This past weekend at Lake Placid I was happy to see the number of old cervelo p-3c. And the old 2 for that fact. Don’t get me wrong there were tons of new bikes with price tags that are cringe-worthy. But I was definitely surprised by the number of the older cervelo’s. Alot of which had very nice setups and we’re very well put together. There is obviously constant discussion about the price tag of this sport but the fact remains a well put together P 2/3/4 it’s still a great bike that’s giving up very little. I’m not knocking the people with the expensive bikes if you got the money why not spend it. But for those who don’t have tons of cash laying around there are some killer options for fast bikes.
This past weekend at Lake Placid I was happy to see the number of old cervelo p-3c. And the old 2 for that fact. Don’t get me wrong there were tons of new bikes with price tags that are cringe-worthy. But I was definitely surprised by the number of the older cervelo’s. Alot of which had very nice setups and we’re very well put together. There is obviously constant discussion about the price tag of this sport but the fact remains a well put together P 2/3/4 it’s still a great bike that’s giving up very little. I’m not knocking the people with the expensive bikes if you got the money why not spend it. But for those who don’t have tons of cash laying around there are some killer options for fast bikes.
I still have one with a fairly tidy front end and am happy with the fit. When I need the extra 5mins or so to KQ, I’ll drop the cash, but with rim brakes seemingly being on the way out, I’d need new wheels etc. as well. And I’d need to learn how to do emergency wrenching on the disc brakes when unpacking.
I’m a P2 guy and I was also noticing the number of P2/3s on the course. I was out in Jay in the middle of the hill cheering so I got to complement a lot of owners on their bee you tee full Cervelo bikes. BTW, saw one fat bike and several 70/80’s vintage bikes out there one with a disk.
Good post. I have a 2012 p3. I’ve been wondering whether I’m actually giving up anything with that bike versus something new? I’m guessing answer is no, but curious, because “n + 1†. Focus mostly on Olympic distance for me.
I’m still riding a 2003 Cervelo P2k. It is 100% stock. In fact, I had the very first breakdown last week when my BB started creaking. Besides the normal consumables, that was the only repair it has ever needed. 16 years with no repair work sounds amazing to me, especially living in high humidity and constant sweat dripping on it.
The big question I have is, ignoring race wheels, how many additional watts, mph, or whatever will I get with a P3X or P5 or TriRig Omni, etc. over my ancient P2k?
I’ll bet that number of watts improvement is going to be so small that it is not worth it. Now, it might be so much fun that I might buy a new bike anyway but I wouldn’t expect to see any significant performance gain. I’d love for someone to prove me wrong so that I can justify a new bike …
Edit: I guess it is not 100% stock, I changed the saddle, added a minoura and computer mount
Update cockpit; get aero brakes; tidy cables; get fast wheels; good hydration set up etc. and I’m willing to bet the difference is very small. I am in the process of doing exactly what OP said others are doing—optimizing an old P2 and
saving thousands and thousands of dollars and might be giving up a few seconds.
This past weekend at Lake Placid I was happy to see the number of old cervelo p-3c. And the old 2 for that fact. Don’t get me wrong there were tons of new bikes with price tags that are cringe-worthy. But I was definitely surprised by the number of the older cervelo’s. Alot of which had very nice setups and we’re very well put together. There is obviously constant discussion about the price tag of this sport but the fact remains a well put together P 2/3/4 it’s still a great bike that’s giving up very little. I’m not knocking the people with the expensive bikes if you got the money why not spend it. But for those who don’t have tons of cash laying around there are some killer options for fast bikes.
Same here. I saw a lot of P2’s (mine was one of them). At the end of the day is the engine mostly. I PR’d the course by 20 minutes on the exact same bike / wheels / setup that I used in 2016 (minus the xlab torpedo that I don’t like anymore)
I’m also rocking a P2C I got in 2009. Crikey. 10 years old.
Running either Zipp 808’s (with a fake disc cover thingy) or tri/4 spoke combo, tririg brakes and just fitted Alpha cockpit. Not brave enough to drill the top tube for the cable routing mod.
Guy who did my bike fit (who’s pretty well known on here I think) suggested the biggest plus I’d get from a new bike would be the new bike feel.
But for the speed I go and my level of (un)fitness, I just can’t justify dropping a few thousand of our tiny kiwi dollars on a new bike/frame (plus new disc brake wheels, Di2, 11 speed etc etc) especially if I’m not sure I’d actually be any quicker…
The apostrophe misuse is cringeworthy.
The apostrophe misuse is cringeworthy.
I could blame talk to text which is how I post it this thread. However my spelling is horrendous anyway you cut it. But being part of the grammar police does make you a dick 
Agree, I am a dick, but a dick who mastered junior high grammar. 😊
I think if I was starting over I would probably go with a p 3 c or P4 and just make it as clean as possible.
I’m still riding a 2003 Cervelo P2k. It is 100% stock. In fact, I had the very first breakdown last week when my BB started creaking. Besides the normal consumables, that was the only repair it has ever needed. 16 years with no repair work sounds amazing to me, especially living in high humidity and constant sweat dripping on it.
The big question I have is, ignoring race wheels, how many additional watts, mph, or whatever will I get with a P3X or P5 or TriRig Omni, etc. over my ancient P2k?
I’ll bet that number of watts improvement is going to be so small that it is not worth it. Now, it might be so much fun that I might buy a new bike anyway but I wouldn’t expect to see any significant performance gain. I’d love for someone to prove me wrong so that I can justify a new bike …
Edit: I guess it is not 100% stock, I changed the saddle, added a minoura and computer mount
I do t know my Cervelos that well but I think the P2k is the aluminum frame. If that is correct than you might find one of Tom A’s posts about Chung testing the aluminum vs Carbon frames. There is a good reason why they make bikes out of carbon. 10 watts
I’m in the old p2c club as well. Bought it used about 5 years ago, it’s a 2009. Has Reynolds race wheels that are presumably also around 10 years old. I like to look at new bikes but it’s not clear to me that I would actually be significantly faster on a $6,000 bike. I sure would like better brakes and electronic shifting though…
I’m still rocking a 2007 P2c, probably going to be riding that same bike when (if) I earn my elite license. Will probably get a new bike someday, but I’m overall fairly happy with it
Love my P3c…especially love riding past (old guys start at the back) newer bikes, some of which make strange noises.
Well, bikes are expensive and I’m guessing that Triathletes also like to suck the marrow from the bone as well. I just bought my Argon E-119 in the fall, probably not upgrading from that for at least 7 years haha.
For all the talk of how expensive tri bikes are, my 2006 P3C I bought three years ago for $600 on craigslist has served me very well in 2019.