I am brand new to this forum, we did our first Sprint tri last year and we are both long time touring cyclist. My wife and I used our old touring bikes last year and are looking to update. We are just starting to get back into shape, but want to be competitive in the bike leg (The wife wants an incredibility fast bike, and dose not care how much it cost me).
She is 5’ 4” (131 lbs), I am 6’1” and 210 (Down 70lbs,) We have made the big decision of going with a tri specific bike and will use the old bikes for longer base mile training.
Here are the options we are considering:
Cervelo
06” Duel, 48cm for $1500 for her
07” P2 SL, 54cm for $2300 for me.
Felt
06” S22, 48cm for $2000 for her
06”, B2, 54cm for $3400 for me
(My wife would like to point out at this point that my bikes options cost more then hers, its all about me)
I know that the new 07” Felts look great but our LBS has not received a shipment of the S22 and will not for at least three weeks and has no idea when they will get the new B2. The shop that sells the Cervelo has limited sizes and can order anything we want. We have also looked and talked about the Cervelo Soloist before we decided to go the Tri route.
ironcamper
03-25-07, 07:57 AM
I am a big fan of Cervelo. It seems like many companies imitate their designs. I have a P2K and a P3 Carbon and if you want fast bikes, these fit the bill. Great value for the money. Very comfortable. Frame warranty. I would seriously look at the P2SL or P2 Carbon but for God's sake, get the wife the same bike. It is far easier to spend a little extra on her now then wait until she wants to upgrade later and realizes she could also upgrade you (the one that bought yourself the better bike and went cheap on her). ;)
ken032101
03-26-07, 09:11 AM
54" seems small for for someone who is 6'1". Is this the sizing from the LBS?
Dalai
03-26-07, 09:31 PM
54" seems small for for someone who is 6'1". Is this the sizing from the LBS?
Not necessarily too small... I am 183cm (ride 56cm road) and have a 52cm P3. Though usual rule of thumb is 2 cm shorter than your road frame...
cjbruin
03-27-07, 12:00 AM
I have a 2006 P2 SL and I like it a lot...I highly recommend it.
broomsquire
03-27-07, 05:16 AM
The Cervelo was a 54 and the Felt is a 56. both fitted at the LBS. I am sure it is a fluke that that is the size thay had on the floor. I am going to pick up the felt tonight. I like the ride a little better and the better wheels and components
TechJunkie
03-27-07, 10:20 AM
The Cervelo was a 54 and the Felt is a 56. both fitted at the LBS. I am sure it is a fluke that that is the size thay had on the floor.
The top tube on the Cervelos are longer than other mfgs. A 51cm has a 56 cm top tube, and a 56 is a 57cm top tube.
Triguy
03-27-07, 10:29 AM
The top tube on the Cervelos are longer than other mfgs. A 51cm has a 56 cm top tube, and a 56 is a 57cm top tube.
However their reach is comparably equal or shorter to most tri bikes which is a much more pertinent number.
c0urt
03-27-07, 01:42 PM
i am 5'10 and was told by my lbs i need a 56 cervelo. i got on a trainer on one and it didnt feel bad
rplong
03-27-07, 06:05 PM
i am 5'10 and was told by my lbs i need a 56 cervelo. i got on a trainer on one and it didnt feel bad
5'11'' here and i ride currently ride a 54. Thinking I could have gone with a 52 a year later... =/
sloaccord
03-27-07, 07:18 PM
currently riding the new s22 in a 58.
i love my bike, and my choice was based mostly on aesthetics; any of the bikes you listed would be awesome.
my only quibble would be felt's stock seat, also known as the taint attacker.
c0urt
03-27-07, 07:35 PM
5'11'' here and i ride currently ride a 54. Thinking I could have gone with a 52 a year later... =/
if this sounds weird i am sorry, but whats your inseam. mine is a 34 at 5'10. and now i am curious if i should go with a 56 or a 54cm cervelo. i tried a 56 specialized, and it was WAYYYYY to big.
strukljv
03-28-07, 06:30 AM
I don't mean to bust your bubble, you would probably benefit just as much by getting the Dual or S22 for both of you, and you'd save some money. Even those are nice bikes to get started with. Both of those bikes are very well equipped and aren't just a road bike w/aero bars. I'm in college and started out by riding a fixed gear, once I started training seriously for the sport I made the switch to a tri specific bike and went w/the Dual. It has been an amazing bike so far. One of my good friends has the S22, same situation, started w/a fixed gear and made the switch to a tri specific bike when he got into the sport. Both bikes have proven to be great buys, and neither forced us to sell an arm or a liver. I also think you'd probably appreciate a P2SL or a B2 more after you ride a tri bike for awhile. If you really feel like spending money you may also benefit from the Dual or S22 and a nice pair of race wheels (I was able to find some HED3's on the Slowtwitch forum). I don't want to come off as rude or as a know it all, but it just seemed like for somebody who is taking a first stab at competitive cycling and tris those were some mega purchases. But don't get me wrong, if I had the money, I'd be buying a B2 or maybe a P2C, or maybe a P3C, or a TT01. haha. And whatever you do get keep us updated. Feel free to pm w/any questions.
Joe
broomsquire
03-30-07, 05:53 PM
Well we pick up our bikes on monday. Got the Felts for both of us. I think that the B2 fit me a little better and I liked the wheels and components better. After riding them this week I am happy with our discion. I know they were a lot of cash, but my student loans are all payed off and at this point in my life it is an investment in my continued weight loss and improved fitness.
My only mistake was not getting the wife a better bike. She noticed that my 56cm bike weights less then her 48cm. She has a bid on a pair of Zipp wheels on e-bay as we speak. We are both competative and have been running and swimming all winter. Its time to get back on the bikes and i dont want someone beating me on the bike leg because I didn't spend enough :)