Ok, I’m starting to look for a new tri-bike for late this year/start of next year. I have about $2000-$2500 to spend on it. I am an avg cyclist and can avg about 20-21.5mph for sprint tri bike leg. I am currently riding one of the first Elite Bicycles models that came out(round tubes, not aero) w/ zipp 404’s. The reason why I am looking for the new ride is actuallly because I’m on 650’s and need to be on 700’s since I’m 6’ and think I was incorrectly fit to the 650’s. Since I’m buying a new ride I might as well upgrade and want to know opinions on the P2k vs the Talon, I know the Talon is about $250 more but why? Also any other bikes I might look at? All feedback is greatly appreciated.
I’ve test ridden both bikes and both a really nice. The Talon has Carbon fiber seat stays which raises the price and is supposed to soften the ride a little. The Cervelo is all aluminum, but the way they manufacture the tubing makes it a really comfortable aluminum bike.
By the way, one of the guys I train with is about 6’2" and rides a QR with 650 wheels and he loves it. I wouldn’t necessarily worry about the wheel size unless you just really want a new bike.
As a satisfied Talon owner, and a person impressed with the P2K’s adjustability, I’ll point out a couple of things that might help.
The Talon is a road bike. It can work as a TT bike if you don’t need to go further than about 77 degrees (put a Thompson’s set back seat post on, and turn it around forward) on your virtual seat tube angle…at least for ME, handling starts to get a little less than arrow-straight, and I like to go straight during a TT (BTW, I can ride in the aero bars on rollers, so I’m not an awful bike handler). The Talon might also have some front wheel/toe of your shoe crossover, because it isn’t as long from the BB to the front axle as the P2K. This shorter front end is also why the handling starts to get a little less than arrow-straight at the steeper seat tube angles.
Talon…lifetime warranty. REALLY comfortable, yet very stiff. I’m guessing that it is slightly heavier…but not enough to make a difference in performance.
The P2K would be a better choice if you know you can ride steeper than 77 degrees. It’s a great bike, well liked by anyone I’ve ever known that’s owned one. The P2K seems to be referred to by most people as more “aero”, but that info isn’t from a wind-tunnel test side-by-side with a Talon, I don’t know which is more “aero”.
Good luck with your choice!
To expound a bit on Yaquicarbo’s post, as he said, these are two very different bikes. To start, I’d look at your running. Unless you know that you can run as well from the slack position for the distances that you plan to race, I’d stick with a steep angled bike. That means P2k, period. The Talon has a 73.5 deg seat angle in the sizes you will be looking at and the extremes are about 72.5-75.5 IF you use their aero reversible post or the Thompson reversed as was noted. And personally, I’d stay away from the extremes of a bike’s capability. You are marginalizing something if you do. As YC noted, in the Talon’s case its the handling. Now, if you can run as well from a 73-74 deg angle, as I personally can, then I like the Talon a lot. In fact my replacement bike for my cracked up Saber is going to be a Talon SL. The 52 size has a 74.5 actual angle and I’ll run the saddle slightly forward on a regular post to about a 75 angle. I’ll be giving up just a tiny bit of low front end capability, but I’ll be plenty low and aero for me, and still have a powerful position. I prefer to replicate my road position of 74 as closely as possible. I’ve ridden steep on a QR and most recently my Saber, and haven’t noted any real personal benefit to riding steep.
Bottom line again. . .look at your running if you are trying to choose between these bikes. They are both proven performers and can probably be well fit to you. If you need steep, then its the P2k. If you want a road bike that works extremely well as a slack tri-bike then the Talon is right for you.
The Talon is all carbon and if your 6’ friend wants to fit his bike better he should sell his 650 bike and go for 700’s. Have you read any of Dan’s fit info?
I got a P2k in may. I looked at the Talon but ended up discounting it as a road bike with aero looks but nothing to really suggest that there was an aero benefit. the P2k’s ride quality sold me on the bike. I couldn’t believe aluminum could be that comfortable, yet still stiff.
3 months later, i love my P2k, and certainly don’t think any other bike has an edge in aeroness over it (besides the P3, I guess) but the steepness is it for me. I run much better right away off of the P2k. The first mile feels almost like I’m running fresh, instead of taking 1.5 miles to “get my legs back”. I’ve got the seat post turned around steep, and the saddle almost all the way forward, so I’m probably steeper than 78
As usual, KTalon has got some great points. In early May I got a P2k, the first bike shop I went to really tried to push the Talon on me. I was looking for a bike that works great at 78* and even up to 80*. I don’t think it is possible for the Talon to get that steep, let alone be balanced well at that angle. I stopped looking at the Talon as soon as I realized this.
Other than that, the Talon looked like a well made bike, but if you are going for a shallow angle, it seems like you will have tons of choices that cost much less than the Talon.
BTW, About 1800 miles later and I still love the P2k. I don’t particularly care about the “aero” qualities above other similar bikes, the P2k goes very steep, it fits great, all the components are fine, and the bike seems very well made.