Below is a letter we received here at Trek about our TTX.  It pretty much speaks for itself.  This may start a huge debate but I'm not intending to bash Cervelo - just pointing out the differences between Trek's bike and theirs, according to this customer.

Hi

For what its worth, I have ridden the P3 and TTX in Ironman and shorter races, and have obviously logged quite a few miles on both.

I was a bit apprehensive about swapping over to the TTX, the P3 was fast, no doubt about it.

My reasons for wanting a TTX were two fold, comfort and fit (which translated to comfort).

The P3 has a very aggressive front end or drop form seat to bars (helps make it so aero), but is has a long top tube. So in Ironman, I was getting off the bike with tension headaches and unbearable upper body fatigue.

The ttx has a slightly less aggressive front end, but I worked out I could get the same seat angle (80°) as the P3, the difference being I was not as stretched and therefore uncomfortable. Bearing in mind a lot of pros ride 76 and 78° angles in triathlon (Norman included) so 80° is probably too aggressive for some.

I ride with a powertap, so the first time I rode the TTX, I rode a flat time trial route at similar watts to the P3 and timed it, gues watt? TTX was same speed within 2 seconds over 20km, I was doing 3 x 20km at tempo and I did them twice a week, and honestly there was no or little difference between the two in terms of speed on a flat course, I cut and pasted and compared about 20 powertap files. My impression was that the P3 might be faster in a straight line, ttx handles and corners better, and I felt ttx could climb and descend better.

Biked 10 minutes’ faster this year in PE than last, on a tougher day… yay.

That was for the same average watts. The good news is that I immediately hit higher power outputs, with a lower hear rate… more comfy more relaxed, more powerful setup, more stable.

The bike is miles less twitchy so I can ride more aero wheels, In pE I rode a disc, did not feel the wind, on my P3 the year befor I was nearly blown off the course.

Comfort, it’s the same as the madone, the difference is marked and noticeable, feels like a heavy bike or solid bike… was a staggering 1.5kg lighter without wheels.

I did training camps in PE with Raynaard Tissink, on the P3 I would stand every km cos the roads are so rough, as does Raynaard, on the ttx, never noticed the roads are rough. I descended hills that I had to sit up on the year befor, and lost Raynaards wheel and got mocked. Dropped him this year.

If it sounds too good to be true, ride one, the difference is marked.

Ironman is about getting in your bars, staying comfy and powerful and not being fatigued off the bike. TTX is a clear winner, most okes riding P3’s are good fro a lap then have to start sitting up and stretching. Guys I know are too nervous to ride aero wheels cos the bike is twitchy (narrow wheel base, steep front fork).

Other points, internally routed cables, cables tucked neatly away at top tube, better paint and quality finish (I like details), 2 water bottle cage holders, means I don’t ride with a seat cage (gaureenteed to make u 5 minutes slower..)

I also like to stand out.. enough P3’s around..

Enough said

Lawrence