Ok, here’s the deal. I got a really great deal on a Cervelo P2C in late December. I ride a 55/56 cm road bike so I thought that a 56 cm P2C would fit me just fine. Well, after 3 months of trying to get comfortable on this bike I finally went to a LBS and got their “pro-fit” (by a bike-tech trained at Dan Empfield’s school, no less). Turns out that the top tube was way too long for me to ever be comfortable on this bike. I really needed the 54 cm. It all made sense now.
No problem, I thought, I’ll just sell it and start over. My wife was not very happy about this. When I bought this bike I told her “this is the last tri-bike I will need for a long time”. The good news it that I’ve just about got this bike sold, without totally losing my shirt. Another upside of this unfortunate situation is that I know alot more about tri-bike fit that I used to.
I’ve narrowed my choices down to 2 bikes in my price range. The Cannondale Slice 5 and the Giant Trinity Alliance 1. I’ve ridden both (Cannondale in a 54 cm and the Giant in a Medium) and they both seem to be a much better fit. The Cannondale seems to have a lighter frame, but the components aren’t quite as good. The Giant has a hybrid carbon/ aluminum frame and has better components. I’ve seen lots of Cannondales at races but not many Giants. But, I’ve got to say the Giant looks like a great bike at this price point (Empfield gives it a great review too).
I need to make a good choice this time around or my wife may kill me. Can anyone weigh in on these bikes? Thanks in advance.
hybrid carbon aluminum frames are nonsensical from an engineering standpoint, so that would turn me off to them. it just makes for an overall heavier bike than if they had used all aluminum (all else being equal)
So far nice bike (I wont tell you how little I paid). I do have a few issues with the bike. Sure, it has great bits - but a 172.5 crank (RaceFace) with 53/39 - 11-25 on an XS frameset seems a bit goofy to me. The bars need to be cut down as a matter of build, but the bends are not what most novice folks would want (and we are going to change those this weekend. Bike came with super nice parts (Ultegra rear der, Pro Race3 tires, 105 calipers) and for the retail price ($2000?) it seems to be a great deal. I also had to cut about 5" off the seat mast to get it even close to proper fit (and I need to take off another inch or so) due to the post bottoming out in the frame at the junction with the seat “curve” around the rear wheel.
hybrid carbon aluminum frames are nonsensical from an engineering standpoint, so that would turn me off to them. it just makes for an overall heavier bike than if they had used all aluminum (all else being equal)
Here here. Never did get why they would do Carbon seat stays and all that crap - carbon for the sake of carbon.
I thought the same thing. So I tryed to sell the frame on Ebay and Craigslist and didn’t get many bites. I thought $1600 was reasonable asking price. Go figure. Anyway, I posted the complete bike on Craigslist and was flooded with interest. That was cool too, that meant that I didn’t need to strip the frame down.
I need to make a good choice this time around or my wife may kill me. Can anyone weigh in on these bikes? Thanks in advance.
Provided they both fit, I would strongly recommend the Slice. I gather that there aren’t too many out-of-the-closet Cannondale fans around here, but I love mine. I ride an early (ca. 2002) Cannondale aluminum tri-bike. I have had zero mechanical issues with the bike so far. I have only ridden a handful of other road or tri-bikes, but I felt my bike rivaled or topped them all. Obviously we’re talking about bikes that are worlds apart – different eras, materials, and components – but I have been extremely satisfied with the quality of my relatively low-end Cannondale.
I suddenly feel compelled to commit an act of douchebaggery by noting that I often pass guys riding much more expensive bikes, Cervelos even.
I am a Cannondale fan and formerly rode an aluminum Cdale Tri bike. I got hit by a car and ended up getting a Giant as a replacement because Cdale replacement time was too far out. I loved the Giant and only got rid of it because I liked the features of the TTX. The TTX didn’t fit well at all so now I’m on a 56 P3. The Giant was a Medium and also fit very well and the geometry is almost identical to the 56 P2. If the P2 didn’t fit you then the medium Giant probably won’t either but it is a very nice bike
ShawnF, you were almost spot on, but I think your response needs to be more direct…and here it is…sell the 56cm Cervelo, and go and pick up a 54cm Cervelo!!! You can find the framesets very cheap on ebay or even in LBS’s for the 2008 year! C’mon…join the cult. (Wow, I am surprised no other cervelo-nut has said that yet!)