ok so I’m going to bite the bullet and buy my first tri bike . I’v got it down to either the Cervelo P1 or the Giant Trinity Alliance 1. Cervelo comes with better components (mostly ultegra stuff) and the giant is half carbon. both cost about the same (the giant is $100 more). been looking online for as much information as I can find about both bikes and I’m having a hard time getting alot of detailed reviews about the giant, a ton of stuff out there on the cervelo. I guess what I’m really asking is, even though I know the Cervelo is probably the better deal, am I crazy for still wanting to buy the giant?, its an amazing looking bike. my LBS said if I buy the cervelo from them I can get 25% off shoe’s helmet etc. but it just looks so blah and the giant looks so sweet. in summary:
Cervelo P1:
better components
$100 cheaper
Deal on other bike gear if I buy at LBS
super common and looks average
Giant Trinity Alliance:
worse components
$100 more
no deal on stuff
looks amazing
half carbon fiber (is it really a better frame though?)
Given Giant’s history of making bikes under their name as well as other bike companies, I don’t think you can go wrong with them. Based on your post, it sounds like you want the Giant, but you are trying to talk yourself into the Cervelo. Assuming that both fit, you should go with the Giant. All of the specs and discounted stuff in the world won’t prevent you from having a little remorse if you buy the Cervelo.
i was able to attend dan’s FISTapalooza back in march and over dinner one of the topics that came up was most underated tri bike brands. two of the best bikes, from a fitters standpoint, were the giant trinity and the leader tt bike. i believe dan’s comment about the giant was that you don’t see enough of them at races because most giant dealers do not understand the nuances of tri bike fit (he wrote an article about this somewhere).
you can always upgrade components later if you want. assuming you can get the same fit from both bikes, buy the one that will get you out the door on days when you motivation may wane. based on straight looks, i’d say giant but for resale you can’t beat cervelo.
The Giant is a great bike. A friend of mine has one and couldn’t be happier. I think it looks great and the wheelset is a nice feature of the giant bike.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the difference in components as I often find little functional differences in the 105 / Ultegra Derailleurs (The shifters should both be D/A). I don’t know how great the Race face crank is, but a lot of people have big complaints about the FSA gossamer crank on the cervelo (I think that there is a thread about that very issue on the Cervelo forum right now).
Summary: it’s a long bike. It fits a bit taller than most of the other bikes in the “long” category. It can be made to fit a pretty wide range of folks with their different size offerings, though. It’s VERY comfortable to ride, with the half-carbon frame and 72 degree head tube (1 degree shallower than normal).
I just went through this process myself… twice. Initially I debated between the p1, tequilo, felt s22 and the trinity alliance. Although the trinity was the most visually stimulating, I had trouble finding a dealer who had bikes in my size to test ride for both the trinity and the QR (owners understandably hesitant to order in an oddball size a good month before the new line would come out). I test rode the P1 (or p2 since it was last year), but the shop had a p2(c) on sale for only $300 more so I went home happy to an angry wife.
Fast forward 3 months and I get T-boned on my bike three days before my first race of the season. Carbon fiber and side impacts don’t mix. Once the settlement came in, the process started all over, but with this year’s lineup and in a different city. This time I looked at felt’s B16, the trinity alliance, the tequilo and the P2. Several test rides later followed by a few months of hindsight leave me with this:
For the money, the felt B16 may be the best buy in the market right now, especially for carbon bikes and it fits very similar to a cervelo.
The Trinity has much more aluminum than they let on and is much less ajustable than other bikes in it’s price range.
Price point is everything. With the P1 at 1750 and the trinity at 2250 (and both should be considered aluminum bikes) the advantage goes to the P1. The $500 you save with the P1 could buy you a front race wheel (and a rear cover, too if you buy used), making a REAL aero difference rather than one that is slight and primarily just asthetics.
That being said, I went with the B16 and race wheels over the P2 (which I had loved!).
I would go with the P1, unless money is not an issue, in which case find a felt dealer and try the b16 - 2250 msrp
well first of all thanks to everybody for there responses, it’s awesome to have people help me with a brain teaser like this, especially as it’s my first tri bike so I don’t really know what to look for.
alot of people are telling me to buy the Giant and thats what I wanted to hear I think. but besides from asking the people here I;v been asking some of my bike geek friends and they are all about the cervelo, and get this, I know a ex-professional rider whoe rode for giant and is still a big fan of giant bikes, even he said that the trinity alliance is a good bike, and flashy but that right now the angels and technology in the giant are old and that if he were me he’d be looking at a cervelo. so I’m going down to the LBS to ride on the cervelo a bit and if the glove fits I think I’ll pick it up, use the money I save for a nice rear race wheel.
even though I think I’m going against most of the advice I’v gotten here, and I still think the giant looks like a better bike. thanks for everyones replys. I’ll be sure to let you know how everything works out and upload pics of the cervelo if I get it.
I’ve got a last year’s brand new one in the classifieds right now, from a dealer. Save yourself a FORTUNE and get the one you really want by buying this. You’ll probably be able to swing the race wheels too! A steal!
Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest tri bike, but it was so far ahead of it’s time, it’s still relevent and still a very quick bike. Not the quickest, but quick enough for most of us.
A friend almost bought a Trinity a few months ago and they look good enough. I wasn’t sold on the idea of the mixed frame materials however. Like the old (and still used sometimes) carbon seat stays. When you take the ali insert for the connection at the rear wheel, where it connects to the chain stay, and up by seat tube, there was bugger all carbon that could do any work (vibration damping) and I don’t think anyone has managed to convince me it’s lighter than an all ali seat stay.
Giant seem to have done their homework, so it will probably be more than just fine, but the all ali frame of the P1 seems to make more sense overall. (unless you are a carbon snob)
When it comes to aerodynamics there’s two main issues. One is the position or fit you can get on the bike, making the rider more aero and the other is the pure aero-ness of the frame alone. With Cervelo doing the engineering (as opposed to the “styling” of most bikes, I think from my standpoint as an engineer, the Cervelo would win.
If they are about the same price, and you get a deal on other bits with the Cervelo, AND you get to join the Slowtwitch Cervelo Mafia (we’ll teach you the secret handshake if you get the Cervelo) then it’s abit of a no-brainer if you ask me. (I am biased based on owning a Cervelo already, and knowing the handshake)
(With the Cervelo, you will get the handshake. With the Giant you will get the speed wobbles! LOL)
