Triathlon - Need advice on tri-bike selection...

I want a new tri-bike for under $2,000 and my finalists are:
1) Cervelo P1 - $1,700 (LBS)
2) Felt S22 - $1,550 (LBS)
3) Kestrel Talon (Regular or SL) - $1,500 or $1,900 for the SL (www.bikesdirect.com)

I understand very well how important fit is and I have ridden both the P1 and S22 a few times this past week. I've read every review available on the web for each of the 3 bikes. I will use this bike for Sprint Tris, Olympic distances and a Half IM once a year (I train on a Serotta road bike right now). The Cervelo has many fans for obvious reasons, the S22 rode great as well, the Talon is full carbon and seems to a great value for the price point. I am looking for candid opinions from people who are experienced riders on what bike you would choose and why. Thanks all, I appreciate your feedback very much.

The bike that rides the best, not the value.

You can get the P1 cheaper than $1700 ... search online.

i got a p2-sl from competitive cyclist for 1199. of course, it hasn't arrived in the mail yet... but it's ordered.

I want a new tri-bike for under $2,000 and my finalists are:
1) Cervelo P1 - $1,700 (LBS)
2) Felt S22 - $1,550 (LBS)
3) Kestrel Talon (Regular or SL) - $1,500 or $1,900 for the SL (www.bikesdirect.com)

I understand very well how important fit is and I have ridden both the P1 and S22 a few times this past week. I've read every review available on the web for each of the 3 bikes. I will use this bike for Sprint Tris, Olympic distances and a Half IM once a year (I train on a Serotta road bike right now). The Cervelo has many fans for obvious reasons, the S22 rode great as well, the Talon is full carbon and seems to a great value for the price point. I am looking for candid opinions from people who are experienced riders on what bike you would choose and why. Thanks all, I appreciate your feedback very much.

I'd go with the Nemesis from bikes direct, before I'd go with the Talon. The Talon is basically a road bike with aero bars. Wish I knew what Kestral was thinking with that geometry. I'm uncomfortable just thinking about it. The Nemesis is aluminum, but at least is a 76° STA. For under a grand, including shipping and tax, you've got a great starter tri bike. Use the saving to buy a wetsuit and some other accessories. If you go with the Kestral, and BD eventually does come out with a true carbon TT frame, you'll be uncomfortable and angry.

You may also want to look at the QR Seduza (http://quintanarootri.com/QR_bikes/seduza/seduza.html), which is a full carbon bike for less that 2K. That seems like a very good value.

BD, when are you going to come out with a real full carbon tri-bike?? :notamused:

I work in a shop that sells Cevelo's. We a deal Kestral. I have had some experience with the Felt. First, Cevelo stands behind the product BETTER then either Felt or Kestral:thumb:. We had a tri customer who had a Felt that cracked after less 1 year. He took the bike back to the dealer her purchased from and was told by Felt sorry, not covered under the warranty:(. As for Kestral, Have another customer that had his Talon crack by the BB. Last October we sent the frame back to Kestral. We got the run around ALL winter long:mad:. Finally, last month we got a new frame and built it up for the customer. Needles to say neither of these guys were very happy with there experiences.
Cevelo, on the other hand is very good about warranty issues as there reaction to the Wolf fork recall last year:thumb:. Very proactive.

If I had the choices you have I would go with the Cervelo. Have your dealer do a complete fit. Worth the expense.