There are few endeavours in life that are as physically gruelling and mentally draining that that of a triathlon.
In its Olympic format, athletes have to push their personal limits through a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run. Either stage may be manageable on its own, but to manage each leg of the race in succession requires supreme discipline. Up the ante and Ironman versions of the race can involve swim distances of 3.8km, a bike segment of 180km and a full 42.2km marathon run.
That challenge though, is something the sport’s athletes eagerly relish with glee. At its elite level, it is the tiny details that make all the difference between achieving a desired target and failing to even complete the race. The latter, obviously, is not an option. This is precisely where equipment manufacturers like Cervélo come in.
Sharing that same relentless hunger for success, the bike manufacturer has been a major player in developing two-wheeled sprint machines to help triathletes combat both fatigue and the elements with their race bikes. The cycling leg, you see, is the middle-ground in a race of physical conditioning, endurance and tactical nous, much like that of an automotive endurance race.
To that end, Cervélo has developed the P5X.
Intended as the ultimate triathlon bike, the P5X is designed for speed. It boasts the ability to enable an athlete to propel him- or herself down the bike leg of a triathlon race with the maximum amount of speed and the least amount of effort.
Built entirely from scratch around the needs of the unique needs of every rider under the premise that Speed = Comfort + Power + Aerodynamics. In the design phase of the bike, engineers had spent countless thousands of hours on data gathering from hundred of elite races all over the world and an additional 180 hours spent in the wind tunnel to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiency. The result of that is clearly apparent: an exotic two-wheeled rocket fashioned with a one-piece monocoque frame, disc brakes and an integrated front end and looking like a race-special two-wheeled Lamborghini for the Triathlon.
Expectedly, the P5X will go fast, and do so very efficiently and steadily. The extra special bits are what else it can bring along with it. The bike features three storage areas dubbed the Smartpak (behind the stem on the top tube), Speedcase (attached to the downtube of the bike), and Stealth Box (located between the crank and front wheel). While they could all be removed at will, these easy-access storage areas will enable a rider to pack in valuable nutrition, spares and additional weather gear for races in dodgy weather.
This being a bike design and built around the needs of the rider, every adjustable component both major and minute can be tweaked to suit individual preferences. Admittedly, riders looking for a racing machine don’t want bling that may weigh them down. They want a bike that is connected to their very being for the most efficient movement with the least energy expended—all of which can be slid and shifted manually with assistance from a proprietary sizing tool on the P5X microsite.
In fact, the P5X is so user-focused that it even comes with its own easy-pack travelling case that cocoons the bike so perfectly, you can check it in without any worry.
Striking good looks, ultra-fast, efficient and stable ride and athlete-focused build, few, if any, bikes come as close to perfection as Cervélo’s P5X.
For a race machine this sharp and precise, the P5X is available in a choice of builds. To find out more, visit Bikesnbites.com.
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