kosherdave

I've read through a lot of threads regarding the cervelo soloist lately. I looked at one at my LBS (which by the way is the aweful-service R&A in Brooklyn, even more threads on THAT topic!!) this weekend since I wanted to buy myself a birthday present. I've been shopping around and posting questions here for a few weeks, and this bike (the cervelo soloist) has been recommened a lot.
While the LBS would not let me test it (nor ANY bike in the shop!!) it seemed really light, looked cool and would likely work for what I need (a roadie I can do biathlons with) and is within my 2ooo-2400 price range.

Currently I'm looking for a different bike shop in NYC, and will likely post about that later, but for now, can anyone who has ridden a cervelo soloist tell me how it rides?
My concern is that, while it is very VERY light, it is not carbon, so it might be a bit more bumpy. I also want to use it for century rides, and to beef up my riding in general.

---By the way, I really appreciate all the posts you guys/gals have on all sorts of topics here. As a newbie, I've become hooked on this forum and hope I will be able to contribute one day to and well past my purchasing of a new bike!

For now, the bike hunt continues!

Pfoot

You willing to come north of the city? the LBS in Piermont (in Rockland County by the Tappan Zee Bridge) is great, as is Julio's in Chappaqua (northern Westchester).

Surferbruce

i can let you know real soon. I have a Soloist due to be delievered today! I think it's one of the best deals under 2k(at least 2005's) around. Having said that, it probably isn't the ideal century bike. As for not being carbon, well...I'm yet to be swayed to the carbon is better school. If you're really looking for a comfy ride i'd check out some boutique steel builders, or maybe look for a deal on a used ti frame.

kosherdave

I'd love to be able to travel a bit out of the city to get a bike, but alas, I have no car.... there must be somewhere in NYC I can find a good bikeshop with good service! hmmm, the search continues...

chrisesposito

I've been on mine (a 56cm 2005) for about a month; I bought a frame only and transferred over all the other components from my older bike (a 2003 57cm Ti Lemond Arrivee).

I have probably read many of the same posts as you have regarding ride quality, and talked to the 3 Cervelo dealers around Seattle before buying, and test-rode at 2 of them. My impression after a month is that it feels a bit stiffer and more responsive, but is not significantly different in comfort from my previous bike. I bought it for sprint & Olympic triathlon use, and so spend most of my time on it with the seatpost head flipped forward for a 76 degree or so seat angle.

If carbon actually makes a difference in vibration damping, then you can always use a carbon fork, seat post, handlebars, tri bars, stem, etc.

simplyred

Comfy ride [without carbon] - good comfy shorts, gloves, saddle, good fit, good core muscles....
Comfy ride with carbon - carbon frame + good comfy shorts, gloves, saddle, good fit, good core muscles....

Carbon does dampen road vibrations, BUT at mile 20 - your body is still nice and fresh, meaning most of the shock is taken in by your body, something you don't really recognize.
At around mile 80 [if you're not a pro], your body starts to wear down... muscles get soft and used, strain in certain areas appear due to lack of limberness or conditioning. This is where carbon comes in to save the day... barely. Because honestly, at mile 80 - most guys/gals are hurting because of a lack of conditioning...

So - if you do get a Soloist, work out... make sure your abs and core are SOLID. You have my word - you won't be feeling much until mile 81
LOL

Enjoy!
-Peter

DocRay

Most of the concerns about comfort and the ally frame are not worth worrying about.
Several CSC riders prefered the ally soloist even into late this year. Remember, the biggest effects of road feel and comfort center around the fork and the wheels. The soloist fork is carbon. Sorry, but at even 100 miles, a properly fitted bike will have the same level of comfort, regardless of frame material.
If comfort is a big issue, don't get a racing frame like a soloist, get something with more relaxed geometry and less stiff frame. Try steel or titanium, or a Trek, Devinci Carbon.
My soloist has a upgraded carbon seatpost, stem and bars-but these had no effect on road feel, and the bike never was buzzy like my old ally Trek.

Take a test ride-it sold me over the CD 1000.

mellowdave

Icant believe they wouldnt let you test it. What the hell?

Austin Tri-Cyclist practically begs you to ride them, but I guess they know that will sell the bike.

duckliondog

You do biathlons on bikes?! Where do you carry the gun?

thewalrus

The swiss army used to have a few mountain bike platoons... They would go on 120km "training" rides over mountain passes on fat-tired bikes that weighed 30 pounds, while carrying a 8 pound rifle and other army gear in a backpack as well.

jhota

wtf kind of shop won't let a potential customer test-ride a bike?

bigbossman 

Here's the latest rendition of the Swiss army bike. Weighs in at a svelte 48lbs, and costs a mere $3450.00

Swiss Bike

thewalrus

48 pounds?!?!?!

Crazy... I've seen photos of downhill race bikes from Whistler that come in at 41-42 pounds, and that's with rims that weigh 700 grams each, 26x2.7" tires, 200mm travel rear shock, and 200mm fork like a 888RC or Fox DH40. Not quite practical for army use, but If I were designing bikes for army use, they'd be under 30 pounds and built from strong XC hardtail componentry/frames.

that swiss bike looks like it has a brooks saddle on it!


40.60 pounds:

thewalrus

the kind of big-city shop that's been burned by people with fake id/credit cards, probably...

I bet they had some identity thieves with a valid credit card and drivers licence ride away on a $6000 bike

Warblade

Do any of these dealers have websites?!

chrisesposito

Here they are:
https://www.speedyreedy.com/ (Seattle, Near the University of Washington)

https://www.sammamishcycle.com/ (downtown Redmond, north of Microsoft)

https://www.oldtownbicycle.com/
Old Town Bicycles 3009 N. McCarver
Tacoma WA 98403

Bobmo

seriously, screw that shop and take your business somewhere else

edit: good point walrus, I didnt see that until after I posted lol

kosherdave

Yeah, I think I am going to have to find a new shop for sure!! On a slightly different note, my g/f got me a gift cert for my birthday to rent the highest grade bike one of the big LBS in NYC rents out, so I get the bike for the full day. I plan to take it up to central park and around the city and see what a really nice (though used/rental) roadie feels like. I'll see if I can put 50 miles or more onto it and get a real feel. I think they have mostly trek and Lemond though, but hopefully they have good high end rentals and they were not screwing with my girlfriend! She also bought me a tonn of cyclying gear and things for my (not yet purchased) new roadie. She's not so bad!!

HJR

I have had my soloist now for over a year and I would say the ride is firm but not abusive. I had a Cannondale that used to beat me up pretty bad. The Soloist can not compare to a more relaxed geometry steel bike, but if you remember that it was designed as a performance bike, then you won't be surprised. Does a Ferrari ride as well as a Lexus? No. If you can you should own both becaseu they are designed for different tasks. Back to your question, I have never ridden a century but have put on 35 to 50 mile days on the Soloist. I felt tired, but I would not say beat up. I feel equally tired after that distance on my Bianchi.

DocRay

Check your bike. It has a carbon fork.

goldfish

^lol

You can always try a carbonfibre seatpost though, if you really want that tiny bit more cush for your a$$.

DocRay

^^ I bought the CF post-no real difference. just cooler.

goldfish

do you have the one with the flipable headpiece or the fixed one that is supposed to come with the CF soloist?

DocRay

The flippy one. Cervelo won't sell me the CFsoloist one.
The saddle clamp on my Soloist is the single stupidest design ever, it takes an hour to adjust the f-ing thing.

goldfish

i hear ya on that one.

the CFsoloist one is indeed going to be for sale yet though...at least chris from customer service has assured me of this a few times so far. i'm holding out for that one.