Upgrades from P3   Even better aerodynamics - Integrated brake, ICS2, dropped downtube, new seatstays, and integrated water bottle/storage unit (see below). Integrated Water bottle/Storage unit - The bottom bracket area is designed to accept a Cervelo water bottle or storage unit (for tires, CO2 cartridges, tools) without disrupting the airflow at all. For the few UCI races for which this Cervélo solution is considered too fast, the standard Elite aero bottle fits neatly in the same space.

Feature-Benefit-Experience   The bike industry loves to talk about features (tube shapes, materials, etc). But a feature is useless without a benefit! Ask yourself, would you prefer a poorly engineered frame made of “Ultra High Modulus carbon” (a feature)? Or an intelligently engineered frame that uses the material to create something lighter, stiffer and stronger (real benefits)? Even more than benefits, you want experiences. The aforementioned lightness & stiffness may be benefits, but what you really want is the experience of higher performance, through quicker acceleration and better climbing. This is why we list not only features, but also the accompanying benefits and experiences. To recap: Product Feature: “Which innovative shape, material or design solution was used on this frame?” Technical Benefit: “What is the advantage of this shape, material or solution?” Rider Experience: “How does this feature & benefit change my riding experience?” This usually involves experiencing higher performance or more comfort. Some features also offer an esthetic experience, and although we would never sacrifice performance or comfort for beauty, sometimes you can have it all. Product Feature Technical Benefit Rider Experience Integrated water bottle or storage unit Water bottle shape completely unified with the downtube and seattube optimizes airflow around this area (compare with standard round bottle stuck on aero tubing). Higher performance: Lower aerodynamic resistance means more speed for the same Watts you generate. Integrated rear brake inside chainstays With nothing sticking out, nothing can catch air and create drag (compare with brakes on seatstays or brakes hanging under the bottom bracket – invisible for the eyes but not the wind). Higher performance: Lower aerodynamic resistance means more speed for the same Watts you generate. Custom fork with integrated fork crown One shape for fork crown and headtube/downtube minimizes airflow disruption, resulting in lower aerodynamic resistance. Higher performance: Lower aerodynamic resistance means more speed for the same Watts you generate.

Front wheel cutout   We invented the front wheel cutout back in 1995, but in subsequent testing we have found it not to be the fastest design. So despite current trends the P4 does not have a front wheel cutout, as we have never seen one that works. While front wheel cutouts can show good drag values in the tunnel, this is only the case because there, the front wheel is perfectly in line with the downtube. In reality, the rider constantly makes small steering adjustments, which stalls the airflow onto the downtube and increases the drag.

TrueAero®   Airplanes require different airfoils than bicycles. Sounds logical, but many companies are so proud to say their airfoils come from the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). So were we, 13 years ago. But now, we design our own specific airfoils, and it has led to significant improvements. It’s one of the reasons why we spend weeks and weeks in the windtunnel each year, not hours (if any) as is customary in the industry. When you have the most and the best engineers working on aerodynamic improvements and you give them more time to play in the windtunnel sand box than anybody else, you end up with faster bikes. Simple.