Anyone have any views on comparisons between these two bikes? I’ve been on an earlier model S-works Transition (aluminum) for a couple of years, but it’s too darn heavy and I’m moving to a carbon bike this year. Leaving aside the debate over the P4 (which is not going to be available in my frame size anyway this season), I’m wondering what the opinions are out there on these two compared to each other. The S-works Transition has the rear brake mounted near the bottom bracket, whereas the P3C has it mounted as usual behind the seat. If you go on the Specialized web site, they have a wind tunnel study that they say establishes the Transition as 9% more efficient than the P3C (or something like that). My bike shop has configured both bikes for me and says the P3C ends up about 8 ounces lighter than the similarly configured Transition. I’ll be riding them both tomorrow to evaluate the ride and feel, but I’d love to hear from you-all in the meantime.
Anyone have any views on comparisons between these two bikes? I’ve been on an earlier model S-works Transition (aluminum) for a couple of years, but it’s too darn heavy and I’m moving to a carbon bike this year. Leaving aside the debate over the P4 (which is not going to be available in my frame size anyway this season), I’m wondering what the opinions are out there on these two compared to each other. The S-works Transition has the rear brake mounted near the bottom bracket, whereas the P3C has it mounted as usual behind the seat. If you go on the Specialized web site, they have a wind tunnel study that they say establishes the Transition as 9% more efficient than the P3C (or something like that). My bike shop has configured both bikes for me and says the P3C ends up about 8 ounces lighter than the similarly configured Transition. I’ll be riding them both tomorrow to evaluate the ride and feel, but I’d love to hear from you-all in the meantime.
They are both so close that you would have to be fit on both of them to see which works with you body better. The speed difference is negligable i doubt you could even tell a difference.
if you’re going to the transition for the weight, i’m almost certain the carbon transition is just as heavy as the aluminium one.
The P3C fits me better, so that’s my pick. I like to ride steep and low, and it fits my body type. As far as which one’s faster…all depends on which one fits you better. Sorry, I hate that answer, too.
Bottom line, if you wnat something different in transition, go for the Specailized. If you want (oh gee, it’s a Cervelo) than get hte P3C.
I wouldn’t buy any of that “9% more efficient” hype. The S-Works has been around for a year now and I’m not aware of a single major win on the bike. Gerolsteiner is Specialized-sponsored and even their top TT guys raced on Walsers last year.
The P3C has a loooooooong list of wins under a long list of riders. It has results.
Having said all that, the bike has a long reach. If you’re all legs and a short torso, the fit might be more complicated than for some other brands. You run a little longer stem … no big thing, within reason.
.
Didn’t Macca win Kona last year on the Transition?
OK … you got me. So that makes it what … a trillion to one? (trillion is the new billion) 
There were at least six bike splits faster than his. Sinbale was 12 minutes faster.
uhhh peter reid??? he won on the old one, but still 
Hi,
Peter the Great won on custom alu S-works done to his preferences ( Short headtube and level top tube)
You can use any brakes made on the P3C. The Transition you use their brake. That is a deal breaker for me, as it is for all the bikes that only accept one type of brake.
The bikes fit quite different (lots of threads on that…see search function:)
Having a solid idea what you want in a position may answer that one for you.
Ride both, get the one that fits and feels better.
have fun
TP
Oh my God, every time I hear that argument I want to smash my face into a wall! Guess what, team Saxo Bank will be riding Specialized next year. Cancellara and the rest of their TT studs will be cranking out win after win after win on them. Will we have to say the bike suddenly got better? For the OP, look at the differences in frame geometries and how you like to ride. If you can get your fit on both, go ride them both and get the one that blows your doors off. For me it was the P3, but bikes are such a personal thing you just need to get on them both.
Macca has won Roth (sub 8hrs), Kona, and IM Germany (sub 8 also) on the same Transition. Terenzo Bozzone won 70.3 worlds this year on one. Both also won numerous 1/2 IMs this past year
**Oh my God, every time I hear that argument I want to smash my face into a wall! **
Be my guest.
