Curious as to thoughts regarding the Felt S22 and Cervelo P3. Considering both are good fits for me, here’s the deal: I’m not looking to spend more then $3k on a new bike. I figure I can purchase an 04 Felt S22 and some aero wheels on ebay in this price range or go all out and buy an 03 Cervelo P3 at all3sports (they’re discounting 2003s to $2800). Love the look of both bikes, both are DA, both would huge upgrades over my 2000 Giant OCR1…what would you do?
Well, I am a big Cervelo fan… but option no.1 is the most logical.
Make sure the fit is right! (Felts have longer top-tubes than usual)
The Cervelo P3 is recognized as a more up market bike, and it’s probably fair to assume that it’s more aero. It’s a year older, but that won’t effect performance.
I’d go with the P3 myself, but then I could be biased.
Well, I am a big Cervelo fan… but option no.1 is the most logical.
Make sure the fit is right! (Felts have longer top-tubes than usual)
it’s more logical to by a bike off of ebay sight unseen then to go into a shop and get proper service with fit and all that? you have to excuse me then if i act a little crazy and go to the bike shop to buy a premium bike.
Well, I am a big Cervelo fan… but option no.1 is the most logical.
Make sure the fit is right! (Felts have longer top-tubes than usual)
it’s more logical to by a bike off of ebay sight unseen then to go into a shop and get proper service with fit and all that? you have to excuse me then if i act a little crazy and go to the bike shop to buy a premium bike.
I might have gotten the wrong idea but … “I figure I can purchase an 04 Felt S22 and some aero wheels on ebay in this price range…” sounded to me like getting the bike from a retailer/LBS (including fitting).
I’d wait till the '05’s and pick up a set of race wheels. You should be able to get a S22 with some nice aero carbon wheels for under $3000 for '05.
Cervelos are getting to be like bellybuttons.
—the look
Cervelos are getting to be like bellybuttons.
That’s ridiculous.
To clarify, I would be purchasing the S22 from my LBS and then proceeding to ebay for the wheels. Buying a bike on ebay is a bit too adventurous for me.
What do you have to pay for the felt these days?
Cullen
MSRP on Felt’s website for an 05 is $2279.
At MSRP the felt seems like a good value.Compare the $2800.00 that s been tossed around for the P3 to a sale price on the Felt.
Cullen
I’ll have a custom made serrota.
Cervelos are getting to be like bellybuttons.
—the look
they are! they are the innies on a six pack, washboard stomach like everyone wants. not those ugly looking outies that people get plastic surgery to get rid of.
I have an '04 P3 with DA I bought in July that I would possibly part with for $2400. It’s a 55cm frame with 700 miles on it. That would give you more $$ to spend on race wheels.
Would you trade it for a used QR Kilo, a Louis Garneau TT helmet, and a Snickers marathon bar?
P.S. Youd also get my endless respect. (Which isn’t cheap… It’s not expensive, but it’s not cheap.
First of all, I know what I would do. I just did it! I bought the Cervelo P3 from all3sports.com. Just FYI, these P3s are not 2003 models. They are 2004 models. I test rode a Felt S22 and logged a total of 200 miles on 6 different rides. I didn’t like the comfort of the bike. The headtube was too short and with Carbon X set-up on the aerobars, it put me in too aggressive of a position and at 200lbs., I could feel the extra strain on my low back. My only option was to switch out the Carbon Xs for some cowhorns, separate stem, and alternate aerobars. I didn’t want to do this because it just defeated the purpose of buying the S22 and that was more bang for the buck! I opted to return the bike to the dealer as he was gracious enough to give me 2 weeks of test riding the bike with the option of returning it if I wasn’t satisfied. For some the S22 might work but in my travels talking to people who sell Felt tri-bikes, it seems a common recurring theme is the bike is difficult to fit and many require swap-out of aerobars. Also, you are looking at the S22 frameset being mass produced in the far east vs. being handmade in the great white north. Don’t get me wrong, mass produced or not, the S22 was a good looking frameset, it just didn’t work for me. On the other hand, the P3 is my dream bike. I spent some time on a 2004 Dual and loved the feel of a Cervelo so when the price drop came at all3sports, I was all over the P3. I have not actually ridden the bike yet as it just arrived but I will say that I will take my chances with it and if it doesn’t fit I will be sending it to Mr. Tibbs as an early Christmas present.
Erik,
Wow, that is a tough call. With all the reported aerodynamic advantages of the Cervelo frame, it sure seems like the clear winner when comparing it to a S22 at the same price.
However, as one poster mentioned, the fit would be critical for either bike to truly be the “best” choice. This is where your local dealer is going to influence the decision. If I were buying a Felt in my territory, there is a handful of dealers that I could choose from that could walk me through the nuts and bolts of the sale, the fit, swap parts (bars, cranks, chainrings, cassette, etc.) for me if they were needed to address the fit. There is only one cervelo dealer that I’d use.
Additionally, they would be less likely to swap parts and equipment if I were already getting the bike on a closeout price, If I were paying their full margin, I’d hope that swapping the Carbon X for a Ritchey Probiscus, or the Vittoria Tires for some Tufos would be an even swap, or at least only have to pay the difference in price. You wouldn’t have that leeway as a retailer if you were simply getting your money back out of 'em (closeout price).
Sounds like QRooster is very happy with the deal he got on the Cervelo, and his shop was unable or unwilling to make the needed changes to make the Felt fit.
It also sounds like after riding the bike, Pony Boy has decided that the Cervelo is not the bike for him.
Two posters, two decisions.
I’d look at the service and reputation of the dealer and the brand for as much influence as us jokers on slowtwitch.
Where are you located? What is your local shop?
-SD
A local shop is selling 04’s on sale for $1699- and thats in Hawaii- imagine you can get for less on mainland.
Sounds like apples and oranges.
Cullen
Hey Mr. Tibbs,
I was a fool and wasted my money on a custom Serotta. I was fitted, many factors were taken into consideration, and between the fitter and Serotta, the bicycle was built to meet my anatomic and physiologic needs and handle the best that was possible.
Unfortunately, I am flying on this new CX II cs. I am riding faster and surprising even myself. The bike handles like a dream. It’s going to race off and I am welcome to come along, but even if I don’t come its going to fly out of the stable.
Oh, how sad I am! I should have spent my money buying a bike that someone had to work to “make” the frame fit me. Make the rider fit the frame instead of making the frame fit the rider. Something that was a combination of compromises. And don’t forget, Serotta knows a lot about road bikes, but as far as some on ST are concerned, they don’t know jack sh*t about tri/time trial bikes. Serotta just screws around in this segment. The have a very good reputation building road bikes, so they asked themselves, “what can we do to diminish our hard earned reputation in road bikes?” One of those present suggested, “let’s make a tri/time trial type bike. Let’s not bother to build the best bike possible or bring any of the knowledge we have gained from building road bikes to this new bike, but let’s just throw something together and see if anyone can figure out that its really junk rather than another great bike from a great bike builder.” Everyone else present agreed. They don’t have any tri/time trial athletes building the bikes or so I have read here. Therefore they can’t possibly do a very good job.
I’ll just have to console myself with my own twisted satisfaction. Its fun to ride fast and kick ass!
I’ll ride off but I won’t just leave them, I’ll wait for them at the finish.
Just hoping to spare others this terrible experience of total satisfaction.