Cervelo vs. Trek?

[silver]

I'm "just thinking" about getting a tri bike.

Shhhhh!!! don't let Mr. see this post!

I'm thinking about either the

Cervelo P2C Ultegra SL

http://www.nytro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=09CERVELO%5FP2

or the Trek TTX 9.5

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/triathlon/equinox_ttx/equinoxttx95

The Cervelo is less $$... I like it better.... Is there any way to compare weights?

Any other thoughts? Has any one ridden both?

[Mr. Bloom]

;)Shhhh! Tell her neither!

[HillSlugger]

Cervelo is wildly popular right now. Don't hear much about Trek TT bikes with the Tri crowd. Hate the color of the Trek!

[Lori81295]

When I was at Gilles in early fall, they had a road bike that had the green on it. At first glance, I thought it was ugly. The longer I looked at it the more I liked it. But I know nothing about the tri-bikes. :)

[Aggie_Ama]

I know nothing about Tri bikes but in Tri-crazy Austin I never really see Trek but I see a lot of Cervelo. Could be because one of the big Tri shops sells Cervelo but none of them sell Trek, could be another reason. There is a huge Trek shop but it isn't Tri specific. I am sure the Tri girls will weigh in with some real information you can use.

Buy the Cervelo, it is cheaper, you like it better and Cervelos have that sexy bling factor right now. :) Sorry Mr Silver!

[silver]

Buy the Cervelo, it is cheaper, you like it better and Cervelos have that sexy bling factor right now. :) Sorry Mr Silver!

I love you!!!

[Zen]

Don't you two live in the same house?

[ehirsch83]

Just a random thing to throw in here! What about for the same price range going for a Specialized? Or even a Jamis or Felt? All 3 have hidden brakes, which will create greater aerodynamics and shave a little more time...

http://feltracing.com/09-catalog/time-trial-triathlon/tt-tri-series/09-b12.aspx

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/xenith/09_xenitht1.html

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39235&eid=113

I am looking at the Transition for myself. I feel the frame is a step ahead of the others, with the felt right behind it and the jamis right there also(but the Jamis is the most expensive)

Just throwing out the idea that some other brands might offer a little more for the same price range, and causing a little more trouble in the decision!!!!;)

[silver]

Don't you two live in the same house?


I was talking to Aggie Ama for saying I should buy the Cervelo even though Mr. doesn't think I should get it :D , but no, we don't live in the same house, actually. He works in a town two hours away.

[kermit]

At the risk of Mr. hating me, I will tell you that the Cervelo is a great bang for the buck. My husband got the P2C dura-ace with a few modifications/upgrades afte shopping and looking at everything. We have a great LBS guy who had gone to the Cervelo plant in California. He was impressed. His first words were "whoever said you can't buy speed, they lie". Take a look at the Cervelo website and all the research they did in the wind tunnel. The bike is uber adjustable and it has won Kona two years in a row. I might need to change my pen name.... The Treks I've seen are good starter tri-bikes but the Cervelo can be a forever bike. That green is kinda cool though... reminds me of a certain frog!

[silver]

Just a random thing to throw in here! What about for the same price range going for a Specialized? Or even a Jamis or Felt? All 3 have hidden brakes, which will create greater aerodynamics and shave a little more time...

http://feltracing.com/09-catalog/time-trial-triathlon/tt-tri-series/09-b12.aspx

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/xenith/09_xenitht1.html

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39235&eid=113

I am looking at the Transition for myself. I feel the frame is a step ahead of the others, with the felt right behind it and the jamis right there also(but the Jamis is the most expensive)

Just throwing out the idea that some other brands might offer a little more for the same price range, and causing a little more trouble in the decision!!!!;)


hmmm...I like the Felt the best in terms of components, but so heavy.....I wish I could compare the weight to the Cervelo, Trek and Specialized.

