I REALLY like my 2011 P3 with tririg bars, brakes etc
Actually have 2 I like them so much
Built one up from a frame myself. So I am ok working in my bikes
BUT am tired of having to ‘tweek’ them fairly frequently as to shifting, rear wheel dropouts etc
I’ve never had electronic shifting, disc brakes, tubeless tires etc
I am looking at possibly buying a new Cervelo. Or at least new to me
I’m willing to learn new technology but don’t
Want to be overwhelmed with new style brakes, tubeless, keeping the batteries charged etc
I REALLY don’t want to meant new wrenching aspects
I also am not keen to have to buy a new race wheels as mine are in VERY good condition but are rim brakes
So I guess my question is how has it been for others who went from fairly old school bike to newer?
I probably would get either a Cervelo P series or P5
I realize aero wise I am probably not losing a lot. Especially because I have old narrow stance Dura Ace cranks .
But with miss shifting and rear wheel sometimes slightly off center (realized after races). I would like to just stop having to mess with and second guessing if I am giving up time because of these things
I would also like trying 165 or shorter cranks instead of the 170 I have to see of it makes much of a difference
If you’re buying a brand new bike and spending $$$$ you’ll want to future proof yourself and embrace new tech like electronic shifting and disc brakes. I’ve been using electronic shifting since the first iteration of Di2 back in 2011. All my bikes have SRAM eTap AXS now.
I’ve had disc brakes on my road bike for a couple of years now and I just bought a new tri bike a couple of months ago that has disc brakes. Yeah, getting new wheels sucks and is expensive but there’s no way around it.
eTap and Di2 are easy peasy to maintain and adjust. Far easier than mech. Keeping the batteries charged is no biggie. I prefer eTap over Di2 but both have their pros and cons versus each other.
Disc brakes aren’t that difficult to deal with. All in all a bit more complicated and fussy than rim brakes but not that bad. Far superior braking to rim brakes though.
If you’re buying a brand new bike and spending $$$$ you’ll want to future proof yourself and embrace new tech like electronic shifting and disc brakes. I’ve been using electronic shifting since the first iteration of Di2 back in 2011. All my bikes have SRAM eTap AXS now.
I’ve had disc brakes on my road bike for a couple of years now and I just bought a new tri bike a couple of months ago that has disc brakes. Yeah, getting new wheels sucks and is expensive but there’s no way around it.
eTap and Di2 are easy peasy to maintain and adjust. Far easier than mech. Keeping the batteries charged is no biggie. I prefer eTap over Di2 but both have their pros and cons versus each other.
Disc brakes aren’t that difficult to deal with. All in all a bit more complicated and fussy than rim brakes but not that bad. Far superior braking to rim brakes though.
WOW great point about future proofing myself!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to make your post
Ok for sure if I get a new bike I wi get all the new items
BTW how are you liking your new bike? That is the other bike I am considering
I went from a BMC TM01 to a Cervelo P-Series and I so wish I would have done it sooner. The biggest positive change for me is the brake performance. Going from carbon rim brakes is a game changer. I for sure had to learn new things and there have been some learning moments but I have had less flats, better breaking and the shifting is so nice.
I was thinking about this the other day after reading a thread where there were comments about how older tri bikes are just as fast as the newer ones that cost major $$$$. IMO, if you have plenty of $$$ then spend thousands and buy the new tri bike.
But, if you are on a budget, why not stick with the older “optimized” tri bike and use your hard-earned money elsewhere. Why have a ton of money tied up in a bike that maybe will get 300-500 miles a year of racing and that is if you are racing a lot. When you are TT racing how much are you really on the brakes? How often are you really shifting. And won’t a 25mm tire still compete with a 30mm.
I’d used the budgeted bike funds on a smart trainer (if you don’t already have one) and then buy a new or barely used road or gravel bike that has the electronic shifting, disc brakes, and the ability to run wider tires.
Get your structured tri training on the trainer and then go out and have fun riding your new road or gravel bike. Tri bikes are fast but are they fun? YMMV
I think the biggest band for the buck is going to electronic shifting. A number of years ago I put Di2 on my BMC and it changed the way I ride especially on hilly courses. I have moved that shifting from a BMC to a P3 and recently built up a TriRig Omni with it.
I don’t see the need for disc brakes on a tri bike, I can run a 25/28 tire combo and best of all I don’t need to throw away my $4k worth of race wheels. As far as tubeless verses clincher…the terms still don’t make sense to me….I flat maybe once every two to three years running clincher tube tires and don’t have to worry about constantly pumping them up or rotating them as you do with tubeless.
the only thing that bothers me is that the industry is moving away from rim brakes….so my solution is not entirely future proof and if I race long enough in the future to need a new bike may end up having to bite the bullet….but for the next five years I am good…My 2 cents….
BTW how are you liking your new bike? That is the other bike I am considering
It’s a really nice bike and beautifully made and designed. There are a couple of minor things that could be better but overall it’s one hell of a triathlon bike.
