fore0121

Looking for another bike and may be able to pick up a Cervelo Soloist frameset to migrate parts from my beater bike.

What are your thoughts on this frame. I do own a Cervelo and am thinking Geometry will essentially be the same. How does it ride? handle? How has it held up?

Any and all opinions would be great. Not sure if a test ride will be available.

Thanks in advance.
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hoodlum

I have a soloist and I love it. I'm not sure what your opinion of it will be if you already own a 2.5- that bike was out of my price range when I bought the soloist, but I am looking at picking up a 2.5 in the next 6 months or so. The soloist is about what you would expect; the racing heritage shines through. It handles great and is fun to ride, but it is an aluminum bike and sometimes on longer rides you will wish you had more carbon. I'm not sure if I helped any, but if you have any specific questions please ask and I will try and help.

fore0121

It will pretty much be a poorer weather bike, not for long distances. It will be for shorter hilly and quick, hard rides. I like the stability of the r2.5 and I'm assuming I will get the same feel from the Soloist. I'm really thinking about it because of an opportunity to get an 04 demo/surface scratched model. Frame, fork headset and seatpost. Old 105 parts would make the move over.

My r2.5 is the first bike I had a 'real' fitting for. I've found that since I've been on the r2.5 the fit of my old 'second' bike is all wrong. It's far too stretched out. I used to get extreme pain in my shoulders and neck and assumed I would eventually get used to riding as I put on the miles. I rode it for 4 years and never did, but I couldn't afford to make the switch. The past few weekends have been terrible for riding here, so I had the old bike out. The pain returned the next day after both weekend rides with the old bike. I'm hoping I'll get the same fit with the Soloist.

Thanks for your response.

F1_Fan

The Soloist is good enough for Team CSC I've noticed very few of the riders are on the R2.5 so far this season.

fore0121

I've been thinking about that every Sunday night while watching OLN. Very true.

Still wouldn't give up the r2.5
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Gangrel

I'm getting a soloist.. loved it on my test ride.. need a couple hundred more bucks first though

fore0121

What did you love about it? speed? stability? acceleration? stiffness? other?

Thanks
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Corsaire

If I could just get to test one! I've been drooling over the Cervelo for awhile now, finally I got to talk to my nearby Cervelo dealer, he said that Cervelo production is very limited in Canada, it takes at least 3 months for one to arrive upon order, this is crazy. He said they're afraid to have to much inventory left.
I'm thinking of the ORBEA Orca now, more and more. It's a better looking bike color wise, anyway.

Corsaire

fore0121

That does seem a little crazy. I haven't run into that problem up here in TO.
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That Orca is nice though. I thought about that one before dedicing on the r2.5. Ironically, it was because I couldn't test ride any Orbea up here.

Ex-rower

I love mine. The geometry is exactly the same as the R2.5.
I also read forum.slowtwitch.com where Gerard Vroomen (founder of Cervelo) posts frequently. He recommends the Soloist over the R2.5 in all situations except for climbing. His opinion is that aero trumps weight almost every time.

Drayko

Slight tangent..Do you think they'll make a carbon fiber or a c.f & aluminum hybrid soloist. Then you could get the best of both worlds.

Anyway, I'd like to get a soloist too but can't find one to test and a lil outta my price range too right now. They look awesome though and from what I've heard they're "very stiff and resposive but comfortable too." Yeah, I have no idea what that means either. Gotta test ride and see I guess with this one.

Gangrel

Well this is my first roadie, so I can only compare it to my other test rides, but the stiffness was the one thing I really noticed.


