Cervelo bikes

First of all, I’m surprised that no one else responded to your inquiry. I guess I’m one of a few riders with a Cervelo Soloist Team. I wouldn’t have gotten this bike if I didn’t get the frame & fork on ebay for $968 shipped. I think $1499 is too much to pay for an aluminum F & F.

Check out the pics on my 2003 Cervelo Soloist Team and my 2005 Kestrel Talon. Both are excellent aerodynamic racing bikes, and I certainly have trouble deciding which one is my best bike. But I love my Kestrel Talon the most because it’s a carbon fiber ride and because it has a Shimano Flight deck computer and a Polar Power Output kit. Lately I’ve been training to a certain power level (like 180 watts continuous, or over 200 to 220 watts continuous) and I can only do that on my Kestrel Talon. My Cervelo only has wireless speed and cadence – so I can’t train by power with it.

But I believe the Cervelo Soloist Team is the fastest aluminum frame that you can buy. And the Soloist is soon coming out in carbon fiber! The Cervelo has a better true aerodynamic downtube than my Kestrel, but the Kestrel has somewhat aero seatstays. Overall, I’d say that the Cervelo has better aerodynamics than the Kestrel Talon, but the Talon is nice since it’s carbon fiber and has aero seatstays.

See these links for Cervelo reviews. I posted a review of my Cervelo Soloist on Roadbikereview.com under JTE83.

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/latest-bikes/road-bike/PLS_5668_00_50crx.aspx

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/latest-bikes/road-bike/Cervelo/PRD_290802_5668crx.aspx

If you’re going to custom build a bike, the Cervelo Soloist will cost you $1499 for the frame & fork (& headset?). You can get the Kestrel Talon frame and fork and the EMS Pro SL carbon bars for less! So if price is an issue – go with the Talon! I got my Kestrel Talon frame & fork for $1125, an aero post for $60, and my EMS handlebars for $107.

If you’re going for a built bike there are good Ultegra Kestrel Talons going for $2200 at some dealers. Might be the same or better than the Cervelo Soloist bike Centaur. These are the following prices at Mission Bay Multisport:

2005 Cervelo Soloist Centaur
Price:$1,995.99

2005 Cervelo Soloist Team w/ Dura Ace 10
Price:$2,995.00

2005 Kestrel Talon with Ultegra
Price:$2,444.00

2005 Kestrel Talon with Dura Ace
Price:$4,277.99

If professional race results are an issue then the Soloist Team is better. It’s got a good race heritage and wins.

My pictured Cervelo is all Dura Ace 9 speed drivetrain with 7800 brakes and Ksyrium SL’s. Right now I have heavy Vredestein Ricorso training tires on it and it weighs 17.4 lbs. My Kestrel has an Ultegra 9 drivetrain with 6600 brakes, Campy Eurus wheels, and Michelin Pro Race tires – it weighs 19.03 lbs. Both bikes have FSA Superlight cranks with Performance Forte Mg/Ti pedals.

It’s up to you to go with either bike! I like both so I have both! Tell me which bike you’re buying!

jrstevens said:

Has anyone ever thrown their legs over a Cervelo Soloist. I'm interested in this bike but haven't seen or heard many reviews and other than in the store have yet to actually see one on the road.

There are quite a few reviews out there I must say, just use google.

I have a 2003 team soloist frame, centaur gruppo, but with record 180 cranks and bb, zonda wheels, fsa stem and handlebars. Actually, all components off a new cannondale six 13.

I love the bike, responsive, noticeable aero, beautifully made, harsh on really really bad asphalt, but I would not call the bike harsh, 4 hours in the saddle does not beat me up. So overall, pretty good compliance for being a stiff alu bike. The seatpost compliance probably helps a bit, I have a lot showing too. Have not tried the carbon seatpost, which should remove some vibration, so that might indicate to you that it is not an issue for me.

It climbs well, but I don't 🙂
You do not see too many around, that is for sure.

What is a bonus to some is the fact that it is an ace roadbike, but it is also a decent TT/TRI bike, if that is of interest to you, that is a unique combo ASFAIK.

jrstevens said:

Has anyone ever thrown their legs over a Cervelo Soloist. I'm interested in this bike but haven't seen or heard many reviews and other than in the store have yet to actually see one on the road.

Well, after today's Stage 9 TDF racing - Jens Voigt got the Yellow Jersey aboard the new carbon fiber Cervelo Soloist. See the pic! This bike will be out in bike shops by September, according to Cervelo. Seems like the Soloist carbon is the favorite of Team CSC now, instead of the R 2.5.

I just got the 2005 Soloist SL Team (the black ano one) in May and I really like it. The frame is comfortable for the long rides which is all I do (i.e. 100km+) and very stiff as I am a bit of a power rider. The Dura Ace components are very nice. Don't buy just a frame, if you go with the kit you will be hard pressed to find such a high quality from equipped w/ Dura Ace for the money. I considered getting the R2.5 Chorus (same price) but preferred the Soloist team with the better spec and better look (IMO).

JTE83 said:

Well, after today's Stage 9 TDF racing - Jens Voigt got the Yellow Jersey aboard the new carbon fiber Cervelo Soloist. See the pic! This bike will be out in bike shops by September, according to Cervelo. Seems like the Soloist carbon is the favorite of Team CSC now, instead of the R 2.5.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/tech/?id=/tech/2005/probikes/julich_csc_carbon

2004 Soloist Team - I got on it at my LBS - test rode it twice and bought it -

Fast and responsive - yet, light and comfortable - it really came down to one of those times where, I got on it and knew right away that it was what I was looking for ... it just fit me and my style of riding ...

Did you get fit at Mission Bay Cycles?
Your seat tubes look way low for your stem length?
And this works for you?
I'm currently looking at having one bike because it makes travelling so much easier than brining the TT and Road bike. Price wise would say the Kestrel but need someone to do some aero tests on it to find out for sure.

Semper_Cycle said:

Did you get fit at Mission Bay Cycles?
Your seat tubes look way low for your stem length?
And this works for you?
I'm currently looking at having one bike because it makes travelling so much easier than brining the TT and Road bike. Price wise would say the Kestrel but need someone to do some aero tests on it to find out for sure.

I bought my Cervelo frameset from ebay for $968 but Mission Bay cut the fork and then I built the bike.

My seat tubes are low becuase I'm 5' 3.5" and I just barely fit the 51 & 52 cm sizes instead of the 48 cm sizes for the Cervelo and Kestrel. The stem on my Cervelo is 90mm, will change it to 60mm for more comfort.

JTE...the price you quoted on the Talon DA doen't sem right unless that's a Talon SL with DA-10.

BTW I really like the color of your Talon, mine is yellow 🙂