you something about why this bike has become “the flavor of the month”, eh?
