Specialized P.3 vs. P.2 Cro-Mo
Hi Lee
I have your Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, and Pump track e-book. Both are excellent, and I have learned a lot from them. I wish I lived close enough to you to take some skills clinics. Do you ever come to Canada (Ontario)?
Just a quick question about Specialized P.bikes, I can get a P.2 Cro-Mo frame for a good price, but how will it compare to the P.3 you ride?
Keep on BRAAAPING.
Thanks
Stefan
The more you click, the more I can post. Lee Likes Groceries dot com! |
Hey Stefan,
Thanks for the kind words. I doubt I’ll be teaching in Canada any time soon, but I am working on a scheme to seed the world with LLB Certified Coaches. Stay tuned on this site.
The P.2 Cr-Mo and P.3 are essentially identical. The only differences:
– The P.3 is aluminum. P.2 Cr-Mo is made of Cr-Moly steel (duh). Steel bikes tend to feel livelier than aluminum ones. I have a custom steel XC hardtail, and that thing is snappy like a leather whip.
– The P.2 Cr-Mo is supposed to be more durable than the P.3, for super-aggro crazy-style dirt jumping, park, etc. BTW: I’ve never heard of a P.3 breaking.
– The P.2 Cr-Mo is significantly heavier than the P.3.
– The P.2 has slightly less standover clearance. Slightly. See below.
![]() P.3 is black. P.2 Cr-Mo is behind in white. The bikes’ geometries are almost identical. |
Get whatever you can afford. Support your local shop. Braaaap on.
— Lee
Hey Lee
Thanks for the info, I’m going to my LBS tomorow to see if I can aford the P-3, if not i guess it will be a P-2 Cr-Mo.
Keep this great site running, I check in every morning befor work when I am at home.
thanks
Stefan
Hi Lee
I ended up getting the short p.2 cr-mo. I love it, I see what you mean by snappy. This baby rocks.
I am having trouble turning sharp(u-turn in driveway turning back down after a wall ride and such) my foot gets blown off the pedal by the front wheel. I am 5’10” and 33″ or 34″ inseem (not quite sure how to get the correct measurment), I have a size 9.5 to 10 shoe (5-10 impact) and have to contort my foot to miss the pedal. Would the long frame fix or just reduce the problem?
I have a fox 32 talas (had it hanging around off another bike) saint hubs, rear deraileur, and rear brake. I tried it without a front break for a week or so with bad results, I ran into all kinds of stuff because I couldn’t slow down quik enough. Got a cheep bb7 front brake, now all is well (i am used to 8″ front brake with metalick pad) now 3 fingers full pull I can just get the front wheel to lock on pavement, as on my other bike I can lock it up with one finger and mayby 3/4 full pull.
Thanks
Keep on Braaaping
Stefan