smoke

yep, found an R3 side-by-side with a soloist carbon, both in the size i want - 51. i'm actually a 52, but with this bike, i find it better to get the smaller frame and work it bigger, rather than the other way around. anyway, gave both of these a good, strong, hard shot. and while i know all you R3 lovers are gonna hate me (get in line), and think i'm stoopid (you're WAY back in line), and don't know what i'm talking about (generally true), for some reason i just like the soloist better. and i can't explain why. these two bikes were the same size, same geometry, same wheels, same everything, but i'm just faster on the soloist. i'm not a believer in the aero shape of the soloist being significant on a road bike, so i don't think that's it. oh, i know it does make a slight difference, just not as much as i'm seeing. it's probably good for 45-60 seconds, less on a short ride, and while 45 seconds is significant in a time trial, and therefore the aero shape is important on a TT bike, i don't see it as making enough difference to see a small but noticeable difference in speed on the open road between these two bikes. comfort was about the same or maybe even better on the soloist; and, to be honest, these bikes are so stiff that i started noticing the road feel more than normal, and found myself starting to think about my old aluminum bike and wondering if the cervelos would start feeling kinda harsh a few hours down the road. so i went back to the time dealer and rode a 51 UlTeam. much more comfortable, better acceleration, but not as high a top end as the soloist. just what i found yesterday. SO.....the R3 drops off the list. and instead of the UlTeam, i would probably go with the next frame down the line - the new ProTeam. dealer says it's the same bike as the UlTeam without the integrated seat post and without carbon dropouts. i'm not a big fan of either of those. and the frame is about &700 less. hmmmmm.....maybe i should buy the soloist to race, and the time for my long rides. wonder what i can get on a second mortgage?

thanks for everyone's interest. it's fun reading all the comments and hearing everyone stick up for their favorite steed. as always, feel free to post witty remarks, sarcastic humor, personal insults, moronic statements, and intelligent, thoughtful responses

smoke

slvoid

Your mother!

cc3chan

I'm in the exact same boat as you. I got a R3 51cm eventhough I should be riding a 52-53cm, but the long top tube on the Cervelos make it just right with the right stem. And I don't think you are wrong about liking the Soloist Carbon more. I chose the R3 based on the supposed superior stiffness to weight ratio of the R3 and the monetary savings of getting the R3 over the Soloist Carbon. If money was no object at all then my pick would be the SLC-SL.

The Time is also an excellent bike. I just really dislike the lugged look. So Colnago and Time and most Looks are out of my equation. Pinarellos are nice though.

smoke

well said!

slvoid

All I have to say is, you're not racing, you're not looking to shave 10 seconds off, what you need most is a comfortable bike. If it's not comfortable, you're not gonna ride it.

floyd landis

Ya I was at a bike show last week and I talked to a CERVELO rep who told me unless I rode at 35kph that the soloist was not for me because the areo part of the design would not be felt so the r3 was better.Do you ride that fast?

smoke

well, i am gonna race it, and i'm gonna climb on it, and i really love going fast. but that's a really good point. i guess it's gotta be comfy enough to stay on it long enough to race and climb and do centuries. good reference point...

your mother!

smoke

yeah. i ride faster than that on the soloist. man, it's a fast bike!

smoke

can't find any pinarello's to ride. if i had to buy a bike without any riding, it would be the paris carbon. that thing's so good looking i'd buy it flowers and dinner

redfooj

1. were tire pressures the same on both bikes?
2. use more paragraphs

cc3chan

I see tons of Pinarellos at my LBS, they pretty much only carry European makers only. The Paris and the F4:13 look pretty much the same except in the little details on the tubes. I honestly couldn't tell the difference at a distance if the bikes didn't have decals telling me which one is which.

smoke

i wish i could get there to ride one or two. just not in the cards

smoke

1. yes
2. okay

grahny

See... I told you these bike #1 vs bike #2 threads always have a cervelo in them ... and for good reason!

Enjoy the soloist!

floyd landis

WOW#!$%the average speed for the tour de France is 39.57 kph you must be a pro?

smoke

no, i'm not a pro. but i'll ride 35 kph or better on the flats. the pro's average time includes climbing mountain ranges. and if i remember right, their average is now way north of 40 kph

SushiJoe

Competitive Cyclist will ship one to you and let you ride it for a week for $200

smoke

yeah, that program is a good deal. unfortunately, i won't be home for more than 4 days at a time for the next 5 weeks. i'm gonna have a lot of time in april off. i'd like to have the bike bought and built by then, so i can maximize the time i have on it. if i wait until then to do the CC demo thing, that process will eat up all the at-home time i have. if i was home every day i'd have 'em ship me 4 or 5 bikes and i'd go nuts riding them

floyd landis

Actualy not way north of 40 and I'm still having trouble believing you ,admit it you got the soloist because it looks cool!

Cleave

Hello floyd,

I must be #!$% fast cause I rode two races last Sunday and average over 26 MPH (~42 KPH) for a total of about 40 miles. Of course the reality is that I'm old and slow.

smoke

okay, so don't believe me. whatever

2000 TdF average speed was 40.5 kph. 2005 TdF speed was 41.654 kph. and, as i said, those guys had to go up a few small hills. i don't hit those speeds on the flats

smoke

i haven't gotten anything yet. i haven't found the perfect bike. everything has plusses and minuses. so i'm gonna sleep on it

floyd landis

Sorry was not trying to flame you ,have been going thru same thing myself and I'm finding all the hype about certain bikes tiring.I have desided there is no perfect bike only the bike I will ride faults and all,but you did ask for opinions!!

smoke

no problem. i agree with you about the hype. i've found some of the marketing b.s. and pre-conceived notions to be true, and some to be false. i guess 'perfect' bike is a poor way of putting it. i was hoping that i would throw my leg over a ride and sit down and get rolling, and it would just be obvious that this was the bike for me. hasn't happened. anyway, keep those opinions coming. as i've said, i'll listen to anything

daytonian

If you got something else and saw a soloist at a race or group ride would you have regret or feel like you settled?