I’m so confused!!!!!

I bit the bullet, and I bought a tri bike!!! A Cervelo P3.  I have been waffling back and forth on making this purchase because I love my Specialized Ruby road bike and have been very happy with its performance.  I have been told that a Tri bike is necessary for an Iron, so I began researching bikes and stores that sell them. 

I did not intend on making this purchase so soon.  I just felt lucky when I found myself in a bike store looking for a birthday present for a friend.  The store was having a sale on Cervelo. The small notice on the store entrance door said “up to $2000 off”. So I inquired. The young girl working the floor was new to selling bikes and cycling in general (I actually knew more than her, which is scary).  The store had one P3 left. I got on the bike and it felt big, but the store manager said it would be “sized” for me, even if they had to cut the seat steam. I left a deposit.

??????????????????

I think I made a mistake! Hours after my purchase, I started to question my decision, so I began researching on the internet and made a few phone calls to some seasoned cyclists I know.  I won’t get into the details, but OMG, forget about the bike size – it seems everyone has an opinion on tri vs road bikes.  So not only am I confused about the size of my soon to be picked up bike, but now I am questioning whether I should be buying one at all.

I’m still hopeful my deposit will be refundable, but now what? 

The debate it this… you trade-off comfort and speed on hills, on a tri bike (depending on who you talk to). With a road bike, you lose speed on flats and your legs are not as fresh when you get off the bike.  I have also been warned that some people never feel comfortable on a tri bike and that road bikes can be modified (to a degree) to be more aerodynamic.

So, I have a decision to make and I am so very confused.  The P3 size is still in question, but I can work through that with the store.  But if it fits… do I keep it?