[silver]

At the risk of Mr. hating me, I will tell you that the Cervelo is a great bang for the buck. My husband got the P2C dura-ace with a few modifications/upgrades afte shopping and looking at everything. We have a great LBS guy who had gone to the Cervelo plant in California. He was impressed. His first words were "whoever said you can't buy speed, they lie". Take a look at the Cervelo website and all the research they did in the wind tunnel. The bike is uber adjustable and it has won Kona two years in a row. I might need to change my pen name.... The Treks I've seen are good starter tri-bikes but the Cervelo can be a forever bike. That green is kinda cool though... reminds me of a certain frog!

Well, honestly I came into this thinking only aobut the Cervelo, but a couple of people (including a cervelo P2C rider) suggested that I at least look at the Trek. So I'm sort of feeling it out. But I really do agree with you!

[kermit]

I think with the tri-bikes its all about fit and adjustability. I know its the same with the road bikes, but in the aero position, well first you lose some stability and control with the aerobars, and being bent over for a while well... it really should fit. And isn't the point of buying a new bike being able to go out and ride Everything!

[silver]

I think with the tri-bikes its all about fit and adjustability. I know its the same with the road bikes, but in the aero position, well first you lose some stability and control with the aerobars, and being bent over for a while well... it really should fit. And isn't the point of buying a new bike being able to go out and ride Everything!

Yes! that would be nice! But unfortunately, the only tri bike that I could go to the store and ride here locally is a Fuji. I live in a little town and will have to go 2 or 3 hours away to check out more. We have a trek/specialized dealer but they don't stock tri bikes, have to special order.

[ilima]

Because that's the only way you'll fit even the smallest Trek. Plus, do you want to have to coordinate your tri outfits to the pea green color?

If you can find an 08 Cervelo in your size, dealers have been officially authorized to go 20% off.

I'd personally go Cervelo, and it wouldn't even be a close choice.

Felt has a whole range ($-wise) of carbon tri bikes that are very nice. For a carbon tri bike, I'd go Cervelo or Felt; high quality and best bang for the buck.

[spindizzy]

I live in a little town and will have to go 2 or 3 hours away to check out more.

Or you could fly to Nytro in San Diego and try them all out....:D:D:D

[silver]

Because that's the only way you'll fit even the smallest Trek. Plus, do you want to have to coordinate your tri outfits to the pea green color?

If you can find an 08 Cervelo in your size, dealers have been officially authorized to go 20% off.

I'd personally go Cervelo, and it wouldn't even be a close choice.

Felt has a whole range ($-wise) of carbon tri bikes that are very nice. For a carbon tri bike, I'd go Cervelo or Felt; high quality and best bang for the buck.

yep, I'm 5'8" I ride a 58cm Trek Madone. But I'm pretty sure that I would be looking at a 54 or 56 Cervelo. 54 most likely. And the blue and silver Cervelo is really more my color scheme, well anything silver. Yea! loks of good affirmation! thanks! I think deep down I really want the Cervelo.

And I think that Mr. is warming to the idea! :D

[ilima]

yep, I'm 5'8" I ride a 58cm Trek Madone. But I'm pretty sure that I would be looking at a 54 or 56 Cervelo. 54 most likely. And the blue and silver Cervelo is really more my color scheme, well anything silver. Yea! loks of good affirmation! thanks! I think deep down I really want the Cervelo.

And I think that Mr. is warming to the idea! :D

My what a big bike you have! Friend of mine is 5'10" (she's all leg) and rides a 54cm P2C.

The Cervelo's price leaves you money for race wheels!

[spindizzy]

Nice review here: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/cerveloP2C2008.shtml .. Naw, I'm not trying to convince you..I'm here to support you!

[silver]

The Cervelo's price leaves you money for race wheels!


Be still, my heart!!!!

[silver]

Nice review here: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/cerveloP2C2008.shtml .. Naw, I'm not trying to convince you..I'm here to support you!

All good stuff right there. Ok, I'm focused on the Cervelo.. lets start shopping.

on size, the Madone is on the big side....I was fitted after I had it for a year and a half and told that I needed a 54cm. I've now ridden almost 11,000 miles on it and still love it. I'm long legs and arms and very comfortable on it. But I do think that I will benefit from the smaller size for getting into aero position.

[silver]

Or you could fly to Nytro in San Diego and try them all out....:D:D:D

You are an enabler! I love it!

