Just five short months after pulling the covers off its all-new S3 and S5 aero bikes for the road, Cervelo has stuck to the aero theme unveiling the latest iteration of its P5 time trial and triathlon bike. Disc brake specific, lighter,more aero and said to be more refined in every way, join us as we take a look at six things to know about the all-new Cervelo P5.
1. Simply Faster
After sitting at the forefront of aerodynamic technology with the outgoing P series and the radical P5x, the engineers at Cervelo are said to have poured years of development into the latest iteration of its wind-cheating steed.
With thanks to a new fork design, refined tube design, and an integrated aero bottle, the new P5 is said to offer a 17gram aero improvement over its predecessor. Out in the real world, this equates to a marginal 3-watt improvement at 50kph. What’s-more the new P5 was also designed to suit both professional riders in the WorldTour peloton, and triathletes alike, meaning that the new P5 is UCI compliant.
2. It’s Lighter
In refining the tube profile and fork design on the new P5, Cervelo claims to have saved 350 grams off the frame and fork compared to the outgoing model. This weight saving is said to have had a profound impact on the handling of the bike too, with the new bike retaining the same chainstay length as its predecessor. Cervelo claims this aids in snappy acceleration and improved handling characteristics on technical courses.
3. …And Stiffer Too
Along with a reduction in weight, Cervelo claims they’ve also increased the stiffness of the new bike. These gains are said to have been made at both the headtube and the bottom bracket, to the tune of 22% and 26% respectively for increased power transfer without sacrificing ride quality.
4. Integrated Design Features
As a dual-purpose aero machine, the new P5 is host to a range of integrated design features to suit both time trial specialists and triathletes alike. These include a new aerobar system dubbed “Speed Riser” that is claimed to be infinitely adjustable to suit a riders needs, space for a bento box and additional bottle mounts for triathlon use, and a wide range of adjustability to suit WorldTour rider fits in a long and low riding position.
5. Space for Wide Tyres and Disc Brake Specific
As is the case with the majority of wind-cheating aero bikes to hit the market in the last 12-18 months, Cervelo has opted to make the latest iteration of the P5 disc-brake specific. The move to disc brakes is largely favoured by aero bike manufacturers as a result of the increased braking power provided and the fact that wheels and framesets themselves can be further optimised for aerodynamics.
In addition to increased braking power and modularity, the move to disc brakes also allows for increased tyre clearance with the new P5 optimised for use with 28mm wide tyres.
6. Price and Availability
The P5 is available in Australia right now, check with your nearest bike store for local availability.
The P5 hits local shores in the following builds;
- P5 Dura Ace Di2 – AUD$16,000; Shimano Dura Ace 9170 groupset, Ceramic Speed OSPW/Chain/Bottom Bracket, ENVE 5.6 wheelset, Aero Bottle 500, Barfly computer mount
- P5 Ultegra Di2 – AUD$11,000; Shimano Ultegra R8070 groupset, DT Swiss P1800 wheelset, Aero Bottle 500, Barfly computer mount.
- P5 Frameset – AUD$7,000
With the new P5 hitting local showrooms, right now is a great time to snap up a deal on outgoing Cervelo P3 and P5 models. Check out the range on offer from our leading independent retailers above.
