Cervelo Team Soloist

its a good bike.

I hear some people like them. Others don't. Pros use them, and so do amateurs. But many people choose to ride something else.

Saw one in the flesh at Croydon Cycle works, it was awesome.
Sloping top tube would give better standover clearance, small front triangle from compact frame would make for a stiffer ride, medium wheelbase makes for a stable design, aero tubing looks cool and weld quality appeared to be excellent. With most parts coming from the ultegra groupset the bike is well specified.

It's my dream bike - I'd be riding one tomorrow if it weren't for a myriad of competing financial necessities.

pedalsquares said:

I hear some people like them. Others don't. Pros use them, and so do amateurs. But many people choose to ride something else.

Very droll...

From your list, I'd definitely pick the Soloist for the technical design points. I wish Cervelo had put more work into its appearance, though.

Thanks for the input guys. As this is all a great big learning experience its great to hear what others think.

I've think i've read enough/heard enough now to convince me that I shouldn't be heading towards a compact due to my height (6' 4"😉.

Heading the list now is a Scott S10 with something like Ksyrium Equipe wheels instead of R550's (its also a bit easier on the wallet also).

What exactly do you mean by that - Cervelo's look pretty cool to me. Nice paint jobs, bright colours, fast aero tubing.

nbfman said:

From your list, I'd definitely pick the Soloist for the technical design points. I wish Cervelo had put more work into its appearance, though.

11ring said:

What exactly do you mean by that - Cervelo's look pretty cool to me. Nice paint jobs, bright colours, fast aero tubing.

+1

I also went out to Croydon Cycle and I thought it looked bloody awesome. I was thinking that it would have been a crime to put a water bottle on it.

11ring said:

What exactly do you mean by that - Cervelo's look pretty cool to me. Nice paint jobs, bright colours, fast aero tubing.

+ another 1.

11ring said:

What exactly do you mean by that - Cervelo's look pretty cool to me. Nice paint jobs, bright colours, fast aero tubing.

The aero stuff looks cool for sure. I meant the color scheme, but, from everyones comments, there's obviously more than what I saw! The one I saw was anodized, looked matte black, and was kind of heavy (AL version, not CF). The dealer told me that it was the only color choice available for the budget AL version, and maybe I mistakenly assumed it was all the manufacturer offered as well. I'll try poking around the Cervelo web page some. Thanks.

artemidorus said:

Very droll...

I just couldn't resist. OK, I'll be serious this time.

Frankly, the Cervelo Soloist Team and the Colnago Extreme Power are the two bikes I really lust after. The Cervelo has the advantage that I've seen and sat on one, and I can actually afford it. It will probably be my next bike. If my local dealer were to offer some clearance pricing on the `06's, that would get me off the fence. Otherwise, I'll have to wait until spring.

The bike itself? It's unbelievably thin. You have to see one up close to know what I'm talking about. And stiff and light, too. I think the dealer weighed one in at 16.95 lbs. Unreal. The carbon Soloist was less than a pound lighter. The dealer said one typically goes for the carbon because they prefer the ride, and not necessarily the weight.

I've had mine for a almsot a year and not one problem. It's the best road bike I've had and is worth every penny....I mean dollar, all $5300.

[quote="Dave80"]Hi all,
[font=Verdana]Just wondering what people thought about the brand, what first hand experiences you may have had with this model and if you would recommend it.

Details can be found at: www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=SLT2006

I don't race but w[/font][font=Verdana]ant something thats stiff, will last and has quality components for a reasonable price. Other options are Giant TCR1, Pinarello Angliru, [/font][font=Verdana]Specialized Allez Elite and Trek 1500 (you can see my post in the Australia and NZ folder for the full list). The Cervelo is at the absolute top end of my possible budget.

Greatly appreciate any good/bad feedback.







Hello,


I puchased a Cervelo Soloist Centaur this past summer. I love it. I stand 6'3 myself and fit shuld not be an issue. It great bike it clims like a mountain was crossbreed with a horse. And flies right back down the same hill. Heres a link to a picture of it showing off the new tire I put on after wearing the stock ones. I also looked at the trek 1500 this bike smokes it.


Mike

[/font]

[/QUOTE][font=Verdana]
Hello,

I puchased a Cervelo Soloist Centaur this past summer. I love it. I stand 6'3 myself and fit shuld not be an issue. It great bike it clims like a mountain was crossbreed with a horse. And flies right back down the same hill. Heres a link to a picture of it showing off the new tire I put on after wearing the stock ones. I also looked at the trek 1500 this bike smokes it.