[Mr. Bloom]

My what a big bike you have! Friend of mine is 5'10" (she's all leg) and rides a 54cm P2C.

The Cervelo's price leaves you money for race wheels!

Note to self: Sneak onto the computer, sign in as Silver while she's sleeping, and activate IGNORE on spindizzy and ilima

[Veronica]

I hate all the ads about Cervelos won at Kona. No - it was the engine on the bike people. :D

I have to ask - why do you want a tri specific bike?

Veronica

[silver]

Well, why do I want a tri specific bike....(warning long discussion ahead)

Of course it's the engine, not the bike. But some bikes do some things better. Yes? You wouldn't ride a mountain bike in a time trial. None of this bike stuff makes any difference if you are not working, training, pushing the engine to achieve more.

The way that I look at it...a true road bike is a lightweight bike that handles well, it's light weight so it handles different terrain well, climbs well, accelerates well out of turns, handles with stability when riding in a pack, etc.

A true time trial bike has every aerodynamic advantage to give it the most advantage on a flat all out, nondrafting race. a trime trial bike concedes on issues like weight and handling to achieve aerodynamics. For instance, the aerobars. You lose handling but gain aerodynamics.

I think in tris you have to look at the terrain of the tri that you are competing in. Your best case scenario is to have a bike to fit every different situation. For instance, if you will be competing in a hilly, curvy tri, you would pick the lighter weight bike (leaing more towards a road bike configuration). If you have a flat tri, you would lean towards the time trial bike...more aerodynamics.

The pros have that advantage of a bike for every situation.

Most of the rest of us compromise.....we put clip on aero bars on our road bikes. Or we ride our road bikes on flat courses, or we ride our time trial setups on hilly courses.

I have the Trek madone. I love it. It has nothing tri on it. It' is pure road bike. No aero bars. It's a lightweight carbon fiber bike. Great on hills, rapid acceleration. My local tri is hilly and curvy and I feel that I have had an advantage over some of the expensive time trail setups that come in. I have better handling quicker acceleration, faster climbing.

People have suggested that I put clip on aero bars on it. They say using aerobars and riding in the aero position will gain you 1 mph. I've seen some research that supports this. But I just personally don't like the idea of putting clip on aero bars on my road bike.

With aero bars, I want the bar end shifters. The time trial set up is a little steeper to make the aero position a little more achievable.

But I still want a light weight bike....I want to feel the quick acceleration and hill climbing that I feel on my road bike.....therefore I want a lightweight tri bike and am looking at carbon. If I was only going to be using it for flat courses, I might consider heavier (less expensive) aluminum.

Well that's the answer the way I see it......please feel free to poke holes in my logic.

[Veronica]

My local tri is hilly and curvy and I feel that I have had an advantage over some of the expensive time trail setups that come in. I have better handling quicker acceleration, faster climbing.



These sentences makes me wonder if you really want a Time Trial set up for this race.

I've only done 4 tris and 1 duathlon, so it's not like I know what I'm talking about. :) But I've also been wondering about getting a tri specific bike.

The two races I want to do really well on are very hilly and very curvy. Given that, a tri bike seems like it could be a disadvantage. The other races are all just practice runs, leading up to that in my mind. It's fun to do well on them of course, but they are dress rehearsals. Those courses are very straight, flat or nearly so. I think I'd love a tri bike on those.

For now I think I'll just keep racing on my twenty pound, lugged steel bike with a Brooks leather saddle.

Really, it's your money and you can get whatever bike you want - even a tricycle.


The thing about the ads. I think Cervelo wants you to think that the winners won because they were on Cervelos. If they had been riding Felts or Treks, they would not have won. :D

Veronica

[silver]

These sentences makes me wonder if you really want a Time Trial set up for this race.


Right, I'm not sure what I'd pick for that one.

Do you use aero bars?

And here's another issue, what if I get the Cervelo (or any tri bike) and am adjusted to riding in the aero position and find that the tri bike is about the same weight as my road bike (because my road bike isn't the lightest one out there and the tri bike will be smaller and carbon it's possible) will I feel that I have all the advantages of both on the tri bike?



