Shorty wheel size

Triathlon Forum
1

I’ve read all the discussions here on 700 vs. 650 wheels. Unfortunately, I think I’m stuck in no-man’s land.

I’m 5’7. I have a long torso and short legs. In fact, my proportions are such that, on my road bike, I go a couple of sizes larger to get the reach I need. (Though I defy all standover height guidelines, I’ve yet to rack myself in the last 120,000 miles.) It’s a Trek 5500 52cm.

I’m looking at my first tri bike. I’ll actually use it more for TTs. I’ll do the bike part of some tri relays, but I got hit by a car a couple of seasons back and that ended running. I’m weighing a P2k vs. a Trek Equinox 9. I’m being advised to go with the 51cm P2k or a 50cm in the Trek. If I’m willing to wait for the 2005s, I can get either bike in 700c. There are some good 2004 closeouts around that could get me on a P2k/650 for a couple hundred less. But then I’ve gotta shell out a bunch for a set of 650 race wheels. I already own a set of 700c HED Alps and I’ve figured I could use the front and just pick up a Renn disk for the rear.

But I’m wondering a) am I headed for handling issues going with 700c wheels on such a small tri frame? b) what’s changed that’s allowing manufacturers to offer smaller frames with the 700c option? I know about integrated headsets and lower profile armrests. Is that really it?

Sorry for the rambling question, but I’ll appreciate any thoughts/reactions to any of this. Oh, one last thing. I doubt I’ll be too concerned with the lowest, most aero setup on the planet. I’m 49. I’m not as flexible as I used to be … especially not since I got hit by the car.

Bob C.

2

Cervelo has changed all it’s models to 700c for 2005. Used to be the 51/54 size P2K was a 650 model with the 52 as a 700. Now the 52 is gone and the 51/54 are 700c.

In a sense it “obsoletes” the 650 models but there should also be some real good deals on 650 sizes. In practical terms you won’t notice the difference from one to the other.

There will be no handling issues with 700. If anything 700 should in theory handle better. My feeling is it you have a 700 road bike then why not keep it simple and get a 700 tri bike.

Another suggestion - don’t over look the Soloist or the Dual. The Soloist has the advantage of being a dual purpose road/tri bike and the Dual is actually often a better middle age AG’ers bike than the P2K since it has a longer head tube and getting as low as possible isn’t a priority. I’m 53 and ride low on my P2K because of years of yoga/stretch exercise, but I see a lot of fellow oldsters on P2K’s with lots of head spacers because they don’t ride as low.

3

My bad. Just checked the specs on the Dual/P2K in 51/54 and the head tube is the same length.