I’d highly recommend it. It is certainly different from every other bike.
i’ve sort of compromised. i have a new road/gravel bike, and opted for mechanical shifting. i’m not super interested in electronic, especially for road/gravel. but i do LOVE hydraulic disc brakes - i live in the mountains and they’re superior for sure. also very low maintenance.
i’ve also not bothered to go tubeless - like you i’m reluctant to re-learn how to change a bloody tyre at my age, and at least for now i really don’t feel i’m leaving much on the table by running tubes. i also have multiple bikes and so does my wife, and the idea of keeping out bikes on the same standards is sort of important to me - needing to have 3 different tyre solutions in the same garage starts to feel silly. that said, we have really enjoyed swapping wheelsets since going to disc. i guess we all have to draw the line somewhere!
The industry isn’t moving away from rim brakes. It already moved.
While agreed, locally I don’t see many tri/tt bikes already. Then when I do, I’ve never seen a disc brake model. Now…off road including gravel locally has been there for years. We have a strong cyclocross scene and those folks were 2nd to go disc brake after mtb being 1st. Local cross races you’re now in the minority if you do not have disc brakes. Now roadies locally. I feel tri/TT will be the last to go everywhere from the standpoint of “I don’t use this bike that often” combined with “I rarely touch the brakes riding the tri/tt bike anyway”.
So I guess my question is how has it been for others who went from fairly old school bike to newer?
I made that switch last year - first new Road Bike in over 10 years - first time for eShifting and hydraulic disc brakes.
Overall I love the new bike - an Argon-18 Krypton GF - a true All Rounder!
It’s the little things that were the biggest irritant. I had 2 other sets of nice road wheels that suddenly became useless! Had to change mounts up on the roof rack! Ditto for the fork mounted repair stand. Had to remember to always have a proper hex key in the repair kit to get the wheels off!
For the time being I have stuck with Clinchers and latex tubes for the tires!
I wrote a post a couple years ago on this topic, I’ll drop it below. Just for fun, I may switch back to my 2002 Cervelo P2K when my kid is done using it.
TLDR: In the real world for the average MOP, a super bike is not noticeably faster than a good entry level bike. Depending on finances you might enjoy the extra bells and whistles of a more expensive bike. The usual slowtwitch caveats, it has to fit properly, etc.
I recently upgraded from a 2002 Cervelo P2K (stock wheels) to a brand new Cervelo P3X with HED 60/90 wheels. My experience is that there is little, real world, difference in speed.
My position on the old bike was dialed in and I was comfortable. Same position on the new bike and I’m still comfortable.I was training hard before and I’m still training hard with the new bike.On the old bike I was consistently 2nd - 4th in local sprint races BUT on the new bike I’m … consistently 2nd - 4th in local sprint races.I’m loving the zero maintenance of the new bike. An 18 year old bike takes some TLC.It was getting harder to find replacement parts to fit the old bike.I like the 11 speed vs 9 speed.I love the convenience of the Di2.I love the storage on the P3X
I’m in the same position ie older but dialed tri-bike and considering upgrade. Not to a newer TT but to a newer aero road bike.
My IM, 70.3 bike times are 30-32 kph which is competitive in 65+. My question is at that speed would a newer aero roadie with clip ons be just as good as an older TT?
My thoughts are that it may be just as quick as the old TT but more versatile. My concern is that the newer bikes with discs and electronics are heavier than a 2008 P3 nullifying their advantage on a hillier course.
Anyone else in the same boat?
I had a Shiv tri rim brake for years before selling during COVID. Using those brakes on carbon wheels wasn’t great.
My road bike has disc brakes and when I buy my next tri bike, it must have disc brakes.
Whilst we might not brake much during a triathlon, I want reliable braking for all those training rides where there are cars on the road and you need to stop at traffic lights. Being able to stop quickly and safely on a training ride is way more important than how you use the brakes on race day.
Good job we’re not “the industry” then, and we have free will.
You need electric gears and hydraulic brakes on a bike the same way you need a $500 iPhone 13 to call a taxi
There was a recent GCN video on such a topic, but can’t seem to link videos at the moment. Just a change of front end and probably the old bike would come out ahead.
Good job we’re not “the industry” then, and we have free will.
You need electric gears and hydraulic brakes on a bike the same way you need a $500 iPhone 13 to call a taxi
Yeah, free will is great and you’re free to buy whatever you want up to the point that whatever you want is no longer made.
Go buy a new mid to high end road or triathlon bike and tell me about what you find in mechanical shifting and rim brakes.
What’s wrong with all the bikes already in circulation? Most don’t get totaled or scrapped, and the number of cyclists in the world isn’t growing indefinitely. Just like who the hell actually buys a new car from dealership. Even if you insist on fully-serviced, road-ready refurb with a warranty, there’s plenty of mint used ones around. Doubt buying new is ever cheaper than ordering parts and employing the local bike shop.