Cervelo P5 Force AXS Bike

The Cervelo P5 Force AXS Bike is a carbon triathlon bike built for riders who treat the bike leg as the first half of a race, not a stretch to survive before the run. It pairs Cervelo's latest P5 frame with SRAM's Force AXS E1 electronic drivetrain, Reserve 77/88 carbon wheels, and an integrated cockpit that is designed to be easier to dial in than the setups that came before it.

Cervelo has been building aero bikes since the late 1990s, and the P-Series is the lineage most associated with its triathlon and time trial work. The current P5 continues that line with a redesigned frame that Cervelo says is roughly a watt faster than the model it replaces. That is a modest number on paper, but marginal gains are the whole business at this level, and the frame is only part of the system. It also clears tires up to 700x34, which opens the door to wider, lower-pressure rubber on rough roads. The bike ships with Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR G2.0 tires in 29mm, a size Cervelo pairs with the Reserve wheels as a combined system.

A front end built for fit

For most triathletes, the cockpit decides whether a bike is fast or just fast on paper. A position you cannot hold for 180 kilometers costs more than any aero saving. Cervelo's one-piece front end on the P5 is designed to simplify assembly and adjustment, with stack adjustable by up to 40mm and extensions that pivot through a range of angles in small increments. The HB15 carbon basebar sits lower than on the previous generation to reduce frontal area, and the EX16 extensions and wider, thicker armrest pads are meant to make the aero position easier to settle into and stay in.

Geometry runs from a 48cm to a 61cm frame, with 700c wheels across the range and crank lengths scaled by size, from 160mm on the smallest to 172.5mm on the largest. That matters in a triathlon fit, where shorter cranks are common and let riders open the hip angle in a low position.

Drivetrain, brakes, and wheels

The P5 Force AXS carries a SRAM Force AXS E1 12-speed group with a power meter crankset, a 50/37 chainring pairing, and a 10-33 cassette. Shifting is wireless, with AXS Blip controllers on the base bar and the LEAP TT extension shift set on the aerobars, so you can change gears from either position without reaching. Stopping comes from SRAM Force aero hydraulic disc brakes with Paceline Centerlock rotors, which give you consistent modulation in the wet and on long descents, where a rim-brake tri bike would ask more of you.

The wheels are Reserve 77 front and 88 rear, built on DT Swiss 240 hubs and tubeless compatible. The deeper rear rim and shallower front is a pairing aimed at aero efficiency while keeping the front end manageable when the wind gets gusty, which is a real consideration on exposed Ironman courses. Because the bike is tubeless ready, you can run lower pressures with sealant if the course calls for it.

Built to carry your race

Fueling is its own discipline in triathlon, and the P5 treats it that way. This build includes a Cervelo aero water bottle with cage, a rear hydration mount, P5 stem storage, a Smartpak top tube storage bag, and a Profile Design computer mount. That covers nutrition, hydration, and a head unit without bolting on aftermarket pieces that disturb the airflow around the frame. The saddle is a Fizik Transiro Aeris LD R3, a shape designed for riders who spend long hours rotated forward on the nose. Pedals are not included, so you can fit the cleat system you already train on.

At $11,000, the P5 Force AXS sits in the serious-racer tier without reaching for the top of the range. It suits the athlete who has the fit work done, races full or half distance, and wants a complete build that is race-ready once pedals are on.