Hi all ! Am in a bit of a dilemma .Am told by my LBS that my P3Carbon is on order (size 54 ) although , as I am sure many of you are aware (including the automated response from Cervelo I received in my latest e-mail enquiry 2 days ago ) no guaranteed date of delivery can be stated.
I am fortunate enough to be racing in Hawaii this October and have decided to update my corroded road bike I have been racing on to a bike of my choice…P3Carbon / Litespeed Blade.
The Blade is waiting for my signal and it will be ready within one week should I give the go ahead. I really want to wait for the P3C but want to be training on new bike by end-June.
I understand my LBS position and Cervelo’s position ( after reading the thread about Taiwan / China manufacturing last week ).
Starting to lose sleep…any advice please. Thanks in advance !
If the Litespeed will be ready within one week, wait to get the Litespeed just one week before you say want to start training on it. If the P3C comes in, then you got a great ride. If not, you got a great ride.
You can’t go wrong with either. The Blade is a beautiful bike - more tried and true - travel well with titanium - but has a tall head tube. If you fit on one - you can’t go wrong…
The P3C is a beautiful bike - new this year but from a very good company. Likely faster than any bike out there except maybe a non-traditional design…
You have until October so if you want 3 solid months of training on a new bike - you have until mid July…
I just went through this with a Lucero delay vs. P3SL. I’d say pick a date and if the bike isn’t there then switch - no worries. If the P3C is a dream bike then wait…if its more of a toss up between the 2 and the P3C barely wins out and the time is key and Kona is key - then pick a date and change if the P3C is not available…
Whatver you do - make a decision and do not lose sleep over it - the differences in the bikes is minimal and those 2 bikes are better than 99% of the bikes out there…
Appreciate your advice , thanks. Guess it really comes down to priorities. In a perfect world would have the P3C now and continue my build-up to Hawaii.
I believe the Blade is tried and tested and obviously travels well which is obviously important. I set the end-June time frame for safety sake to iron out any possible teething/ fit problems.
You inclination to train on your race bike is a good instinct, but possibly misplaced. You can accomplish the same position on any bike(through movement of seatpost, stem handlebars) but they won’t all handle the same. The important aspect of having a number of months on a bike is to adjust you muscles and connective tissue to the angles that they will experience. If you are able to simulate the angles that you will use on your preferred bike, you can wait much longer to start training on the new bike. This is just a balance of your own personal “utility”, and how much you think you would gain for each day on the new race bike.
My inclination and urgency to get accustomed to the new bike either/or is primarily the fact that I have always raced/trained on my same modified road bike.
I presumed that as much time in the saddle of the new bike as possible prior to race will benefit. Am presently training according to program, on my current/old bike. Considering this is my first trip to the big Island and the infamous Queen K winds wanted to get as comortable in my new aero position as possible.
I agree with U23ITU, if two bikes are set up the same they will ride pretty damn close to each other especially in the case of the Blade and P3c which have similar, not the same but similar, geometries. Granted one might handle a bit differently in a corner, etc, etc but riding either bike should work the same muscle groups. The same goes for the road bike. If you really want the P3c, get a steep seatpost for your road bike and find your TT position. It would be better if you found your aero position now anyways if you are worried about being ready for Kona. You still have plenty of time but if you are anxious you can start getting your body ready for the new bike just fine on your road bike. I did Kona 2 years ago on my road bike with a profile foward seatpost and the same setup (80 degrees or so) that I was previously riding on my Softride Powerwing and am now riding on my P3sl. Granted the road bike took hard corners like I was hyped up and jittery from too much caffeine, but in general it felt the same as every other bike I have ridden in that same position.
Between the two bikes I’d personally pick the blade. The P3C is very very cool but I just like the blade. Are you riding steep or shallow, if it’s shallow the Blade isn’t even a choice. Also see what type of drop you are comfy with as yes the P3C is very very low at the headtube. I have lots of spacers on my P3sl and don’t mind, but if I post a pic on slowtwich I know I’ll be laughed off the forum. I’ll just have to put the first place trophy from yesterday next to the bike and see if I can start a mega-spacer trend=)
You are right that you will benefit from as much time in the saddle on you new bike as you can manage. However, if you can create a tri-geometry on your road bike that you like you can train with that and recreate that same geometry on your new bike. The blade will probably be better for training, and the p3c will probably be a little faster in races. Either way you have chosen a good bike; and your willingness to wait for one or the other should be set by you.
Canuck8, how about the Guru Carboniotri or the QR Lucero as other Carbon tri bikes that you might be able to get your hands on a bit earlier ? How is the training in Singapore ? Is it 40 degrees C and 98% humidity ? Kona will feel like the Arctic after training at the equator !
I will be riding steep (to clarify) lucky thats where I do have some flexibility! At the moment I am riding at a “simulated” ± 77-78 degree position I would estimate and have seat right forward on the rails. I am very comfortable in my aerobars and have been riding for the past 18 months in this position, training and racing.
No interest in the Guru thanks. Like the looks of the Lucero very much but seat angle only goes up to 78 deg. if I am not incorrect.
Paul…Yes Singapore is exceptionally hot and humid ! Have never been to Hawaii so hoping that my ability to train and race in this environement will benefit me in Hawaii.Disadvantage is we get no wind here , really. I’m from Vancouver , Canada originally but 12 yrs. here has sure thinned the blood out !
Thanks again to all respondants I really appreciate all of your advice !
I agree with what the rest said, if Kona and racing are your priorities…then set a date and decide…
If P3C is a dream, then wait for it
I’ll be coming back to Singapore in about a month! Looking forward to meeting a Kona-bound racer!!!
Thanks Tri-sg ! PM me closer to your return date and we can try and meet up, cheers.
The Blade is a classic, you’ll always get respect in T1.
You know next year the P3c will be replaced by the P3CSL or something, It will look like a neon green dinosoar from the 80’s in a year or two. The Blade will be a Porsche for a decade.
Funny you say that about the P3Carbon possibly being soon to be replaced by a P3CSL , I had that thought as well. I really like the bike , what I have seen of it on e-mails and pics here and there. Never live ! The Blade is an awesome bike , no doubt. Realistically , I DON’T DESERVE EITHER bike. I am a firm believer in the "gut feel " thing.
Regarding respect in T1…I presently am a MOP’er , obviously hoping to move higher. Honestly couldn’t give a damn who thinks what. As my coach says , and without mentioning names , “buy the best you can afford”.
Not that anyone should plan to crash but, if you dent up the P3C it’s done–period. If you dent up the Blade, you can pack it up and send it to Litespeed to be repaired, hopefully at a price cheaper than a new one…
I would strongly recommend the Blade. I come from a long history of road racing and have ridden alot of carbon frame road and TT bikes (C40, Calfee Dragonfly, and Dolan). I have had a Blade for 2 mos and will say that it is the smoothest riding bike I have ever owned not to mention durable. I crashed it this weekend (another post) and remarkably sustained minimal damage that I cannot say would have been the case with a carbon frame. I always think back to when I pole- vaulted in HS using carbon fiber poles where if you simply nicked the pole with your cleats it had do be replaced because of risk for splintering. I would also be wary of the first round of carbon fiber bike by any manufacturer since it is usually a work in progress. I’ll bet the '06 P3C will be noticably different from the '05. Lastly, the Blade looks “cooler.” Good luck with your decision and your race in Kona.
