So I currently own a 2003 Soloist and a P3SL. I have been using the Soloist generally for my short training rides (injured for a year just starting back up at 20k rides). I have noticed that with a low fitness that I currently have the times for an all out effort on either are almost identical and in fact I am faster on the soloist.
My question is: do I really need to have a TT if I want to get my fitness back and make IMUSA in 2009? I am not competive, I am a humble MOP to BOP.
Should I sell the P3SL to someone more needing of such a machine?
I should add that both are full DA except cranks which are both FSA, although the Soloist is running a compact (used to live in a very hilly area) and the P3 is running the regular EXO.
Unless you want to take a hit on the sale of the P3sl or if you need the cash for another bike, why sell it? Only time I have sold bikes was to pay for new one!
"Should I sell the P3SL to someone more needing of such a machine? "
Don’t sell yourself short. You have as much right to the bike as anyone else regardless of your placing. I say keep them both…and then buy another one…
A Fixed gear
A dedicated trainer bike
A cross bike
A lugged steel classic road bike
A full suspension MTN
A Hardtail MTN
and I think everyone, at some point should buy a custom…(strong, Kirk, Sachs, Vanilla, etc.)
Sounds like you and I are in the same boat. This spring I did a tonne of riding on my Soloist while my P3 sat in pieces in the basement. Finally got around to building the P3 up again and I still only train on it half the time. I don’t know, I have really been enjoying the road bike more.
And my speed is relatively the same on each.
M~
A Fixed gear
A dedicated trainer bike
A cross bike
A lugged steel classic road bike
A full suspension MTN
A Hardtail MTN
and I think everyone, at some point should buy a custom…(strong, Kirk, Sachs, Vanilla, etc.)
SO, he’s at LEAST seven bikes down…YMMV.
I have a lugged steel classic road bike (if 1987 is classic) that I am thinking about making into either a cross bike (more to use for fun in the winter and to ride to work) or a single speed.
I have a P3 and a Trek 5200. I ride the trek early spring, for fun, in group rides and for any slow riding. I am MUCH faster on the P3 . I ride it for specific tri training, hard rides, fast rides. I have a friend who had both , He always said he was faster on his road bike. We have a weekly race (small Du) in the spring. He decided to alternate bikes. He rode both 3 times. All of the tri bike times were faster. I am very comfortable on my tri bike. I feel like I save energy, go faster, stay fresher, stay more relaxed on my P3.
If you want my advise keep both bikes and buy a cyclo-cross bike for gravel road and winter riding and get a MTB for trail riding. Then you may not be MOP. You can never have to many bikes!
I’m trying an experiment this year, simplifying with a dual purpose road/tri Kestrel Talon. Traditionally I owned a road bike and tri bike (Giant TCR & QR Kilo, Lemond & Cervelo P2K). I’ll see how this works. I don’t really want to purchase another bike for two more years until my son finishes college, but may pick up a used Dual or P2K if the Talon experiment doesn’t work out.
Reality is, you can never own enough bikes if you can afford them.
I like the idea and simplicity of having one bike and the Cervelo Solosit fits that bill to a Tee. Now using a road bike with shortie clip-on bars is not for everyone, but from what and how I see many people riding in triathlons thses days it may be a better option for many more than you think ( Many people are riding super low and aero bikes in an ill-positioned fashion that obliterates any gains made by the bike)
I had gotten the FIST (man that sounds dirty) fit done early this year. I feel okay on it but sometimes I feel I have too much pressure on my shoulders, I may need to put back in a few spacers.
Going faster, comfort etc is poor justification in my book for buying/wanting a new bike, cool poser factor, ride with buddies to coffee shop is the only real good reason! LOL
R3, Colnago C50 or E-Power, a Pegoretti, or similar with Record, light weight exotic wheels, full carbon bar/stem combo and cool limited edition saddle - something along those lines is what slowtriathlete really needs - after he sells the P3! Never figured out the obsession with going fast!