Mike

[/font][/QUOTE] That is one sweet looking bike, tyres look absolutely brilliant. I ended up getting an 06 Scott Cr1 Team. I think the Cervelo is a better looking bike than the Scott - love the aero frame. Having said that I'm very happy with the Scott, I’ve done about 700km since I picked it up 4 weeks ago and loving it as much as day 1.

Dave80 said:

That is one sweet looking bike, tyres look absolutely brilliant. I ended up getting an 06 Scott Cr1 Team. I think the Cervelo is a better looking bike than the Scott - love the aero frame. Having said that I'm very happy with the Scott, I’ve done about 700km since I picked it up 4 weeks ago and loving it as much as day 1.

I was trying to decide between the Soloist Alu and the CR1 framesets too, at about the same price, to replace a frame that got totalled by a car. I ended up going for the CR1 because the guy at the shop selling the Soloist told me they were VERY stiff and best suited to someone racing (which I am not). Of course, the CR1 is stiff too, according to those german tests (EFBE or something - link somewhere on the Scottusa web site) but the geometry looks pretty right. I have not ridden the Scott yet - should be built up this week, and my shoulder has recovered enough to even ride the thing!

roshea said:

I was trying to decide between the Soloist Alu and the CR1 framesets too, at about the same price, to replace a frame that got totalled by a car. I ended up going for the CR1 because the guy at the shop selling the Soloist told me they were VERY stiff and best suited to someone racing (which I am not). Of course, the CR1 is stiff too, according to those german tests (EFBE or something - link somewhere on the Scottusa web site) but the geometry looks pretty right. I have not ridden the Scott yet - should be built up this week, and my shoulder has recovered enough to even ride the thing!

Great to hear the insurance company finally coughed up the money. Hope you enjoy the Scott as much as I have mine. Had to take it in for a tune up today, should have planned it better cause they won't be able to get it back for a few days - i'm in distress. The old flatbar will have to be dusted off!

Why the Soloist? Why not the R3?

"Both put power down well. Both are light, with the R3 being very light. The R3 is more vertically compliant and a better choice if you ride a lot of rough road surfaces. The SLC is more areo, yet fairly light. The faster you ride, the more you will appreciate the aero qualities. The SLC is not a big penalty on climbs as it can be built into a light rig with little effort. It's a harsher ride though, on uneven surfaces. I think this quality is somewhat amplified by the aero shaped seatpost, that is also quite rigid. Round posts seem to offer a bit of flex. Not so with the SLC seatpost. You might also consider the wheels you are going to use. IMHO, anything but a deep section rim looks out of place on the SLC. Happily, given that most deep section rimmed wheels build stiffer than their shallower counterparts, they tend to be a good match for the SLC performance wise as well as style wise. Aerodynamic wheels fit with an areo frame.

If you value super light weight and a more supple ride over rough surfaces, pick the R3. If a reasonably light rig, combined with good aero qualities sounds good to you, go for the SLC."

From another forum, by NOTAWOFTAM

Also,

"sprinter/rouleur/big guy:
get the r3 it's far stiffer torsionally.

everyone else: get the one you think looks better. a nominal difference in aerodynamics isn't doing all that much for anyone and neither is a few hundred grams in stagnant weight.

as for "ride quality"...they both ride fine because they share the exact same geometry and that accounts for most of everything. the r3 can take fatter tires."
The Jerk.

I chose the R3. Rides like a magic carpet😎

I got both a custom 2003 aluminum Soloist Team Dura Ace 9 HED 3 wheels and the CF Soloist 2006 Ksyrium SLs with Campy Chorus. Actually, I just got my 06 from ebay and haven't ridden it yet. I plan to modify it to my dream configuration of having Zipp 404 clinchers (I thought about tubulars a lot!) and an ergomo pro computer. The 06 is my dream bike but I would have preferred it to be Shimano Dura Ace 10 instead of campy but no choice because I got it as a bargain from an ebay auction at $3015 shipped (a complete bike).

I have 6 road bikes and so far my highest top speed was 32.9 mph on my 03 Soloist with Ksyrium SLs. Next 31.1 mph 2005 Kestrel Talon Eurus wheels, 2002 Giant TCR Aero 2 30.2 mph -- all flats no wind.

My Kestrel Talon has more comfortable geometry than my AL Soloist.

I hope I can give my new CF Soloist a ride but I want to sell the Ksyrium SLs on ebay and get Zipp 404 clinchers (Shimano, and use an American Classic conversion cassette).

My Soloists are both 51 cm, but the CF one has a top tube of 510 cm vs 530 cm for the AL. Something must be wrong, and I don't beleive my CF Soloist is counterfeit. It seems like the CF Soloist has a more comfortable geometry than my AL one. That's my AL Soloist in my avatar.