So I’ve been thinking all summer about my next bike, and after much consideration have settled on the Cervelo P3. I had initially thought this would be an early 2005 purchase, but over the course of the last couple weeks I’ve decided I might pull the trigger in early August and have it for my late season races. Although my 2004 A-race, IM USA, is in 2 weeks, I always feel that you should “dance with the girl you brought to the ball,” so I’ll be riding the trusty Trek - on which I’ve logged nearly all my miles this summer and several thousand in the past few years - past Whiteface mountain on July 25.
But, I was in the bike shop today, talked at length with the owner, sized up a frame, and had him give me a price on a couple of options for components. I’ll go all out with the DA10 and a set of Zipp 404s. I think once I get back from Lake Placid and things settle down, assuming I still feel good about myself, I’ll pull the trigger.
So, that brings me here. Can anyone tell me why I should NOT move ahead and spend a few grand on a bike? I am not necessarily looking for technical reasons. More your philosophy on spending relatively large sums on shiny new stuff. I want this bike, but in the back of my mind am glad I am taking a couple of weeks to sleep on it.
If you got the dunklers for it, why not. If you are going to spend that kind of cash, make it a dream bike. If the P3 is your dream bike, go for it.
I myself am a broke mofo and go for what fits right and costs the least. I just got a new frame/fork. Its a cheap heavy aluminum frame that fits far better than my last bike, whitch was a far better frame. the fit makes the differance and I like the cheap frame better. Frame, fork, stem, HS, BB, chain, degreaser, lube and cork tape cost me a whopping 350.00
The only reasons to get new stuff is to make you faster (most of the time new gear won’t) more comfortable, or just bring some happiness to your life. I never understand people who cant decide between X and Y bike. If they both fit the same they will bost work fine so go wiht the one that is pritty. Will the P3 make you faster? No. Will any bike make you faster? Only if the one you have doesn’t fit or weighs a ton.
Go ahead and buy the stuff. Just be forewarned- something newer and cooler will inevitably come out and will make you wish you had waited. But then again, something else will ALWAYS come out. If the bike fits and you can get a great deal on it, then I would get it.
Will it make you faster? It will, because you will be driven to train more so you won’t be embarassed riding your shiny new P3 slow.
I’ve had the P3 for a year and, surprisingly, can still say that there is no other bike I’d rather have. (Although I did upgrade to DA10sp and Hed aerobar and wheels bling bling.) There is no other frame that comes close IMO in comfort and class.
This comes up a lot in the P3 v P2k and DA v Ultegra debate. My opinion is that it comes down to what makes you happy. For some people, getting a P2k and ultegra, which is a great set up, makes them happy because they save money and still get a good ride. I got the P3 b/c I knew that a month or year after getting a P2K i’d get a big pit in my stomach every time I saw a P3. (his amp goes to eleven.) Bikes are my thing, I look at bike porn, I’d wear carbon underpants if they made them. I dont have flashy cars or clothes so for me bikes and tri stuff is where I spoil myself. Saving money on a bike purchase for me is silly and wouldnt make me happy because I don’t like spending my money on anything else. Besides, I spend so much time sitting on that saddle that I can justify making it an aspide. yeah baby.
I have a kick ass bike, fits like a glove, and I have no desire to even look at alternatives. If you get a P3, and it doesn’t fit, you will have bike envy again within months.
Super Dave is right. Wait till Oct. and either get a deal on this year’s model (which means more $$ to spend on pedals, clothes, etc.) or be stoked to pick up next year’s before anyone else. If you’ve waited this long it’s to your benefit to ride it out till Oct. and have your pick of the new litter.
I did it last year and saved about $400 AND still got the bike I wanted.
Just make sure you can meet the minimum bike split to avoid being called a poseur… whatever that minimum bike split is… unless, of course, you don’t care about being a poseur. Go forbid you should spend your own, hard-earned money on a bike that’s too fast for you, merely because that’s what you want.
Enjoy your P3. I wish my wife would let me buy one.
“Can anyone tell me why I should NOT move ahead and spend a few grand on a bike?”
Cause you’ll probably still get lapped by guys with $800 bikes they got off eBay.
I’m just playing devils advocate for you, if I had the coin to spare I’d probably be considering a p3 as well. Me, I’ll just keep beating people on my ebay special
