CERVELO P5 SIX FRAMESET

The name of this Cervélo speaks to the company's obsessive devotion to aerodynamics. The P5 Six is so named because of the fork. They built it with aerodynamics first. Then they realized that the aspect ratio of the length and width, which is six to one, violated the UCI's rules on frame tubing. So, they made a P5 Three, with a less aero fork, for their Garmin-Sharp pro team. But since the number of people who are getting the P5 Three for UCI-sanctioned racing is small, they offer the Three fork for those who request it.

Regardless, you're faster with the Six. The fork with it's long blades, shrouding for the included Magura hydraulic rim brake and hose, and joining the included handlebar, make for incredible wind slicing.

Cervélo took their design process to the next level with the P5. They started with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for their modeling. And, once the modeling narrowed their options, they validated results in the wind tunnel. The result. This bike, with rider aboard, can save 24 to 44 seconds over the typical "superbike" in a 40km time trial or bike leg. The savings comes from many place, but in particular, by cleaning the airflow between the fork and head tube/down tube juncture, cleaning the flow behind the seat tube, and keeping as much hidden from the wind as possible. This is why the fork flows smoothly into the head tube, the head tube is elongated, the area between the seat stays and seat tube is filled in, and there's a hidden pocket for battery electronics in the back of the seat tube.

And with Low Friction Internal Cable Stops, or ICS3, they've made it possible to route all the cables, be they mechanical, electronic, or hydraulic, completely inside the frame, flowing from the bars into the top tube without being exposed. There's even a pocket hidden in the frame for the electronic battery that you access by removing the rear wheel.

But even the slipperiest frame has to direct rider-created and road-created forces in the proper directions. This is why the BBright bottom bracket standard is important: they were able to built out more and thus increase bottom bracket stiffness. And likewise with a tapered steerer, they were able to increase torsional stiffness as well.

Another advance introduced with this frame is ComfortPly technology, which allowed engineers to remove unnecessary material for reducing weight and improving comfort. They're proud this is their most comfortable time trial frame they've yet designed.

The Aduro handlebars, which come with the bike were designed by Cervélo to work with this frame, were built by partner 3T. The stem length is nominally 90mm, but the fore-aft adjustment of the arm places makes the effective length vary between 65mm and 115mm. Those pads also have a lateral adjustment range from 145mm to 205mm. The 38cm base bars, an industry standard 22.2mm in diameter, come as ski bends but straight and s-bends can be installed in their place. They start at 230mm in total length, but can be cut to size. In terms of the bar's height, there are three "macro" height settings, 55mm of micro height settings, for a total of 12cm variation in stack range. The increments are 5mm and 10mm and the spacers are shaped to integrate perfectly with the bars.

While it does come with Magura hydraulic brakes and levers, which Cervélo advocates because they're small, light, powerful, and virtually maintenance-free, just about all brakes can be used on the fork, and TRP center-pull brake can work in back.

Wheel compatibility was an important feature to Cervélo, so they designed the frame to fit all known racing and training wheels, including wide wheels, wheels with covers, and discs.

The Cervélo P5 Six puts together the latest in composites design and wind-tunnel knowledge into a blindingly fast package.