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3critters

19 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

Nov 11, 2007 7:55 PM

which tri bike?

I have done a couple of tri's and have trained for a few years, I am ready to buy a tri bike finally, well almost. I've been riding a mountain bike...ugh!!!! I am looking to be competitve, not just do it just for the fun of it, of course I will be doing that too! however, i do not have $10k to dump on a new bike, nor $5k for that matter. My thinking is that I don't want to buy a $1,500 bike when I need a $2,500 bike. I figure why waste money, but rather save it for when I can afford a better bike straight off. (I'm not including upgrades over the years, I assume upgrade pieces are going to happen either way).

So: I was thinking of starting out with a carbon bike in the $2,600 range. My local bike shop recommended (all '08, they sold out of the '06, '07) the Felt B2, K-Factor SL Kuota, and the Cervelo P2C. (some aren't in yet of course). I don't think I can afford the $3000 Cervelo P3C.

Of course it would be great to get the '07 to save money, etc.

As I am in this for the long haul do you guys have any recommendations between the 3 mentioned, or other bikes, as there are tons of them.

Thanks

katie

ltubound

93 posts since
Aug 20, 2007

1. Nov 12, 2007 7:27 AM

in response to: 3critters

Re: which tri bike?

Id say you cannot go wrong with either the B2 or the P2C, if it between those 2 bikes for you, I'd look at getting the best equipment for it. For instance on the B2 if your bike shop will throw in carbon wheelset, but they won't on the P2C, then go with the P2. Just look at the extras you can get on one of those over the other one. I can't give you a concrete anwser on this only because I don't know how much your bike shop will throw in. Its too bad that they are out of last years models, usually really great deals to be had there. You could also check online for a bike, I've found some really great deals at trisports.com. If you know your size already.

Are you sure you need a $2600 bike? Does the frame have to be carbon? There are top athletes that use alum frames still, I guess it all depends on how much frame stiffness you like on your bike. The weight savings is nice, but if you can get an aluminum frame and carbon wheels, you might be a little faster since there is less rotating mass.

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itri

48 posts since
Sep 13, 2007

2. Nov 12, 2007 8:14 AM

in response to: 3critters

Re: which tri bike?

I agree it would be hard to go wrong with either the B2 or P2C. I think anything above this (such as the P3) the performance gains are marginal at best for the extra money required. One other thing you may want to think about it that the Cervelo is extremely popular and may be easier to re sell if you every needed to get rid of it or win the lottery and want to upgrade. Good luck!

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3critters

19 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

3. Nov 12, 2007 11:44 AM

in response to: itri

Re: which tri bike?

Well it's just a matter of not having to buy another bike in a year or two for a better one. I know me! I just feel that is a waste of money. However I do understand what you mentioned about the P3 being marginally better as well as other more expensive bikes at $4k+, in that I don't need those.

I don't necessarily NEED an all carbon bike. However, it's just a matter of getting the most for my money at the top of what I can...ehem...strain to afford, not having won the lottery and all yet! I've saved up enough for a $1700 bike and the more research I do the more it's seems economical to get the carbon bike straight off. I hear too many people saying they wish they would have waited a little longer to save up for the next level bike.

I'm still in the learning stages of the dynamics of what is better as a whole and personal preference. I've got all the training down and am in the infancy stages (I'd almost say embryo stage!) of the bike lingo and what the heck is what. But again I want to be competive and when I come out top 3 in the water (my age group), basically last in the bike with a mountain bike, and somewhere in the middle of the run, the mountain bike is a little frustrating. Well, I'm not frustrated in the least with my mountain bike. I'm just ready to get serious about the sport. I don't want to buy the cheapest, yet I know I don't need to be buying a $5k bike to get to my personal best.

I think the alum bikes run about $1k less approx. than the carbon ones. The B2 had better wheels than the C2, but that is not as big of a deal right now. I think wheels start at $600, so would have to save some there for new wheels at a later date.

Also about the stiffness of the bike, again I've using a mountain bike (one that I got to ride around the neighborhood with my kids), so whatever I get I will just get used to.

If you have any suggestions on alum ones that would be great too! I will check out Trisports too. ****, I need a walkthrough on all the ins and outs of the equipment on the bike. Oh well have to start somewhere! I'll chat with someone I know personally who can go through a bike with detail (besides the store). Hopefully she will be willing to do this for me!

Any other vital points you think I should consider would be great!

Itubound and itri, Thanks so much for your help. I'm on the right track then, and have been told some good stuff by one of the local shops!

Katie

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3critters

19 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

4. Nov 12, 2007 5:35 PM

in response to: 3critters

Re: which tri bike?

apparently one of the local bike shops let customers take some home for a few days to try them out. so hopefully this being true i will be able to get a feal for all style bikes (road/tri) as well as the carbon and alum. this will definitely help narrow down my decision. i'm not in a hurry so hopefully along with both of your help and more info i will make the right choice for me!

thanks

katie

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TYB_athlete

1 posts since
Nov 13, 2007

5. Nov 13, 2007 9:11 AM

in response to: 3critters

Re: which tri bike?

I did my first multisport event (a duathlon) in 10/2006 on a Felt F-80 Road Bike. This year I moved up to Triathlons and upgraded to the Cervelo P2C. I thought about the aluminum models, but went ahead with the carbon so that I wouldn't be saying to myself later, "Why didn't I go with the carbon?".

I must say that I have been totally satisfied with my decision. I am usually get out of the swim in the last 1/2 to last 3rd of the swimmers (need more work on the swim), but once I am on the bike (P2C) I am riding along passing people one after another; for me, the P2C is really smooth. I also test rode the B2, the P2, and the Dual.

I hope you find the best one for you.

Bill

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3critters

19 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

6. Nov 13, 2007 8:55 PM

in response to: TYB_athlete

Re: which tri bike?

Thanks for your reply Bill. I want to avoid what you did: buy one just to upgrade to another one later.

If I were doing this for the shear pleasure of it I would buy a cheaper bike. But I want to be competitive with others and myself. The one bike store I went to made a good point summarizing what I'm looking for by saying "when you are finished in the end you want the time to reflect your actual ability and not be hindered by equipment, but without having to pay a fortune for it". well something to that effect!

I will add that I went into the store asking about the P2C and the equivalent. They made a few suggestions to the differences between the Felt and P2 as well as the difference between carbon and alum. They did not give me a line of BS sounding like sales people just to sell something more expensive. They really listened to what I had to say and answered my questions plus more.

I think as of right now I will stick with the P2C, however all of last year's models at the one store are sold out. I really do not want to buy the full price of $2600.

It sounds like I am on the right track. I just need to save up just a little more money &/or wait for a great sale! (there are a few bike shops near me someone's got to have something!)

Thanks again to everyone who replied it was very helpful!

Katie

P.S. My last years tri that i did i was 2nd out of the water and about 3rd from last coming out on the bike (riding a recreational mountain bike) in my age group. And people from the next wave after me passed me up too. I'm 35 now. So I am looking forward to at least keeping pace with a new bike!

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