Pro Bike: Emma Pooley's Cervelo P3 time trial bike with 650c wheels
Extra small frame had to be specially ordered for the Olympics
Standing at just 157cm (5ft 2in), Emma Pooley was one of the smallest riders on the start line of the Olympic time trial, and as such required a special time trial bike to tackle the hilly Rio course.
Pooley's bike of choice is an extra small Cervelo P3 time trial bike that has been specially ordered from Cervelo, equipped with 650c wheels (a Zipp disc wheel on the back and an unbranded 60mm deep section wheel on the front) and custom components from USE.
>>>Where to watch all the cycling action from the Rio 2016 Olympics
The choice of smaller wheels means that Pooley had to compromise with a bigger chainset, running 56/44t Rotor Q-Rings which are combined with an 11-32t cassette (hence the Shimano Ultegra Di2 rear derailleur) to cope with the hills. For comparison, Chris Froome is using 56/36t chainrings in the men's time trial.
The other interesting component choice is with the bars, which have been custom made by USE. These are 40cm bars that have been cut to make them just 33cm in width. The brake ends have then been literally glued back on to the bars, which are then combined with a custom stem with a massive drop for a lower and more aerodynamic position that has been extensively tested in the wind tunnel over the last year.
Completing the bike are Continental Competition tyres, Speedplay Aero Zero pedals, and, the old triathletes' favourite, and ISM Adamo saddle.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Ridley Kanzo Fast review: fast by name, fast by nature?
Tested as past of our Gravel Bike of the Year award we put this Belgian speedster through its paces
By Rachel Sokal Published
-
Virtual cycling becomes real: We watched the esports world championships live in Abu Dhabi and it absolutely delivered
Exciting racing, celebrity attendance, pyrotechnics: it was so much more than watching people ride their trainers
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Tour de France winning bikes: Pinarello is the top dog
Nine of the ten bikes came from Italian manufacturers
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Last updated
-
Chris Froome’s Giro d’Italia winning Pinarello Dogma F10 X-Light
A closer look at the custom-pink Pinarello on which Froome entered Rome on May 27
By Paul Knott Published
-
How a bike made from parts bought on eBay won the National Hill-Climb Championships
New hill-climb champion Lou Bates won on a bike made up of parts from the auction site eBay
By Jack Elton-Walters Published
-
Tour de France bikes: Mark Cavendish's Cervelo S5
Here's a look at the Cervélo S5 that Team Dimension Data sprinter Mark Cavendish will be looking to ride to stage victories at the Tour de France
By Nick Busca Published
-
Pro Bike: Adrian Timmis’s 1987 Tour de France Peugeot
A closer look at the bike Adrian Timmis rode in the 1987 Tour de France
By Hugh Gladstone Published
-
Tour de France: Cobble conversations
What do you talk about when you're waiting at the verge of the pave for the Tour de France to arrive? The weather and your nation's sporting misfortunes.
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Tour de France 2014 stage one schedule
Stage one: Full route details
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
Mark Cavendish could skip Giro d'Italia to concentrate on Tour de France
Mark Cavendish aiming to claim the yellow jersey when the Tour de France starts in Yorkshire this July
By Gregor Brown Published