The thing about the ads. I think Cervelo wants you to think that the winners won because they were on Cervelos. If they had been riding Felts or Treks, they would not have won. :D

Veronica

I must be tuning out these ads...I haven't seen them.

[Veronica]

I didn't use aero bars last year. I'm still focusing on getting a decent run time. Once I shave some time off that, I'll think about the bike.

The ads I saw were in Triathlete.

No one says you can't have two different bikes that your ride for triathlon. :D

Veronica

[spindizzy]

I have an aluminum Cannondale. I have put clip-ons on it, (they are annoying and difficult to get used to!) and am getting a pair of HED Jet 60's. My training is ramped up slightly, but I'll let everyone know if it helps....I am considering a tri specific bike but only as a reward if I do well this year.

Racing well (and I guess this depends on your goals) is a combination of a good engine and the parts the engine drives.

[spindizzy]

Note to self: Sneak onto the computer, sign in as Silver while she's sleeping, and activate IGNORE on spindizzy and ilima

hmm..thinking to self.... time for an alter ego? That villainous Mr. Silver....

[Mr. SR500]

Silver,

The P2 a great bike and a super value in the TT world. You would love it and have a blast.

That said, the TTX's are great bikes! Not the bling of a Cervelo, but great bikes that will give you everything you want. To bad you don't need a small, I have a buddy with a almost new TTX less then 100 miles he really wants to sell (very long story - nothing personal against the bike)

That said, you have ton's of other choices, Specialized is the new cats meow, but, Felt, Scott, Jamis, etc... all make great TT bikes. I long for a BMC myself.

So come on Mr. S., buy Silver a nice P4 or Look 596:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/campled/Look596-TRI-RED.jpg

[silver]

phooey these long legs and arms....that would be sweet...I'd bet you could sell that TTX to some of the other nice people here on TE.

Thanks for the encouragement! It's so interesting to me that the Cervelo has that bling factor but in reality is a much less than the TTX.

Which one would you get if you were buying right now whoops, I see the BMC........NICE!!!!! And do you know which ones are lighter?

We should also point out that I'm planning on spending much less than he spent on his new Madone. a final point is that I'll be buying it out of my earnings from my new job.

[Mr. SR500]

Silver,

You could build the BMC for less then $2400 without wheels (I know you have nice wheels;) ) as Competitive Cyclist has the frame set on clearance for $1350. And should easily be a light bike.

Have fun shopping.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?SKU=28071&PAGE=GROUP_CALC&PRODUCT.ID=3190&size_select=7036&color_select=28071&COMPONENT_PACKAGE.ID=35&Submit=Continue

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PHOTO_GALLERY&PAGE_NUM=5&PRSET_VERSION=1&BRAND.ID=110

[silver]

Evil!!!

well, I've finally got a place giving the weight for the PSC. 1394g for the frame. That compares to 1650g for the BMC. I want lighter, I think.

Thanks for the link!!!

[Mr. SR500]

Competitive Cyclist is awesome! Since you are such a weight weenie, you can run numbers all day on all sorts of bikes and combinations. Our LBS delivered a special order P2 this summer (they are not a Cervelo shop), and it was an awesome bike. Light is good, aero is good, light and aero is very good:D

Looks good to me!

http://www.goldcoasttriathlete.com.au/images/P/cervelo-P2C-White.jpg

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/cerveloP2C2008.shtml

[Aggie_Ama]

Competitive Cyclist is the bomb for race ready gear. Funny aside about them... DH and I went to do the Big Dam Bridge in 2007, we got in on Thursday and by Friday were itching to ride somewhere but had no idea where to go in Little Rock. We went to one shop and they were all BMX, well that didn't help. So we called Competitive Cyclist not knowing they were the internet shop advertising during the tour. The guy said to come on down anyway, printed us a que sheet of one of their favorites and gave us a tour of the facilities. They have a some sweet frames they send out as demos. Cool "shop". ;)

[kermit]

Just a heads up on the weight issue. The stock P2C came with Profile design aluminum bars, uber heavy. We took it all off and put on carbon Zipp vuka bars or opt for the Profile design T2 carbon bars. Thats a big weight saver, all up front. The other upgrade I would go for is the wheels. My husband got Zipp 404's but the stock wheels are nothing great, good but not great. Check ebay, there were a couple P2C's on there, good deals. Also check out WWW.slowtwitch.com classifieds, all tri folks upgrading for the new year. Good luck.

