Cervelo Soloist / S1 ???

[johnb4]

anyone in the club got one of these, have the oppertunity to buy a used Soloist frame but just wondering what it would ride like on the roads around here, they are not the smoothest obviously a good frame and would probably be good for racing or TT's on smooth tarmac, but is it comfortable enough to ride on races on our roads or maybe even for longer summer training rides ?

[snibdog]

Had a soloist carbon for a few months, great frame, very stiff and having come off an CAAD 5 no less comfortable. If the price is right buy it, just watch the sizing I went down to a 54 on advice from a few people and it fits great. The only slight irritation on the older soloist is the internal cable routing, it rattles on our lovely roads, but you get used to it and it is far from a constant noise - the S1 sorted this with a different routing. Nothing other to say, it works for me - depends what your on at the moment but I would say hard to better without a wheelbarrow and a bank account

[johnb4]

well snibdog i have a few road bikes, a Lemond steel frame which i am going to sell, built it as a winter training bike but it was too nice to ride in our winter weather, and I have a Ti framed bike which i did ride over the winter, nice an comfy but not very fast, was going to keep as training / racing / winter / spare do everything bike

thought about buying the cervelo to use for racing and TT's or setting it up as a TT bike

dont want carbon as i would probably wreck it and i dont want to spend too much because my speed does not warrant it

[snibdog]

Well John the choice is yours the aluminium soloist has the same geometry and same slippy shape as the carbon if you don't fancy the black stuff - I like you had a fear about the carbon being a bit disposable but got to say very impressed with the ride. The Aluminium one was good enough for big Jens so I guess it will be good for the mortals like ourselves. Dare say it will set up as a good TT bike, it is certainly very quick in a straight line. As I said coming off a CAAD 5 which is pretty harsh, don't really feel a difference, but if you are coming off steel or Ti your gonna know the difference, guess thats the price of speed.

In terms of money check ebay and you will see what the going rate is for second hand frames, they don't come up too often which I read as good sign - good luck

[johnb4]

yeah, not expecting as plush a ride as steel ot Ti, but then as you say it is a different beast

thought i would just ask the question here as it would have been nice to know if anyone had one what it was like to ride up and down the dundrum road, not exactly the smoothest bit of tarmac

i'll probably take a stab and get it and see if it works for me, it does get great reviews but then not everyone is maybe riding it on rough tarmac, if its not for me then sure it can go onto ebay

[johnb4]

got the soloist and rode it last night in the tt, it just proves a better bike doesnt necessarily make you faster
but as i am old, overweight, not spending enough time training, my focus is not really about being fast
where the bike does score is it feels lighter and faster and more secure on corners and descents, but most of all it is much more fun to ride, and that is what is making me like this bike, so now i can suffer with a smile on my face

[StephenP]

Dessie from Ards club has one of these and he can really push it on TT's. The harsh ride is less important on a TT so you will be fine. Probably best not to use it on leisure events or sportives where the road surface plus time and distance will take its toll.