aca

This coming winter I plan to buy Cervelo and since R3 is slightly beyond my price range, I'll probably stick with Soloist Team. After reading reviews, my conclusion is that this bike is great for short and fast rides, but not very comfortable for long one (I guess 3+ hours).

What is real life experience regarding this from owner of Soloist Team?

Thanks

DocRay

I had team, now have an R3.

The aluminum team is more compliant than the R3.

However, all Cervelos have identical aggressive racing geometry (long top tubes, short head tubes), unless you have a very high fitness level, other geometries will be more comfortable.

wfrogge

I ride 3+ hour rides a few time a week on my Soloist Team.

djbowen1

its harsh, definetly not as comfy as many others. It's a pure race bike.

ryanhulce

I just completed my first Century on my Team, and it was great. No issues at all besides the normal Century Pain

Also have had some 4+ hour rides and did really well there too.

iansir

I've owned comfortable full Ti frames and while the Soloist team isn't as comfy as that, it really isnt that harsh - rides very well for the aluminum stereotypes. I did a double century on it and the frame comfort didnt even come to mind. With a good saddle and shorts it will be fine.

adam

I don't know where this comes from - I've ridden on my Team Soloist many, many times over 5 and 6 hours and it's a fantastic bike. Get it fit properly, enjoy your shorts/saddle and love the bike. If you need to change anything, change the saddle if you don't like it. I don't mind the SLR that came with it, but some people have other thoughts on that.

It's a great ride. When people talk of the differences between carbon and alu, etc. I've always wondered how much can a bike really soak up the road vibrations. Bumps are bumps - you have to expect that while on the road.

For what it's worth, I also don't have a carbon seatpost option on it as well. Many people do and that might help soften the blow a bit, but I'd get it, ride the hell out of it and enjoy it!

jrobe

"However, all Cervelos have identical aggressive racing geometry (long top tubes, short head tubes), unless you have a very high fitness level, other geometries will be more comfortable"

I disagree with this and I can't speak to the Soloist Team but my R3 is the most comfortable 6hr+ bike I have ever owned. I previously owned Trek's and Giants with what this poster would call the "more comfortable" geometries (whatever that means).

aca

Doc what are your impressions? How is R3 comparing to Soloist?

djbowen1

depends on what your comparing it to, my R3 is way more comfortable. I went to the Soloist team from a Giant TCR and it was harsh.

djbowen1

Im sure DocRay will answer also, but its very hard to compare the R3 and soloist as they are two different beasts. You could better compare a soloist team and carbon.

aca

I've found this on Cervelo web site:
And this:
As I understand this, both bikes are same as concern as fitting.By choosing quality components, potential "harshness" of Soloist can be reduced.

Garfield Cat

Ok, so now we advanced to the next question: what components are harsh?

Crash Test

My own experience with my supposedly comfortable Ti frame was that the tires make a HUGE difference. When I switched from Rubino Pro Slicks to Rubino Pro Tech the ride when from supple to harsh. Switched back and solved this problem. As the Cervelo site said, choosing a tire with supple side walls makes all the difference.

aca

I completely agree. My first bike came with Bontager Select tires that I used for 2 months. They were so uncomfortable - bike vibrated and jumped on all but perfect road and grip was very poor. Then I switched to Michelin Lithion and ride become so pleasant. I was even riding over bumps just to feel how everything is smooth.

Any recommendation for other parts - particularly fork and wheels?

531Aussie

Frame, fork and wheels -- and rock-hard tyres

In my opinion, a bike can be transformed with a different fork, both ways

I once had an aluminium Cinelli Proxima with a Columbus Link fork (~560g; alu steerer, and stiff). I straight away took the fork out and put in a light, full-carbon Mizuno. I rode the bike for about a year like this, then, just before I sold it, I put the cheaper Columbus Link fork back in so I could keep the light fork, and it rode like a totally different bike, for the better.

I've had other, similar experiences chaging forks. My steel Cervelo came with a full-carbon 1" Columbus Muscle fork, which was kinda flexy. I put in a cheap generic fork with broad blades and an alu steerer (Roselli), and the bike handles much better and stiffer.

I could go on and on..........I once had a 1" threaded Profile-Design carbon fork (steel steerer), which was as stiff as bricks. I had 1" threaded Kinesis carbon (steel steerer) which was a floppy jalopy...blah, blah, blah

531Aussie

Comfort is subjective; one man's cruiser can be the next man's bone rattler

My aluminium Soloist is just comfortable enough, and I have stiff wheels, but I'd probably drop the tyre pressure a little if I was exceeding 120km for the day. It's defintely on the slightly stiff side, and I wouldn't call it a 'cruiser'. If you never get off the saddle to smash your friends , and you want a very comfortable bike for very long rides, maybe you should be looking for something else, but, as I said, different (flexy) forks can soften the ride.

I once had an aluminium Cinelli Proxima with a Columbus Link fork (~560g; alu steerer, and stiff). I straight away took the fork out and put in a light, full-carbon Mizuno. I rode the bike for about a year like this, then, just before I sold it, I put the cheaper Columbus Link fork back in, and it was a totally different bike, for the better.

pcates

i regularly ride my team soloist for long periods (3+ hours) and don't find it uncomfortable at all. but everyone is different. test ride one for an hour and see how you feel

barryflht

This is a revival of an old thread, but since I've put about 1,100 miles on my Soloist Team now, I thought I would comment to the OP's question. I usually do a two hour ride one night after work, and 3 to 4 1hr trainer sessions during the week, with Saturday rides in excess of 4 hrs.... I haven't done a 100 mile century yet, but have done a couple of metrics. I've ridden carbon and aluminum and I think all bikes are going to get a tad uncomfortable once you move into the 4hr range, but I do this regularly with no ill effects. I'm not incapacitated once I get off the bike, nor am I sore and miserable the next day. Bear in mind, that I'm a 50 yr old who just started riding in Dec. 07..... I would not hesitate to buy the bike again and use it as an all purpose trainer / distance / and hopefully race bike someday...... It's really a great bike for the $.

YMMV

azdroptop

I put over 8K miles on my 06 Soloist team with Record and mavic Sl's. Long rides are doable and a resonably comfortable. For comparison I now have an S-works Tarmac SL and the comfort factor is night and day in favor of the Tarmac. The soloist is a fantastic bike and does it all very well. You will be extremely happy with it if you decide to buy one. Comfort is not it's strong suit IMO.

mustang1

I have an Allez (aluminum). Usually it's set up aggressively with a nose down saddle angle and also pretty high up, using Krylion pumped to 116psi. With this set up I pretty much feel every bump on the road. Sometimes I want to have a more comfortable ride so I lower the saddle and make the saddle angle horizontal, then I reduce the air pressure to around 90psi. Gives smooth ride.

I guess rider weight also plays a part in how the bike soaks up bumps.