[Aggie_Ama]

So did you decide- Trek, Cervelo or ride the Madone? ;)

[Mr. SR500]

I was thinking that myself - so what are you leading toward...

[silver]

OH!! Still working on it. Mr. and I will travel to St. Louis to Big Shark in the next few weekends. I'm talking to the guys there. They sell Cervelo but not Trek or Specialized. They are going to do a complete fit on my and make a recommendation.

So stay tuned. (Still like the Cervelo best)

[Aggie_Ama]

Exciting, we are just trying to be enablers. :p Is Little Rock too far a road trip, the boys (and girls!) at Competitive Cyclist sure are nice and they do fittings there. Off to go stir up trouble elsewhere.

[silver]

Exciting, we are just trying to be enablers. :p Is Little Rock too far a road trip, the boys (and girls!) at Competitive Cyclist sure are nice and they do fittings there. Off to go stir up trouble elsewhere.

YES!! Little Rock is too far! According to Mr. Tried to find the thread where I begged to go to Little Rock to the Road I class and Mr. wouldn't let me drive there alone.

[Aggie_Ama]

Darn, I highly recommend riding outside LR. And the Big Dam Bridge Century is top notch. This is the same man who told me KY wasn't that far from Central Texas you know. :p

[Mr. Bloom]

This is the same man who told me KY wasn't that far from Central Texas you know. :p

For someone with your money, it's not;):D:D

[OakLeaf]

(I know you have nice wheels;) )

Ah, but does she have a disc wheel? ;)

My experience is over 20 years old, but I couldn't BELIEVE the difference in power transfer between a (borrowed) Hed disc wheel versus my very nice (for their time) roadrace wheels.* Just unbelievable. Solid power to the ground. I had no idea how much my rims and/or spokes were flexing.




*Speaking of, anybody building up a vintage race bike want to make me an offer? Saavedra aero tubie rims (I forget the spoke count now) and yellow American Classic hubs circa 1987. They're too nice to junk but too dated to be usable as race gear, and I'm never going to ride tubies again.

[Aggie_Ama]

For someone with your money, it's not;):D:D

This must only be because I am kidless, far from rolling in the dough. Or maybe you mean because it isn't your own money. ;) I think *YOU* would have fun getting a tour of Competitive Cyclist though.

[silver]

Just got back from Big Shark in St. Louis!

They fitted me for a 56cm P2 but had to order it. For fitting purposes they had me on a P3! Wow!! it was great! But we compared the geometry of the P3, P2, Scott, Felt and Cannondale and felt that the P2 would do the best for me! Besides I couldn't /wouldn't spend that much for the P3.

I was really suprised that I didn't end up on a 54cm. But they convinced me that I would have the saddle so high up in the air to get my long legs extended properly that my head would end up way lower than my butt in the aero position....a position that I would not be able to maintain for 100 miles.

Hope to go pick it up in a couple of weeks.

[Mr. SR500]

SWEET! Can't wait to see a pic!

[Miranda]

That's great, Silver:). I just came over from the trip thread that Mr.Silver posted to pick her out. Looking forward to the pic. Oh, if you want to get rid of some leg, I'll take it... I have the opposite issue:rolleyes:.

[silver]

Lol! Sorry, Mr. has already called dibs on the leg donation. (his inseam is not quite 28")

[Miranda]

Lol! Sorry, Mr. has already called dibs on the leg donation. (his inseam is not quite 28")


HA! Well, I'm right then:rolleyes:... Mr.Silver has first dibs.

:)

[kermit]

You choose wisely! Did you get the red/silver 09? Pictures are a must.

[silver]

I believe that mine will be the silver blue. I think that the ultegra SL is usually the silver blue. but I don't know yet.

[Aggie_Ama]

Do you have any torso? My husband is 6'2" and rides a 58 cm! :eek: