Cervelo P2C (2009) vs. Argon 18 E-112 (2009)

Be a rebel...
The Argon is the Sehkz.

Then again... hard to turn down a P2C for 2500

Both Canadians!

Do you ride steep or slack? 

steep. 95% of time in aero bars.
I'm 5'11, 190lbs.

I suck at climbing and rock on the flats.

I currently ride a Fuji Aloha 2002 (650c wheels)

Do both fit you equally well?

Yah. They both fit beautifully. The Felt B12 was also in the running ($2,600 CAD) but I felt like it fit too small (they ony had one frame size in it)...

I heard the ARGON-18 E-112 is extremely stable - that would be good for me but I heard the Cervelo P2C climbs very well for a Tri bike (climbing is my weakness)

 

What size frame?

 

Everybody including their uncle.....and me have a P2C.  Just bought one last week!! 

Have one myself. It's not without reason that they're so popular, well-designed, -built, and -specced bike at a good price point.

What he said!!^^^^^^^^^^ 

I do not know much about the Argon, but I love my P2. Take the following into consideration:FitComponentsAfter that, whatever one you like the looks of better.

Must...not...drink... Cervelo Kool Aid... must...save.... BT... from becoming ST v2...

just kidding they all ride Transitions' now hehe

Avoid the Felt b12 you looked at.  I had a 2009 that i sold after 4 months.  design issues with the brake chipping the frame.

I got a great deal on a Fuji D6 and the bike is amazing.

Of the two your are looking at, I prefer the Cervelo, especially at that price!

If it came with the zipps i would say that, but I prefer the blue colors of my p2

I wish those ZIPPS were standard... my decision would be easier

From my experience, Cervelo is an awesome bike but...as I tell my husband, "the bike doesn't make the biker!"  The position of the seat of the  Argon is a lot tighter than the P2,  It's actually closer to the P3.  The aerodynamics of the rear wheel is better that the P2.  You can get a Zipp wheel set (as you know, from Ebay) and you will be set.  Don't get caught up in name brands.  The carbon frame and aerodynamics are what counts.  By the way, if it were me, I would buy both, try them out , then sell the one I didn't want.  But I don't shop, hate it.  Oh yea, my husband says to mention that I have a P3.

Thanks pschiver - you helped me get some clarity on this. I've wishing for a Cervelo P2 for 2 years and it has clouded my judgement - Cervelo is a incredible bike but in this case I'm starting to think I'd be getting more bang-for-the-buck with the ARGON.
I do like your suggestion of buing both... Maybe you could run that by my wife... She's convinced that since I'm not winning any prize-purses - regardless of what bike I ride - I should stick to my old Schwinn Beach-Cruiser.

I am 5'9", 157lbs, riding on small E112, 404F/808R, have about 5000mi on it. I came off Trek E9. 
P2C is a solid machine, awesome package for the money, no doubt. These two bikes will fit similar. I did several spec changes to stock E112 at a time of purchase. P2C comes stock with excellent components. There, I would not change a thing whether Ultegra SL or DA. 
What I did not like about E112:
Profile bars, hate them as much as their Aerodrink that keeps giving me a bath with my Infinit
Tektro brakes
Energy crank
Ultegra FD
I ended up with:
vision cockpit
Bontrager brake levers/ Ultegra calipers
DA FD
FSA Team Issue crank

E112 is a solid, very stable bike. On flats, if you pour power,  it takes it, straight line, no frame flexing, smooth acceleration, holds momentum, very solid platform under you, no twitching at all. Rolling hills great too, 70.3 Kansas at 2:27, not the lightest bike in the line up, but as long as you are not racing 70.3 Monaco, Alp Duez... you will be fine. I do suggest here to be weight mindful when you start adding your stuff to the frame and also respect the aero advantage the frame gives you. What I mean by that, I see over and over very expensive, aero and light aerobar set up to be ruined with "aero drinks", bento boxes........Even though aero trumps weight in most cases, as I said this frame is not the lightest, so "any upgrades" should be lighter than stock.  So far the bike has been very good to me, reliable working flawlessly. It is regularly serviced and inspected by my LBS as I keep things in racing condition. 
Fit wise, Argon18 also has a very nice chart for E114 that applies to E112 where you can plot your coordinates and instantly get a feedback on the fit.
I am very happy with my bike and can warmly recommend it to you. Argon18 stands behind their product.

