Cervelo

P3 Ultegra Di2 R8050 Road Bike

Cervelo's P3 is a longstanding icon in triathlon and time trial circuits, representing the standard by which other bikes were judged for over a decade. Offering real-world aerodynamics, easy packing for travel, accessible storage options, and a widely adjustable fit, the P3 has become a mainstay at everything from regional races all the way up to the Kona Ironman World Championships. And while the P5 now sits in the top spot of Cervelo's UCI-legal offerings, the P3 is still a close rival when it comes to aerodynamic performance. The difference lies in the P3's slightly less aggressive geometry and greater ease of use, making it a better option for riders needing a fast, but approachable bike for training and racing. This particular model, the P3 Ultegra Di2 R8050 Complete Bike, is Cervelo's flagship P3 build, coming equipped with Shimano's workhorse electronic drivetrain that provides you with quick shifting and reliable performance for many seasons to come.

Out of all the bike's features, the P3's refined aerodynamics have the biggest impact on your speed. Cervelo applies their collective knowledge from years of building some of the fastest aero bikes in the world to the current iteration of the P3 frame. The head tube and fork present the smallest frontal area possible, working with the the TrueAero tube shapes to reduce drag when you're sprinting across the tarmac. An extended seat tube cutout shields the leading edge of the rear wheel, also contributing to the bike's impressive aerodynamic performance. Additionally, the P3 can easily be upgraded with more aerodynamic wheels or cockpit, allowing you to work toward even greater aero performance in the future.

Adding to the P3's impressive aerodynamics are its user-friendly performance features. First off, the P3 has flexible storage options. In addition to the standard water bottle mounts, there's an accessory mount on the top tube behind the stem, and another opening on the back end of the seat post that can accommodate an additional bottle carrier. This ensures you have everything you need for a 6-hour training ride or the extended leg of your triathlon. Also, because the frame uses traditional brake placement and a non-integrated cockpit, the bike is considerably easier to pack into a travel case and fly across the country to your next event. The conventional bar and stem allows a wider range of adjustment compared to an integrated setup, which is a huge win for anyone that hasn't quite figured out their ideal position and fit yet. And as we mentioned above, the P3's geometry is a bit less aggressive than the P5, offering up a taller stack height and a shorter reach that allow for a slightly more upright riding position, if desired. This makes the P3 suitable to a wider range of athletes, while still allowing you to adapt into a more aggressive aero riding position if that's your preference, or as your flexibility improves over time.

A Cervelo wouldn't be a Cervelo without their dedication to frame stiffness and ride quality. The P3 is no exception, being carefully engineered for an ideal stiffness to weight ratio that's noticeable right from the first pedal stroke, inspiring you to pedal harder and go faster. Specifically, Cervelo optimizes stiffness at the head tube junction for precise steering and responsive handling, and then employs just the right amount of vertical compliance at the rear of the bike to ensure a comfortable ride over long distances. The oversize BBright bottom bracket shell allows Cervelo to use a larger diameter down tube, seat tube, and left-hand chainstay, boosting frame stiffness while at the same time reducing weight—all without increasing the Q-Factor. This ensures maximum efficiency as you push the limits of your power output to the pedals.