General Discussion Triathlon Talk » P2 with carbon wheelset or P3 Rss Feed  
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2011-12-28 8:51 PM

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Napoleon
Subject: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
Thoughts?


2011-12-28 8:58 PM
in reply to: #3958842

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

Personally, I would go with the P3.  Get as much bike you can afford.  Wheels can always come later is a "cheaper" upgrade.  Upgrading the bike later is abviously more expensive.

The bike you ride all the time.  The wheels, sit in your garage for the half dozen races you do.  So you don't get any use from the money spend except on race day.

Race wheels can also be rented if you really feel the need to have them for races.

That's what I would do.  Not sure if anyone agrees with me, but that's my take on it.

2011-12-28 9:00 PM
in reply to: #3958842

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Napoleon
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

Here in Ohio...no hills...so i didn't see the need for P3...weight seemed to be the only diff to me.

 

money saved could buy wheels...

2011-12-28 9:14 PM
in reply to: #3958851

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

Fair enough.  Seems you already made up your mind, so curious why the question then...

Both are good bikes.  I've owned both.  Good luck.

2011-12-28 9:46 PM
in reply to: #3958842

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Napoleon
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

I haven't made up my mind...just trying to figure out what is best and hear other people's thoughts on the matter.

 

Thanks

2011-12-28 9:57 PM
in reply to: #3958842

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Master
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Bloomington, MN
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
I own a P2 and tested a P3 at the time of purchase.  I would buy the one that fits you best.  For me, the P3 was a little aggressive and the P2 fit like a glove.  Not sure what the drag data suggests; but I don't think it will matter that much to an AGer.  I like my P2 very much, and don't think you can go wrong with either.  Just my opinion.


2011-12-28 9:59 PM
in reply to: #3958920

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

BTW, weight is FAR from the only difference between the two bikes.  In some manor, weight is the least significant, ESPECIALLY in such a flat location.  Aero trumps weight in just about every instance.

Weight is more significant the more the road tilts up.  My P3 is a lot heavier than most of my bikes.  Especially when I put my incredibly heavy aerospoke wheels on it (i'm talking several extra pounds).  Even then, I can CRUSH my times on that bike compared to my others in just about every instance.

 

2011-12-29 12:30 AM
in reply to: #3958842

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Master
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Kailua, Hawaii
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

i have a p2 and love it. I've thought of the p3 a lot but cant justify the expense.

my implementation has been race wheels and p2 !

also my friends that have p3 say that p2 is just as good, the main thing is the manufacturing is greater cost w p3

2011-12-29 7:34 AM
in reply to: #3958842

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Davenport, IA
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
The main differences between the P2 & P3 are that the P3 can support a more aggressive position, and the P3 is significantly more aerodynamic, more so if you ride it in that more aggressive position.  They are both great bikes.  I had a P3 and was very happy with it...an absolutely awesome bike.
2011-12-29 8:17 AM
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2011-12-29 8:26 AM
in reply to: #3958851

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Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
mdiet22 - 2011-12-28 10:00 PM

Here in Ohio...no hills...so i didn't see the need for P3...weight seemed to be the only diff to me.

 

money saved could buy wheels...

i have the P2 and love it. my decision was not between the P2 or P3, but rather the P1 and P2 when i bought it. i'm glad i made that decision.

i think Kido's point is to think further down the road as well. if you choose the P2, you'll inevitably think about the P3 and wonder if you should have bought that. AND if at some point you will upgrade, the cost of the upgrade at that point may be more than if you'd bought that P3 initially and added race wheels at a later date. its a trade off. if you're not going to upgrade later, then get the P2 and race wheels.

FWIW, i trained AND raced with the R500 wheels that came with the P2 for the first year. still ride them to train. they seem very durable.



2011-12-29 8:31 AM
in reply to: #3958842

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Napoleon
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
Thanks...great insight.
2011-12-29 8:37 AM
in reply to: #3958842

Champion
9407
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Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
I don't have the numbers at my fingertips but they should be close to the aerodynamic differences between the setups. There is a difference between the two frames and the P3 (assuming good position on both) is the faster of the two bikes; the difference between the P2 and P3 is about 20s over 40km.

However, if you get a good wheelset (say 80mm front and disc rear) you are looking at 70s save over 40km so the net result will be a faster bike with P2/aerowheels in a race than P3/stock wheels.

Again, these figures are rough and assume that you have a good position on both bikes.

Shane
2011-12-29 8:42 AM
in reply to: #3958842

Elite
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PEI, Canada
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3

What Shane said.  Plus you get the bling factor of having the deep race wheels.  That's worth about 30s per 40k at least! 

 

and yes I'm kidding... 

2011-12-29 8:49 AM
in reply to: #3958842

Expert
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500100
Lakeville, MN
Subject: RE: P2 with carbon wheelset or P3
Without knowing your size, it's possible the P2 and P3 will fit differently, as their geometry's start to deviate more the larger the frame. Therefore, as noted earlier, you may end up with a better frame fit on one vs the other. I've seen far to many P3 setups sporting 3+ cm of spacer stack and a nice upward angle stem. As pointed out many times on ST, in most instances, you're better off "aero-wise" getting more of a frame and less of the dreaded hockey-stick stem setup, so you may want to consider the setup that has your bars sitting smack on top of the headset.

As for the P3 being 'significantly' more aero than the P2, I'd like to see the source(s) for that. While its lower head-tube typically allows for a more aggressive position than the p2, which may allow for a more aero position, claiming that the frame itself is substantially more aero may not be valid.

Disclosure: I don't hate P3s. I actually think they're sexy. But I ride a P2 w/ a -17 stem and zero spacers. 16cm of drop to pads. So yes, it is possible to get somewhat aggressive w/ a P2.
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