If It Doesn’t Fit, You Must Acquit

I crunched the numbers, sent emails back and forth with Bolder, the LBS, and even got a reply from one of the guys at Cervelo. And I ended up with:

But it’s not going to work. Using the geometry measurements on Cervelo’s website, the bike should fit but it just doesn’t. I should have guessed based on the feedback that Bolder gave me about his and from what I’ve read about the bike. But the OCD in me wanted to believe in the official numbers posted that things would work.

For those that are interested, I took some pictures so you can see where the fit is causing me problems. I lined the bikes up side by side such that the bottom brackets were aligned:

The following is a picture of the seat posts in the forward 78 degree position. You can see that the clamp area of the seat post on the P3 is further forward than that of the P3C:

And another picture at the steerer tube. You can see that the tube of the P3C is physically more forward on the P3C than it is on the P3:

So effectively, the bike is just slightly longer in both directions. I’m already slid all the way forward on the rails of my current saddle on the P3 so there’s no room for adjustment there. And I’m already on a 90mm stem and would need shorter than a 70mm stem to make things work which just isn’t right.

The LBS doesn’t have a 51 in stock, nor will they be getting one anytime soon so I may just end up on the Tiphoon after all, which I’m totally fine with. It is cheaper at close out prices for what’s a more expensive retail priced frame. And I was pretty torn between the two anyway - the P3C does have sex appeal, but the Tiphoon gives you all those wonderful benefts of titanium. More importantly, the fact that the Tiphoon fits makes the decision a no brainer.

So… it’s back to the bike shop for me again today. I think I’ve been there almost everday in the past week! That has to be some kind of record, even for me. :)

EDIT: Ugh. A 51 P3C is coming on the 28th. Just when I thought that the decision had been made for me, now I have to pick all over again. Bleh.

2006/04/18 | General - Product Reviews | Comments [RSS 2.0]

16 Responses to If It Doesn’t Fit, You Must Acquit »»


Comments

  1. Dang! If they don’t want to return it, just pack it up and send it to me… :)

    Sex appeal is exactly the thing I was thinking while I looked at the pictures. The Tiphoon will still be a really nice bike. Plus, you don’t want to have the same bike as Bold!!!

    Comment by Flatman | 2006/04/18 at 09:33:24

  2. gosh, what a disappointment after all of teh number crunching and work. but still, a new bike is better than no bike. especially if it fits right. good luck with the Tiphoon. we want pics! ;)

    Comment by mipper | 2006/04/18 at 10:11:23

  3. Smart choice. It is all about the fit.

    Comment by Cliff | 2006/04/18 at 10:34:33

  4. it’s better to have loved, and lost, than never loved at all…

    Comment by Bolder | 2006/04/18 at 10:43:08

  5. what are you complaining about again? I love fretting over Shiny Things. Puts life in perspective.

    Comment by commodore | 2006/04/18 at 12:15:22

  6. If you’re going to have problems and troubles….these are the fun kind to have!
    Get yourself another one and enjoy the ride.

    Comment by Steven | 2006/04/18 at 12:26:25

  7. Hey, at least it’s still a Cervélo!!! Can’t really go wrong there now, can ya?

    Comment by Spence | 2006/04/18 at 12:49:14

  8. Gosh, I hope Jessi S. Cannondale does not catch me lusting after these pictures. Is there such a thing as bike adultery of the heart? (”He that looketh lustfully at a bike . . . .”)

    Comment by greyhound | 2006/04/18 at 13:57:36

  9. and on the bright side of all of it, you get another invite to the vip sale next year :) I can’t ride tomorrow night, but might catch one of the weekend rides.

    Comment by trimama | 2006/04/18 at 20:03:55

  10. hope the 51 works for you. Glad to see your blogging regularly again.

    Comment by mike | 2006/04/19 at 10:23:16

  11. wait and try the 51. you know you won’t be happy unless you know for sure. good luck with it.

    Comment by mipper | 2006/04/19 at 10:38:07

  12. I’m glad running shoes are not that complicated. Good luck with you selection.

    Comment by Susan | 2006/04/19 at 13:41:19

  13. i… dont know what any of that means. but..

    umm.

    right. well…. its… pretty!! ?!?!

    bikes are fun!!!

    yay!!

    yeah. i got nuthin…..

    Comment by a.maria | 2006/04/20 at 09:04:22

  14. Sorry bro, but I’m with Commodore in this one - Choosing between a P3C and a Tiphoon is a problem?!?! There is no joy like tinkering with shiny new kit! :)

    Personally I would go for the P3C. The Tiphoon is… a bit plain. But that’s the guy I am - vain. :P

    Comment by Kewl Nitrox | 2006/04/20 at 09:06:01

  15. Wait, I’ve got a splendid idea - how about BOTH/ One for training and one for race - saves having to swap wheels. :D

    Comment by Kewl Nitrox | 2006/04/20 at 09:07:00

  16. Is everyone buying a new bike but me? Sounds like it. At least you’re having fun. Good luck with the new size.

    Comment by linae | 2006/04/20 at 09:08:10

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