Perhaps in reaction to a number of leaked images appearing on various internet forums, Canadian bike company Cervélo has released some official pictures of its new P5 triathlon frame. The new frame, claims Cervélo, is “the most advanced and the most aerodynamic triathlon bike”, with the two-word tagline “Simply Faster”.
There are few actual details released along with the pictures, although they show a number of detailed areas of the frame, but it does appear to be equipped with a set of long-rumoured hydraulic brakes by Magura, labelled RT8TT. The 2012 shorts of the Garmin-Cervélo team feature Magura as a sponsor, and so this would fit in with that, although it is clear that the particular “triathlon” frame in the pictures does not comply with International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations.
For example, the pronounced head tube, which sticks out between the top and down tubes, is quite obviously more than three times as long as it is wide, and is clearly longer than 8cm. This would require some drastic alteration before it were to be passed by the technical commissaires in Aigle.
It is understood that, because of its large share of the lucrative triathlon market, Cervélo – like Specialized has done with its Shiv OSBB frame – has decided to separate UCI-legal and triathlon specific frames in the pursuit of the best aerodynamics possible. Industry rumours say that a second P5 frame is also due for release soon, which will conform to UCI regulations.
In a departure from Cervélo’s current range topping time trial and triathlon frame, the P4, the new frame does not have the integrated bottle at the junction between the seat and down tubes; which fell foul of UCI regulations soon after its release in late 2008. The P5 instead has conventional bottle cage bosses on the down tube, as well as some placed towards the front of the top of the top tube.
All cables – and hydraulic lines – are routed internally; with the complete bike featured in the pictures equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, it seems unlikely that it will be possible to fit a mechanical groupset. Campagnolo recently released its own electronic “EPS” groupsets, which would theoretically be possible to fit to the P5, although time trial/triathlon components have yet to be developed.
The website “p5simplyfaster.com” on which the pictures have been released has a link to “full specs”, which only yields the date “1.18.12”, implying that we will be told more about it this coming Wednesday.
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