Guess what, team Saxo Bank will be riding Specialized next year. Cancellara and the rest of their TT studs will be cranking out win after win after win on them.
We’ll see. Cancellara is Cancellara. He’ll win time trials if he’s on a Wal-Mart kids bike.
Will we have to say the bike suddenly got better?
I doubt we’ll be saying it got 9% better.
And won’t you pay about $2,000 more for a comparably equipped S-works (generally speaking … msrp)? I can’t see the logic in that. I know fit is critical, but stems are available in various lengths. Seatposts go up and down. Saddles go forward and back. The hands/elbows, the butt and the bottom bracket are three points in space that can be matched on a pretty wide range of frames. Fit has more to do with knowing where your points in space need to be. Then there are lots of frames that will get you there.
Team Saxo Bank’s recent trip…
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCWhatsNewDetail.jsp?article=7063&refp=USHome
You can use any brakes made on the P3C. The Transition you use their brake. That is a deal breaker for me, as it is for all the bikes that only accept one type of brake.
Well then…no P4 for you!
Hey OP,
I bought the 09 Transition, after riding a P2C last year, a Stevens TT the year before, and a P2SL the year before.
I think I will achieve a very similar fit on the new bike, and the looks and technology in the Specialized are awesome.
I think bikes like the Transition are awesome and like other select bike manufactures Specialized is pushing the envelope in terms of design, nitpicking about what Pro won what race on which bike are arguments that are irrelevant.
I agree with some other posts, test ride and decide, one will just fit/feel better.
Last but not least…you wont got 1000 people jokingly saying “hey you ride a Cervelo too” around IM transition zones.
Post a picture of your decision.
Martin
i’m almost certain the carbon transition is just as heavy as the aluminium one.
With crappy heavy training wheels my Transition is roughly 18 flat.
i seem to recall that the frame weighs in the 1600-1700g range. i could be wrong though…
Why do you changes bikes so frequently? Bad fit? Just want something new? Sponsorship? Have you noticed any difference in performance?
For a few reasons,
After 10 years of working in the industry I can usually get really great deals, so I can usually buy low…
What happened last year was that the Transition I was waiting for was infinitely delayed, so I settled for a DA P2C, and did IMC on it last summer. I have no complaints about the P2C, I picked is up on a friday, and did a easy 200k saturday morning, no sweat. They are a great frame, Cervelo does really great things with carbon, however they get away with giving you a pretty mediocre parts kit (bars, headset, wheels, seat etc) to keep the price down, which I am not really a fan of. I would rather pay more at time of purchase and not think about upgrading part after part.
So with my Transition garunteed for this year, I am going with that, and telling myself I will ride it for more than one season, haha.
Also…I love Peter Ried, and if he can dominate on a old aluminum version, I an sure this bike will work just fine for my undertrained a$$.
Martin
Hello Wylie and All,
Not to belabor the obvious but the P3C is yesterdays news. (Although I am still riding mine)
The Specialized website aero comparisons should be with the P4C unless you are buying a used or older P3C.
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/pdf/Transition_Aero%20flyer.pdf
I like the aesthetics of the Specialized integrated front brake and would posit some aero advantage too by virtue of its cleaner design.
After some carbon fiber steer tube recalls, I like some meat in the steer tube now (1 1/8" vs 1") unless it is aluminum or has been in use for awhile and has a track record.
On my P3C I lace my cables over the steer tube so they out of the wind except for where they go into the downtube.
If the bikes are at the same fit and price point I would consider the Specialized with it’s newer brake features but then I would worry on those steep downhills that the fork was going to collapse and send me flying ass over tea kettle.
My P3C has served me well with no issues (except for a free fork replacement) so I have confidence that the company stands behind the product.
Just like dealing with computers there is some advantage to being slightly behind the ‘bleeding edge’ for reliability and maintenance which would argue for the P3C.
Good luck,
Cheers,
Neal