This is speed

I have a three year old, as a result of this we have a fair few Pixar movies at home (plus they are great movies). Anyway, the whole three year old thing is a good excuse as to why I was watching the movie Cars again recently. In that movie the main character, Lightning McQueen, psychs himself up pre race by repeating his mantra 'I am speed'. Well, he was fast I will give him that, but I am sorry to have to tell him, he isn't speed. This is...


I picked this up from those very good guys at Churchill cycles yesterday, they have been building it up for me since the weekend, and it was finally ready. For the uninitiated it is a Cervelo P5 Six and I have been lusting after one ever since it was released. As well as being an awesome bike, this bike also has the honour of being the first brand new bike I have ever owned. In all the years I have been riding, I have always been on used bikes purchased second hand, but not for this one.

Go fast, or look good going slow - this should tick both boxes

Since it was released I have intended this to be my next bike, and whilst it has been on my would really really like list for a while, it has been far from justifiable until very recently. It didn't become justifiable recently, just less unjustifiable. Let me explain, a couple of weeks ago I was at Churchill chatting to the guys and noticed that they had a P5 on display, so I asked the price they were putting them together for. What size are you after, asked Matt to which I responded 56. Well I have a 56 upstairs that was ordered for a customer who changed his mind. I need to get rid of it, so if you agree to take it I will give you a good discount. Well, I didn't jump on it then and there, but my wife and I went and had a think about it, and, well the end result is in the photo.

I had a few scares though. After convincing myself to go ahead with the purchase and getting fitted on Saturday, I got a call from Churchill on Monday saying my race wheels wouldn't fit. My race wheels are HED Stingers, which have a 28mm wide rim. The wide wheels have caused problems before, resulting in me changing the brakes on my P3 because the original brakes couldn't adjust wide enough. In this case it looked as if one of the conditions of getting a P5 would also be forking out for a new wheelset. Well that wasn't going to happen. So it looked like the new bike wasn't going to happen either. While I was having a think about what to do, I got another call from Churchill saying that they had just spoken to Cervelo and the brakes could be adjusted and the wheels did fit after all. Phew. Needless to say I was feeling a little crushed for a while there.

I haven't been for a proper ride yet. That will have to wait until the weekend, and I am really hoping I am over this cold my then. I am also hoping I can ride quick enough to do the bike justice.