Nuts and bolts of the Aduro recall
If you are a P5 owner, here are the mechanics of the recall, that is, what you need to do and what you can expect.
This recall is specific to the P5-6: the version of the P5 that comes with the 3T Aduro aerobar. If you own a P5 outfitted with any other aerobar, this recall does not apply to you. If you own a P5 with the Aduro bar, then you are obliged to bring your bike in. This is a voluntary recall, but that does not mean that you should use your own judgment as to whether you will or won't comply with the recall. “Voluntary” does not apply to you. It means that Cervelo is voluntarily working with the CPSC (and similar organizations around the world) rather than the CPSC forcing compliance out of a manufacturer that does not feel a recall is warranted.
If you own a P5-6 you should bring your bike into an authorized Cervelo retailer. If you bought your bike at a shop that was but no longer is a Cervelo dealer you should bring your bike to a current Cervelo retailer. You can bring this bike to any Cervelo retailer – you don't need to return to the dealer from whom you bought the bike.
Not all Aduro bars are affected, only a specific date run. This is spelled out on 3T's website announcement of the recall. Cervelo's dealers are trained in how to identify which bars are affected. It is the pursuit bar that's affected, specifically the way the armrest clamp or construct or assembly mounts to the pursuit bar. If the pursuit bar is of a particular vintage, your dealer may well be able to identify this while you wait, in which case you can happily exit the shop without anything needing to be done. You're good. Your bike is in the clear.
If your Aduro bar is an affected bar, there are two options. First, your dealer may have a replacement bar in stock, should he have unsold P5 bikes in stock at his store right now with good, conforming Aduro bars. He may be able to fish an Aduro pursuit bar out of the bike box and put it on your bike. Otherwise, Cervelo has replacement bars in stock right now, ready to ship to your dealer if he needs that bar for your bike. If this is the case, you'll need to leave your bike at the shop and pick it up a few days later, after the new pursuit bar is installed. If this happens, your old aerobar parts – armrests, clamps, extensions – will remain on your bike, only the pursuit bar will be swapped out. Your dealer is compensated for all of this.
Your bike will not be returned to you exactly the same as it was when you brought it in if you're riding the Aduro in the extra-low aerobar position. Remember, there are three positions you can mount the aerobar pads: X-Lo, Low, and High V. If you are riding Low or High V, you have to take your bike in, but the dénouement of your ordeal will be the return of your bike in exactly the same config as when you brought it to your dealer. If you come in with your bike in that X-Lo aerobar config, your bike will be returned to you with a different front end, either a Low configuration or, if you so choose, a 3T Mistral bar as a replacement. Fortunately for affected P5-6 owners there are very few X-Lo set ups floating around out there. If you are one of them and you have positioning questions, meet me on our reader forum and we'll all discuss this.
Also fortunately, it's the first week of February. Some of you will just have to ride your road or mountain bikes for a week. Which is probably what you should be doing anyway.
