P2 SL as a first Tri bike?
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UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
1.If you're already having reservations about the Dual, don't get it. You won't be happy.
2.It'll be tough to do group rides on the P2 unless you're doing them with a bunch of other triathletes. No one likes it when you sit in a paceline in your aerobars (it's dangerous and it spoils the draft). If you decide to just sit up the entire time, you'll probably be uncomfortable since the bike is designed for you to be comfortable in the aero position. If you go out with a group of triathletes and everyone's in their bars, then it's a different story.
I'm all for having two (or more) bikes to train on. I did almost all of my base training on either my road bike or fixie, but now that we're in season, I've trained exclusively on my tri bike for about 2 months. It's definitely worth it to have both, but if it really isn't an option, you can train and race on the P2 alone without too much hassle.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
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Triguy98 posted 1 year ago.
The Dual is actually being phased out next year. The P2SL is going to cervelo's "entry level" bike. It's a good enough biek that you'll never really need another one.
I'd keep the roadie. I know space can be at a premium, but get a stackable rack or something. The second biek can come in handy for good hill workouts, base training, or if something on your tri bike breaks. Shoot, you could even dabble in some road racing with some component upgrades. The 1200 is the same frame that Trek puts on a $1500 bike.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
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gh posted 1 year ago.
I originally bought a Dual and crashed after 125 only miles, cracking the frame and forks. Cervelo replaced the frameset with a P2SL, and so far like it a little more than the Dual (which I also liked).
Glen
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
I have a trek 1200 as a road bike for about 4 1/2 years and a P2 SL as my tri bike for about 3 1/2 years.
I love my Cervelo for tris and I still use my Trek.
Nothing to it, but to do it
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1203 days
PJT posted 1 year ago.
Really the only major difference between the P2Sl and the Dual is the rear wheel cutout and corresponding horizontal dropouts (P2SL has a very slightly shorter chainstay to accomodate this as well). Personally, I find horizontal dropouts a pain, but they help you get that wheel closer to the cutout, which is slightly more aero. Depending on which spec you get, you may also have a carbon seatpost and cranks on the P2. These really aren't much of a noticeable difference in terms of weight, comfort, etc., but they are a difference.
I think they're both excellent bikes--people can and do win races on Duals. But if you think you'll be lusting after the little extras that a P2SL has, go for it. You won't be disappointed.
I agree with everyone else about keeping the road bike if possible.
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503 days
graemeo posted 1 year ago.
Thanks for the replies everyone... I came *this* close to buying a 2003 P2K on Ebay this morning, but eventually chickened out because it seemed like it had a lot of miles on it (even though it looked good in the pics).
I think what I'm going to do is buy a better set of wheels for my Trek and then get a new P2 SL in the spring before next season really gets underway. I've got a sprint tri upcoming which I'll use the 1200 for - I'd rather do the race on a bike I'm familiar with as it's my first one and I don't want any surprises.
Hi all,
I'm getting into Triathlons from a running background. Currently have an entry-level road bike (trek 1200) which is not a bad bike but isn't really a speed machine.
I'm looking at TT bikes because I have little desire to do group rides/crits/etc, and my wife already has a QR Kilo and is very happy with it - when I see her cruising along in the aero bars I get quite jealous!
I have a couple questions:
1 - is there a significant difference between the Cervelo Dual and the P2 SL? I don't really want to go entry-level a 2nd time, and while I realize the Dual isn't really 'entry level' the P2 SL seems to be rated as more of the 'mid range' which is where I think I should be - I want a bike that will last me for a number of years and not leaving me wanting something more after a year, like I am with my roadie.
2 - I don't have much room in my apartment for a 2nd bike, and I'd probably want to sell the Trek to offset some of the cost of a new bike - is it reasonable to use a bike like the P2 SL as my only bike, for training and races?