So, for those of you who may be considering buying this bike from your favorite bicycle retailer, what questions would you like to have answered as you consider your purchase?
no. 1: is it possible to get it (the frame/fork) for well under 3 grand?
Tom, you know better, and I’m calling you on it. A little thumbnail guide to buying a P3C implies that the P3C is the right bike for the buyer. How does the buyer know if his particular body measurements and bike handling requirements mean that the P3C is the best bike out there for him/her? S/he does not, which is why they come to shops like yours from hours and hours away for your expertise and advice. If you could put all that into a little thumbnail guide, we wouldn’t need you.
If someone’s already convinced they want a P3C, they should call each and every one of Empfield’s “Top 15 Tri shops” and buy from the one that gives them the lowest price on immediate delivery because they’re going to get exactly the same bike no matter where they buy from.
If someone wants the right bike, they should go to someone they trust to help them find it.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
Tom…all I can say is that the P3SL is the smooooooooooooothest riding tribike I have ever ridden. I’ve ridden QR Kilo, Litespeed Tachyon, Softride, Kestrel 200 (in tri position) and Guru Trilite.
NOTHING touches the P3SL for ride quality. NOTHING. I can’t imagine any reason why anyone would even bother spending more to go up to the P3C (short of the look).
I am still gettting the P3SL dialed in. I’ve used it twice so far and once on the rollers (the nite I got it and I had to ride). Total of 300K so far on this bike, and I have pretty well nailed it. One thing though, I have not found it to be any more aero than the Soloist on high speed straight descents.
In any event, the only question that needs to be answered is, “Why would you get a P3C when the P3SL is such an awesome bike and is so easy to travel with (ie no worries about chips etc) and so much cheaper ?”
How durable is this bike? How many crashes do I get before it’s ruined? Is there any part of this frame that can be repaired or is a hairline fracture fatal?
Tom: I actually read your article on the P3SL about a week after I bought mine. Your article was spot on… the problem I was having was my flexibility in the hamstrings. I am not sure how the P3C relates to the P3SL, but I wished it was something my bike retailer would have told me.
jern…can you post the link to Tom’s P3SL article ?
devashish: thanks for the article on the duke half you wrote from last year… getting ready for the race
P3SL review
“what questions would you like to have answered as you consider your purchase?”
When will I get my 54cm bike I ordered in February? (Actually I have gotten 8 responses to this question already. Spring 2005, beginning of May, May 28, June 28, July 14, end of July, September, maybe as early as August…)
I read that the dimensions listed are different than the actual measrurements. So I am waiting for the actual measurements you promised us last week.
…well after reading Tom’s review and having been on mine for ~ 300K, I have to say that I agree with everything he says. That being said, I am still not convinced that the P3SL is any more aero than the Soloist. This is not knocking the P3SL. Its actually saying that the Soloist is one sweet bike.
Good point. I just finished the build on my P3SL.
Good…
sure, I’ll bite. How 'bout an answer for this question "Gee, I love my P3 SL–fit’s PERFECTLY!! So why did they shorten the top tube on the P3C??
Also good.
I have been riding the P3 for 4 years now… I only had the opportunity to ride P3C for 10km during the expo of IMLP. During my test ride I found out the Bottom bracket to be very stiff which seems for me to be the main reason that I would switch my P3 to a P3C. During the climb I tested it just went straight up fast!!! 
If you can afford it…get the P3C.
Will I have it in time for next season?
I have had both bike P3 and P3C.
The P3C is a lot stiffer especially the fork. However I don’t think that makes it a better bike. It’s an awsome bike but I am not sure it’s better. In the begining I found the C less comfortable. Reducing tire pressure 5 PSI took care of that and it’s now as smooth as the original. It also depends on you body. The 58 P3 was slightly long for me but the 56 P3C is perfect.
I would suggest to anyone riding these bikes that if you don’t (or cant) ride it forward and low then don’t buy it. It’s a waste of money. Stick to a road frame or TT bike with a slacker seat angle. In my view the P3 should be ridden with the clamp in the forward position with no (ok maybe 1) spacers. Getting buyers to understand this point would be a good start.
Tom,
since the P3Cs are still scarce, I think that it will be very useful if you can help those who are interested in the P3C choose the right frame size. It seems that even you are having a hard time finding out if the P3C fits you, am I right? I think that a description of your case will be very interesting too.
“I would suggest to anyone riding these bikes that if you don’t (or cant) ride it forward and low then don’t buy it. It’s a waste of money. Stick to a road frame or TT bike with a slacker seat angle. In my view the P3 should be ridden with the clamp in the forward position with no (ok maybe 1) spacers. Getting buyers to understand this point would be a good start.”
I would say that’s a gross over-simplification. Granted, I only do TT’s and Tri relays (I don’t have to run after getting off the bike!). For me, though–and many TT’rs, the P3 works perfectly with the seat head facing back. My saddle’s 5mm behind the bb, and with the one-piece vision bar, the fit is perfect. My position isn’t too unusual (except it’s quite low), and my proportions aren’t out of the ordinary. The longer top tube and short head tube were my main reasons for buying the bike.
My first question would be: Why would I want to replace my superfast Kestrel with the P3C:)
I would ask about the aero advantages over similiar bikes and even the P2k, P3 and P3SL. I would want the dealer to tell me why I should buy this bike instead of a P3SL, Trek TT, Blade, Javelin etc… I would also want to know if the bike was a good fit for me.