P2C is a very widely ridden bike. Many reasons for that. To name a few, geometry that fits wide range of athletes, awesome package for the money and frankly, very hard to beat, frame is  excellent, nice selection of components very likely to ride for very long time without changing, Cervelo being a proven company with a proven product on the market. P2C is one the favorite bikes out there. 

Let the fit be your first concern here. Whichever fits better with the fact that your position will evolve over time. Make sure your choice will allow for that.
If both fit equally good and allow for your position evolution, let the subjective test ride feel guide you. Whichever bike feels better under your tail preferably while putting major power to the pedals.
In the end, money talks. Whichever comes to be more bang for the buck.

When everything was said and done for me E112 came out to almost $6000. It included the changes I made, Zipp 404F/808R, Xlab carbon wing rear set up (all the parts, bags, CO2s). Yep, it adds up real quick. I am about to spend another $2000 on Quarq/310Xt combo. Yeah, gets crazy.
Good luck with your choice, you will not go wrong either way and report back when you inflict damage to your bank account. 

atasic - thank you for the great review of the E112.  It sounds like you upgraded your rig quite nicely. I'll definitly use your advice on keeping the aerodynamic fram 'clean' by avoiding bento boxes and aero-bar drinkbottles.



Is the P2C more gile / a better climber? My body type is stocky & muscular - I'm fairly powerful on the flats but I suffer on the hills (yet some of my favorite triathlons are very hilly, like the  Muskoka 70.3 HIM). 

I'm working on a tight budget right now - everything wil be stock ( ultegra components) for at least one season.  Are you suggesting that a stock P2C will offer better components (and E-112 better frame) if I'm not going to upgrade? 

Thx

If you are being offered the very basic package for E112, which includes a mix 105/Ultegra/Truvativ vs. P2C Ultegra, with out a doubt price being equal, P2C is the way to go. Much better components. In either case, I think P2C comes with such a package that you will never have to touch anything and easily save the money for a good set of race wheels. P2C is a race ready machine period. Add a wheelset  and you have a bike for the life of it.
The best thing would be to have the shop give you an exact list of components for both bikes. If you need help, post it here, we can give it a look.
For Muskoka, 70.3 Kansas and a like rolling hill courses, weight is secondary. There is no prolonged steady climbing involved. You would be fine on either frame. You have to look down the road and see where you think you will be racing, what kind of courses you like and make a decision from there. I think Silverman, Lanzarote, Monaco and a like courses benefit from truly light bikes. Yes, at least in theory P2C should be a better climber, but you know that is on paper. It is all about the engine in the end. If climbing is your weakness, examine your body composition( room for free speed), add force work on the bike, go climb hills until you start crying and you will become a better climber.

In summary in your case, based on what you provided so far, I would say it comes down to components that will come with these two bikes. P2C comes with Vision cockpit, Vision brake levers, I assume Ultegra SL FD, RD, cassette, Gossamer crank, Fizik Arione 2 saddle, DA bar end shifters.....All great stuff with no reason to ever touch replacing.
Let me know which E112 package you are being offered. 

I will add a comment about the P2C climbing, wow is all I can say.  Took mine outside tonight althought it was only about 45 degrees.  I could not believe my speeds going up some of the hills.  It felt significantly easier than my Trek E5 ever felt.  I could not believe how comfortable I felt with  my legs just spinning and moving up the hill.

It looks as the P2 also has better components from his review, while not huge, the Ultegra group is pretty solid.  I am going to try out the FSA crank for a while, although I have not been a fan in the past. 

wow, an Argon 18 E-112 for $2500 ? that's seems like a super price.

I googled it and the frameset was almost that price!