I am in my second season of competing in triathlons. I have been using my Tarmac to train and a friend's P2 for my races and it's time to shell out for my own tri-bike. I did a retul fitting last year and the results have me using 4 spacers in the front of the 58cm P2 and a 90 mm stem. I am 6'2.5", 195 lbs, 34" inseam, and have pretty normal arm length. My LBS is trying to sell me a 58cm P3, but I am not sure if it is the correct fit for me, despite it being an absolutely awesome bike. They are telling me it is the right fit, but to get to the same position as I was retul fitted into the P2, I would have to use a 17 degree stem (I think with one less spacer) or go up to a 61 cm P3 with an 80 mm stem. I feel like I would lose much of the aero advantage and look like an absolute goof on the P3 if I used a 17 degree stem and I am a bit concerned about going to an 80 mm stem on the 61 cm P3. The fitter at the LBS told me that retul is just a tool and that the 58 cm P3 fits me fine with a 7 degree stem, but can my retul fitting be that far off from my optimal riding position? I did the retul fiting at Outspokin cycles in Clearwater FL which as far as I can tell is very well regarded. Although I would love to get the P3, I would hate to get it only to ride it a while and find out it is not the proper fit. I would appreciate any advice from anyone who has been through the same process. By the way, if I get the P2 I will be buying it from my friend who has used it about 3 times in addition to me using it a few times for $2k, or the LBS will be selling me the P3 dura ace (yes Dura ace with the rotor 3d cranks) for $3k which is a great deal, yet I am just not sure that the P3 is the right fit. Thanks in advance for your help. SP
If it were me, I'd save the
If it were me, I'd save the thousand bucks and buy the bike that I knew fit me the best. Use that money for some race wheels or something....just my $.02.
First and foremost, you have
First and foremost, you have to get a bike that fits. And it seems clear that the P3 just doesn't fit you appropriately. The P3 is an even lower/longer bike than the P2. And that you have 4 spacers on the P2 suggests that even that bike is too low and long for you. Obviously, you need to go with a bike that is taller and narrower -- i.e. something in the opposite direction of what the P3 is.
Of course, the LBS wants you to ride a P3 out of their inventory before the P5s come in. But it's not the right bike for you. The 17-degree happy stem is just silly. On top of looking like a goof and compromising your aerodynamics, it would also compromise handling. Don't do it. That bike doesn't fit you. Have the good folks of Outspokin provide you with a list of bikes with stack/reach geometry that fits your body and riding position. The P3 ain't it. Good luck.
KennyPowers wrote:First and
[quote=KennyPowers]First and foremost, you have to get a bike that fits. And it seems clear that the P3 just doesn't fit you appropriately. The P3 is an even lower/longer bike than the P2. And that you have 4 spacers on the P2 suggests that even that bike is too low and long for you. Obviously, you need to go with a bike that is taller and narrower -- i.e. something in the opposite direction of what the P3 is.
Of course, the LBS wants you to ride a P3 out of their inventory before the P5s come in. But it's not the right bike for you. The 17-degree happy stem is just silly. On top of looking like a goof and compromising your aerodynamics, it would also compromise handling. Don't do it. That bike doesn't fit you. Have the good folks of Outspokin provide you with a list of bikes with stack/reach geometry that fits your body and riding position. The P3 ain't it. Good luck.[/quote]
Completely agree.
To the OP: You can also check out the stack & reach database yourself on slowtwitch for bikes that might be a better fit than the P2. Also, I might go a bit conservative on bike choice and not buy one where my stem is completely slammed with no spacers at all. Fit is a dynamic thing, and if your flexibility improves it might be possible that you could go lower than you currently are (may not be true in every case.) If you get a bike that has no spacers at all, you have no ability to adjust.
How well do you know these
How well do you know these guys at the LBS?
I'm ALWAYS leery when someone is telling me that the assembled bike they just happen to have on the floor is "the right fit".
I've attached a quick spreadsheet that I've been putting together for myself since I am looking for a new frame. You'll notice that with the exception of the QR Illicito, the P3 is probably the lowest/longest bike on the market (based on the relationship between reach and stack).
Do you really believe that so many triathletes are fit best on the far extreme? All that said, it does sound like your LBS is trying to give you a pretty good deal on the P3... if it fits.
Thank you all for your help.
Thank you all for your help. You have confirmed my suspicion, that the P3 is simply not the right bike for me. And perhaps I need to get my fitting fine tuned to find out if even the P2 is the correct fit. Point of clarification on one thing. Outspokin in Clearwater did my retul fitting but is not the shop trying to unload the P3 on me. They were great and I don't want anyone thinking they are trying to push anything on anybody. Again, thank you very much and dkhartung for the great spreadsheet!
My pleasure Stevo, but you
My pleasure Stevo,
but you might want to look at the spreadsheet more as a template than a final product to use. Manufacturers sometimes have slightly different geometries for different sizes of the same bike. If you have a retul fitting that's close, then you should be able to pull stack and reach stats for bikes that are close to your fit.
Stevo the aspiring
[quote=Stevo the aspiring triathlete]Thank you all for your help. You have confirmed my suspicion, that the P3 is simply not the right bike for me. And perhaps I need to get my fitting fine tuned to find out if even the P2 is the correct fit. Point of clarification on one thing. Outspokin in Clearwater did my retul fitting but is not the shop trying to unload the P3 on me. They were great and I don't want anyone thinking they are trying to push anything on anybody. Again, thank you very much and dkhartung for the great spreadsheet![/quote]
Yep -- I hear you re Outspokin. Your original post was clear that it was the LBS trying to push the P3 on you. I only mentioned Outspokin because oftentimes when you get a thorough fitting from a good shop they'll provide you with not only your stack/reach/seat angle/etc. measurements, but also with a list of frames that fit that geometry. If they didn't offer that, as PJT noted, slowtwitch has a pretty comprehensive stack and reach database. If you use it, note that the details are for the most current frames (even though many of the sections note earlier year's models for that manufacturer, the geometry hasn't changed for future years).
You have confirmed my
You have confirmed my suspicion, that the P3 is simply not the right bike for me. And perhaps I need to get my fitting fine tuned to find out if even the P2 is the correct fit. Point of clarification on one thing. Outspokin in Clearwater did my retul fitting but is not the shop trying to unload the P3 on me.