Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Cervelo P3 track- good deal?

I have the opportunity to buy a Cevelo P3 track frameset (frame, fork, seatpost, and cane creek headset) for $500. It's not the new carbon one, it's an aluminum frame with carbon fork and post.
Should I go for it? Is $500 too high?
I've been looking for a track bike as I've just gotten into track racing (borrowing a friend's bike) and have been doing pretty well. But my budget was about $500-600 for a full bike. This seems like such a good deal though that I'm thinking maybe I should just buy the cervelo, and throw some ok parts on it that I have laying around.

What do you think I should do? What would you offer for the P3?

I don't think the P3 Track is available in aluminum. I think you have a P2 track on your hands.

$500 is a fair price. Fair meaning not great but not bad. You will still have to invest another $400 - $1,000 (depending your your tastes) to get rolling.

I say save about $800 total and buy a NEW Fuji Track Comp or a Felt TK3.

Oh, by the way. If it's a P2 or P3 TIME TRIAL frame with SHORT horizontal dropouts, I'd pass altogether. Even though the dropouts are horizontal, the short length will severely limit gear options.

Oh, by the way. If it's a P2 or P3 TIME TRIAL frame with SHORT horizontal dropouts, I'd pass altogether. Even though the dropouts are horizontal, the short length will severely limit gear options.

Yeah, turns out it has a deraileur hanger so it must be a tt frame. So I've decided to pass, not only for the short drop outs but I'm not sure if the geometry is the same as a track frame blah blah blah.

Any suggestions to a different bike under around $800, I know you already said the Felt or the Fuji but any other ideas? I've been borrowing an older Cannondale caad 5 (I think) and love it but have had some trouble finding them for sale.

not to be sound shillish, but check the motobecane thread a few posts below this.

not to be sound shillish, but check the motobecane thread a few posts below this.

Honestly, that bike is a big question mark:

- When will it ship?
- Will there be back orders as it seems to be popular?
- What components will it ship with? (will it actually ship with the prototype's goodies?)

That bike seems to be marketed towards those that aren't racing but want the race look.

It's coming to the end of the summer and track season in general, so I say go for one of the many tried and true products readily available. I see more Fuji Track Comps than any other for new riders at the track.

According to the website (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/team_track.htm), it will ship on 11/15. It may be back-ordered eventually, but I tend to think that the Bikes Direct "LIMITED QUANTITIES BUY NOW BEFORE THEY'RE ALL GONE!!!" stuff is mostly marketing, and even if it's not, it's not as though track bikes are the easiest things to track down. The specs are published and they're taking pre-orders. If they change specs after widely publicizing them and after people have put money down on the bike, they'd have a lot of unhappy customers, so I don't think they'd do that.

According to the website (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/team_track.htm), it will ship on 11/15. It may be back-ordered eventually, but I tend to think that the Bikes Direct "LIMITED QUANTITIES BUY NOW BEFORE THEY'RE ALL GONE!!!" stuff is mostly marketing, and even if it's not, it's not as though track bikes are the easiest things to track down. The specs are published and they're taking pre-orders. If they change specs after widely publicizing them and after people have put money down on the bike, they'd have a lot of unhappy customers, so I don't think they'd do that.

November 15th? Today is August 14th. A lot can happen in 3 months. And I definitely know what's NOT happening in 3 months for the OP...RIDING.

As the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

If the OP has patience enough to wait 3 months for this bike to ship, then I'm sure he as the patience to wait one more month to see the end product before committing (and tying up) his money. Either way, he's not riding this season.

I got this: http://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/1314277049.html

So I'm happy :)

Already paid for it and everything? I'd just be worried because the listing is still up.

Anyway, great deal! Congratulations.

I got this: http://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/1314277049.html

So I'm happy :)

The listing is gone. What is it? Pics?

It was a Fuji Track Pro from 2004 or so for $500.

D*mn! That's a deal!

Oops yeah, 2003 fuji track pro- all stock- http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?ItemID=38427&Type=bike
except he switched out the miche crank for the same exact one but with longer arms and a 51t chainring.
but he's including the stock crank. So I got two Miche Track cranks. Came today, very happy.

I'll post real pictures if anyone's interested.