Thats weird about the order time, my shop told me it would only take a week. (Rode it at a shop about an hour away, going to order it from a closer one.. for practicalities sake)

jedi_rider

My guess is that you'll see it on the grand tours like the Giro, TdF, and Vuelta during the specific climbing stages. The races that I've seen so far have had a mix of both hard flats and some climbs. My guess is that Riis elected for the aero advantage on the hard flats so that his a-team can cause chaos going off the front. Case in point was L-B-L and Paris-Nice. Just look at Voigt go-go-go...

livestrong

I'm thinking about the soloist as well. My cervelo dealer said he could wip one up for me in about a week. still thinking about it though, my thinking is 1) 2005Soloist with Centaur and upgrade to carbon cranks, seatpost, stem and bar 2) 2004Soloist with Ultegra and carbon cranks, seatpost, stem and bar 3) 2005Soloist with DuraAce and carbon everything else 4) R2.5 with Chorus and carbon everything

fore0121

I think you and Ex-Rower are both on the same page. It is more aero, for sure.
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HJR

Wow, you seem to being going backwards. LOL. I have a Soloist and would love to add a 2.5 to my stable. I think the 2.5 is gorgeous. I have not ridden one yet but that's a good thing, because if I did I would probably figure out a way to buy one.

Anyways, to your question. I think the soloist is a great bike. I test rode a lot of bikes before I bought mine. It accelerated better than all the others. When I stand on the pedals, it almost wants to jump out from under me. It climbs great. It decends on rails. The aero benefits are noticable. I have done a couple triathlons and I used the reversible seatpost. It works pretty good as a TT bike.

As others have noted, CSC seems to like it also. Its amazing that for less than $2000 you can ride a bike with the same frameset as CSC. In other words it's a great deal, also. I liked it so much that I can honestly say that I am a Cervelo fanatic now. I am a big Bianchi fan (I have two), but after I owned my Soloist, I wanted another Cervelo. I now have a Superprodigy frameset, that I hope to have built up this summer. I cannot wait to ride it.

fore0121

I would not trade my r2.5 for the world. Love the bike. As I said earlier, I wouldn't buy the Soloist just out of want. I would like a decent second bike for crappy weather and also for travelling. Don't want to strap the carbon bike for any longer distance road trips. I might be able to get a 'too good to pass up' deal on last years stock, scratched or blemished on the finish. It's a bit extravagant for a second, but if it's too good to pass up, what's a guy supposed to do!


That's what I wanted to hear. I still want the aggressive feel I get from the r2.5. My only concern is the aero look of the downtube and seat tube, they don't thrill me. However I have nothing but faith in Cervelo and it's designed that way for a reason. It must benefit the bike as a package.


I love the look of the Superprodigy, just can't find a deal on one. Good luck on the build and be sure to post pics when it's ready.

Thanks for your comments
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fore0121

BTW, HJR:

I might be out your way for a run around the Rose Bowl.

I'm still planning the trip and am planning to ride the Angels Crest Highway route discussed a month or so back, but I'm also trying to squeeze in the Rose Bowl Ride on Thursday the 26th of May. 2Rodies may be in too.

I'm sure I'll be spit out the back, but I want to give it a go if I can work out my schedule for a night ride.
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pinky

Check out the Javeline Brunello if you're looking for a scandium/carbon version

flyingasics

I am having serious bike lust for the '05 Soloist. Jet black with silver graphics Damn good value too for what kinda bike ya get, if you ask me. I am so getting one after I earn enough money over the summer @! How much is the R2.5? a little less than twice a soloist?

fore0121

USD, listed as $1999 for the Soloist with Centaur, $3099 for the r2.5 with Chorus. Not apples to apples, but you get the idea. DA to DA, Soloist is $2999, r2.5 $3899.
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US Pricing
Canadian Pricing

Ex-rower

Apparently they just announced (via dealer email) that they will be releasing a carbon fibre soloist in early 2006. Unfortunately no pictures or other details were given.

Gangrel

maybe I'll actually be able to afford one by then... :\

Cobbles

I've also been dreaming of getting a Soloist for my next bike. I have a few reservations, though. I'm 6'3, 195lbs and I worry about the comfort and durability. Cervelo says the bike should hold up just fine. Plus there is a lifetime warranty now on their frames. Comfort-wise would a century be out of the question for me on this bike?

Any thoughts appreciated.

F1_Fan

That might explain why the CSC guys are riding Soloists a lot instead of the R2.5... if they're actually CF instead of Al...