why would you make the assumption it is NOT the new P3.
Conventional wisdom would say that this is a 2015 bike and it was tested against current model bikes…not older, out of date bikes.
Because the drag #s don’t add up to conventional wisdom.
read the comments at the bottom of the article. they state that it is the new p3. No assumption necessary…
BMCSLR01, really cool article on the Slice. Certainly a lot more to think about…especially the comfort levels. I guess that I could wait it out and try find a 2015 demo. Truth is though after reading this, I may have to step it up to the Hi-Mod Black if I’m trying to get a good comparison with the TM01.
Compared to my older P3, I think that I’m in for a ell of a ride either way.
Alexneum, looking forward to hearing a report. A shop near me is selling a 2014 TM01 with Di2 and Envie wheelset. I’m picking it up today for a demo and I’ll see how it compares against my P3. Another shop should be getting int he Slice in Jan…though that could easily be pushed back to Feb. Nice job going for the high-end model. You’ll definitely bring down you 112 time by at least 5 min over the P5. Especially on a hilly course.
Well the fact that the Shiv is equal to (and possibly better than at zero) this “new P3” makes me “assume” something is wrong with the test in some way. The numbers do not add up based on other sources of tunnel data.
Aerodynamic comparisons are a marketing tool, it’s not about being transparent. Being ambiguous allows consumers to jump to their own conclusions when reading over the graphs.
I still don’t understand this bike besides it being a rushed effort with cheap marketing that gives dealers something ‘new’ to sell over the 5 year old Slice model while they limit access to the Slice RS. It’s barely not UCI legal, and it really isn’t that light as there is only 300gr between the ‘advertised’ weight of the ‘P3 at 2165’ and a non HM slice at 1865. If you look at the QR PR6 weight tables it shows the P5 at ~2150 gr as well.
I’d be surprised if anyone would notice ~0.5lb on the frame while climbing in a triathlon,
Will give an update once I get it, but from the dealers I spoke to in the UK they are getting the Black Slice in my size not until February. So most likley will have done firt ride by the end of February. Good thing is that training camp is not until end of March, with first race on it being Mallorca 70.3. Did a 2:47 on the bike last year, so 5minutes quicker would be a good start, as I would like to hit a sub 2hr40min this year. Will see how that pans out. But lighter can only be better with my weight.
Will give an update once I get it, but from the dealers I spoke to in the UK they are getting the Black Slice in my size not until February. So most likley will have done firt ride by the end of February. Good thing is that training camp is not until end of March, with first race on it being Mallorca 70.3. Did a 2:47 on the bike last year, so 5minutes quicker would be a good start, as I would like to hit a sub 2hr40min this year. Will see how that pans out. But lighter can only be better with my weight.
You will lose time riding the slice instead of the P5. The weight of the slice will gain you probably 30 seconds on the P5, but the P5’s aero will gain you more than that over a course.
Depends on your strength and weaknesses. I think the slice will save me a lot more on the climb in Mallorca 70.3, plus if it gets me fresher to T2, then I would run quicker as well. So overall I should be quicker.
But in reality I won’t know until May! 
Decision has been made…deposit paid. Can’t really have the Slice and the P5! Seems a little excessive to me!
Depends on your strength and weaknesses. I think the slice will save me a lot more on the climb in Mallorca 70.3, plus if it gets me fresher to T2, then I would run quicker as well. So overall I should be quicker.
But in reality I won’t know until May! Decision has been made…deposit paid. Can’t really have the Slice and the P5! Seems a little excessive to me!
It does not depend on your strength and weaknesses, that is simply not how this works.
The difference between a P5 and the Slice is going to be less than 1% of the total rider and bike weight. This means that it will only climb 1% faster, just basic physics and trust me you are obeying the laws of physics. So over the 167 minutes you spent on the bike course, the most you could save would be 1.67 minutes. But if the course starts and stops at the same elevation, that means that you could only be climbing half of the time, so really it would save you .87 minutes (about 50 seconds, but it is assuming that there is absolutely no flat). I would bet that the P5 has more than a 50 second aero advantage over the slice for a half ironman and 50 seconds is very generous.
As my knowledge of even basic physics being relative limited, I m just going to have to wait until May and see the result. ‘Lets hope I m quicker’! P5 is most defintley more aero, but I have to take other factors under consideration as well. Hard to judge unless riding both bikes on same course in same environment with same fitness levels. I m hoping that I be more than 1% faster on the climbs; if I m not, than I be a little disappointed. Climbing has always been my weak point, as I live in very very flat area, so anything that handles more like a roadbike on the hills, will do me favour.
I m sure training and 2015 being my second full season should have an impact as well. With this year having been all about IM training, and with 2015 only going up to 70.3’s, so some speed should be gained. Got 5x70.3 & 2/3xOlympic Distance races, as 2015 is a year of just having a blast!
Why not make your P5 lighter?
or an even bigger gain, I bet for the $5,000 + on the slice you could find motivation to lose 5 lbs. Then you could have your cake and eat it too (well only if it’s a diet cake)
Did you try running a best bike split model using a lighter bike on the mallorca course to see what the difference is?
Okay, I was able to take the BMC TM01 out for a couple of hours this morning. Some really interesting observations in comparing it with my current 2012 Cervelo P3. First and foremost is the Dura Ace Di2 shifting. WOW! Maybe I’m that far behind the times, but this is by far the most significant improvement. Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with unique characteristics of the bike itself. So, 2nd take away…not weight or aerodynamics, but the stiffness of the bike. Descending on the TM01 is like being on a pretty tight road bike. It’s incredibly responsive and controlled. In order to get up the hill before the descent, I had to do some serious climbing, which was a breeze on this thing.
3rd take away…power transfer. The bike reacts so quickly that it begs you to get out of the seat and hammer the climb. Seated, it’s a bit of a strain, but the second you increase the watts and stand up, the pedals just start flying. I understand that this bike is about 3 lbs less than my P3, but my feeling is this was more impacted by the power and not the weight.
On the flats, the bike flies, though honestly I’m not sure of how much faster it is than my P3. Probably something that is much obvious on a timed 56-112 mile loop.
So, the BMC TM01 is definitely a hot bike. How hot and how much is it worth I’m not sure. Still trying to assess the other bikes that are out there.
-Ethan