My daughters coach would like to see her get a tri bike as opposed to her old Klien road bike. I have narrowed it down
to a P2SL PRO.(Alum frame DA and Ultegra components) or a Trek TTX 9.0. The trek is an entry level carbon frame with Shimano 105
components. I want this to be a bike she can grow with. She has been hooked on this sport for a couple of years ,and is progressing nicely.
We dont have a Cervelo lbs here, but he can get me one. He will sell me the Trek for pretty close to the same price. + $300.
Im thinking that the components outweigh the frame. Any thoughts?
Will you adopt me? 
why not let your daughter choose?
These two bikes have a TOTALLY different fit, so the choice should be obvious if you take her to try them out. From what I’m told, Trek doesn’t make a good bike for a small person, but someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
So as is said time and time again, fit, fit, fit!
I think they’re both awesome bikes. Lucky girl!
Jodi
K, is that you? If so, her coach (MC) says go with the the P2SL (or a similar bike on which she can get a steep, seriously aggressive fit). Her coach also recommends a trip down south to NC to IOS for a proper fit and other frame options in case the P2SL doesn’t fit quite right. Remember, the frame materials/brand and components aren’t all that important. An aggressively aerodynamic position is. Whatever frame it takes to achieve that fit is what you want to buy–Trek, Cervelo, or otherwise.
If this isn’t K and you don’t know who MC is, the advice still stands. 
If it is K, drop me a PM. Didn’t you know I live on ST round the clock? Someone has to be here to keep an eye on things . . .
How tall is your daughter? Smallest carbon TTX frame size is 54cm.
.
Please don’t give in to the Cervelo mafia. The Trek TTX is an awesome bike. It is plenty steep enough for Team Discovery and many awesome triathletes (Tim DeBoom). The TTX frame is better than the P2SL frame in my opinion. Carbon is more foregiving. Upgrades to the TTX bike over time would simply necessitate upgrading components on an already awesome frame. 105 to Ultegra or Dura-Ace. The only difference between the TTX 9.9 and the 9.0 I think is the components and the type of carbon. However geometry and aerodynamics are the same. So go for a top of the line bike frame rather an aluminum P2SL which while a great bike hasn’t really changed much in the last 5 years or more very similar to original P2 and P2K etc.
Now if you were talking about the P2C that is a different story and then i think it will be about cost and personal preference.
Get the Trek if it fits!
She is just a bit under 5’9". We are thinking 54 would be her size. I love my 07 Madone 5.5. I have had zero probs with my Trek bikes. Also have an Equinox 9
that son in law scarfed from me. I just liked the specs on the Cervelo. I had a Fuji with the entry level carbon, and it just wasnt that great. I am waiting to see the 08 P2SL
before I pull the trigger. Anyone see the 08 Cervelos yet?
She’s almost 5’9" and you want a bike “she can grow with”… lord, how tall are you folks???
I’m not sure why someone said they fit so differently because their geometry doesn’t seem to indicate that:
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/triathlon/equinox_ttx/equinoxttx90/
(note it comes in several sizes smaller than 54, but that’s no concern to you tall folk)
I would bet that in a blind test between a TTX 9.0 and 9.9 with the same components you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in the ride.
I am not sure about the P2SL, but if it fits like the P2C, then you’re totally right, the E-TTX and the Cervelo have very similar geometry.
I am not sure why some people fail to realize that Cervelo isn’t the only company to figure out tri bike geometry. They may have figured out the ultra-low headtube bike best with the P3C, but most people riding that bike shouldn’t be on it anyway.
The P2C and E-TTX are both great bikes, between the P2SL and the E-TTX, I would go with the E-TTX. I am sure the guy and his daughter will upgrade over time and you will probably feel better putting money into the Trek frame than the Cervelo.
Has Slowman taught you people nothing? Look to stack and reach…
Stack and Reach for a 54cm P2SL - 51.2 41.8
Satck and Reach for a Small ETTX- 52.0 39.0
Stack and Reach for a Medium ETTX- 53.0 41.7
2.8 centimeters of reach is fairly significant to me. Thats the difference between a 10cm stem and a 13cm stem, which means a fairly drastic change in handling of the bike.
The ETTX looks closer in a Medium to a 54cm P2SL. And even though the headtube heights are similar of you only look at the geometry tables, the Trek has more BB drop and what I suspect is a higher axle to crown fork height which creates an even higher head tube.
I see what your saying. Not sure if I worded it wrong, but I was trying to compare an E-TTX medium to a 54cm P2SL.
Actually, more specifically, an E-TTX medium to a 54cm P2C…which were two bikes I had been fit on (from there I was just assuming the P2SL and P2C fit fairly similar).
You didn’t do anything wrong. I just think they aren’t quite the same geometry. I think the Trek is meant to be ridden a little higher, and isn’t meant to go as steep as the Cervelo.
I think the 2cm in HT height is fairly significant. But that could be just me.
Definitely. Again, I was mostly talking P2C vs. TTX and in my size I believe the headtubes are the same.
And yeah, the P2C is obviously the higher headtubed of Cervelo’s carbon tri bikes and it matches the TTX, so definitely meant to be ridden a little higher up front (which for most people might be a good thing, at least most people on P3Cs around here).
The headtubes are close to the same, but if you look at the stack difference the P2c is about 2cm lower.
This is in part due to various factors…
The BB drop is about 1cm more on the Trek
The Head tube is about .5 cm longer
The head tube sits about .5 cm higher due to the proprietary fork.
The P3c is an incredibly low bike and not a great choice for many, a P2c is still a fairly low bike but probably about half of all people are a good fit for it, the Trek is a whole nother step in higher poisition beyond that of the P2c if you look at the details.
I broke down and ordered her a new 08 Orbea Ordu, in white. Ultegra sl components. Then I bought the son in law a brand new special edition Trek TTX
06 model in black.All dura ace all carbon. Got good deals on both from LBS. These should last them for years. Cant wait to surprise them. They are working so hard.
I broke down and ordered her a new 08 Orbea Ordu, in white. Ultegra sl components. Then I bought the son in law a brand new special edition Trek TTX 06 model in black.All dura ace all carbon. Got good deals on both from LBS. These should last them for years. Cant wait to surprise them. They are working so hard.
Do you have a daughter left? If yes I’d like to marry her. My size for a ttx would be “large” …
Frank
Any sons left. I have no experience playing for that team but I may be willing for for a new Ordu. It would have to be Dura Ace equipped though.