So now that I am back in the game I am faced with a problem, I let my last Tri bike go years ago.
I was planning just to bolt some bars onto the Cervelo, but when I got the tape out to do some measuring I hit a snag - integrated bars, so no way I can just clamp something on. When I look at the faff of getting all the bits and redoing the hoses I came to the conclusion that I can’t be arsed.
So over to eBay. To my surprise their are plenty of tri frames and bikes at highly keen prices, probably partly down to the time of year.
So given that I don’t want to (Cant get away with.) dropping 5K on a Cerv P-X (Italian triathlon influencer doing her job right.), what is good from years gone by?
So far my eye has caught a £1200 Trek Speed concept and a Spesh Shiv for the same money.
However frames are also cheap, and buying a complete bike would inevitably end with changes being needed, so maybe better to build from used bits and my parts bin.
Also all of this bargain stuff is rim brake, so zero resale value.
Of course the next time I am over in Lanza I could negotiate hard on the P-5X that has been in a shop there for 3 years waiting for someone, that would be a holiday purchase, so definitely Operational expenditure rather than capital………………………..
Is the Trek an SC7 or 9 i.e. integrated front brake or not? The rear hidden rim brake is a PITA to service & adjust, and cabling is the devil’s own job through the BB. But I still loved mine which is gathering dust with 4x Zipp wheels. Before you ask it’s too big for you iirc, I’m 6’. Sadly I couldn’t even tell you what size mine is nowadays between M or L (probably latter). Last ridden 27 July 2019.
I had it resprayed in Porsche Miami Blue, which I know means you want it anyway.
The original bars were too narrow for my rugby player shoulders, the lead time for a cervelo replacement was too long so I replaced them with vision ones. they are flat topped so no chance of bolting anything on unfortunately.
I’m the same height as you but rather leggy. The bike is a 56cm. It was used by my son but he is on a placement year and so will not behaved and is now gravel racing instead.
I did by a Small 54 Cervélo S5 earlier in the year (second hand) and had to put a longer stem on it.
That feels more comforting.
Cervélo… I am thinking about getting some tri-bars for it and a bike fit but I am a bit worried they will say ‘you except us to work with that?’ (buy a new bike the correct size, how about this one?)
Very nice, are you selling then? What are the chainrings?
I keep looking (for the last18 months since my Canyon Ultimate died on me before IM Swansea, derailer mount frame failure, and fancied a TT setup) but not been able to find anything I think is suitable or worth the risk of a dodgy seller.
for years I just got a 54 as a matter of course, but then I got a bike fit, my fitter thinks 50% of people are on bikes that are too large, maybe it’s a pride thing. (Must have a big boys bike.)
My enigma is nominally a 53, and my cervelo is actually a 51.5, both set up with the same saddle height and crank length, stems are different but reach ends up the same.
my last tri bike was a 54cm Spesh Transition, never fitted right.
This is me on the P5 last month, the 56cm frame means the reach wasn’t compromised as I wasn’t ‘over’ the front of the bike. I did lot of debating with my bike shop friends to get the 54 or the 56.
