I am training for my first triathlon, Vineman 70.3, and still looking to upgrade my bike. I think I have narrowed it down to the Cervelo Soloist Team. I know it’s not a true Tri-Bike, but the versatility of being able to switch the angles of the seat tube is attractive to me. My question is that I believe I am between sizes 51 and 54 and which one to go with? The nearest dealer that has one of these sizes in stock is 3-4 hours away. I have ridden the 51 in a Team and the 54 in the Carbon version and as far as sizing goes they both feel good. The shop that has the 51 has a 54 on order for me to ride and will fit me appropriately when it comes in. Is there a rule of thumb to error on the bigger or smaller size frame? My general dimensions are inseam of 30.75", 5’8" tall and 150lbs. Thanks!
Honestly, either you trust your bike shop to fit you right or you don’t. If not, don’t buy the bike from them. Make the 3-4 hour drive. You are going to be spending countless hours on that bike over the next few years. Isn’t that worth a little drive? Fit is going to be the most important factor in chosing a new bike. Chose the fitter, not the bike. Nobody is going to be able to fit you over this forum and I doubt that you will get the information you truly need here. That is what your bike shop is supposed to provide. Like I said, if you don’t trust them, look elsewhere.
Mike
My armchair wild ass’d guess is that the top tube of the 54cm is going to be too long for your aero position (without going with a sub 100mm stem).
But, for a road bike, perhaps the right size.
I have way too many bikes…one of them being a Soloist Team 54cm. I’m 5’11" and ride with with a 130cm stem pretty slack…would use a 110cm stem if I were in aero and the seat forward. 56cm would be my true road bike size (120cm stem)
Great bike, but my guess it that you’re between sizes for a dual-purpose bike (with your longist inseam).
Just my guess.
I am almost exactly your size. I ride a 51 although I wouldn’t want to be much larger on this size. The nature of the design makes the fit is quite adjustable.
“I know it’s not a true Tri-Bike,”
Simon Lessing won IMLP on a Soloist in the road position. I have two friends whose PB’s were faster on their Soloists than on their Cervelo tri bikes. Go figure.
But to answer your question, first always convert to metric. So your inseam 30.75 x 2.54 = 78.1 cm
The classic frame size formula is to multiply your inseam by .67
78.1 X .67 = 52.3 So based on the formula your “ideal” frame would be a 52 cm, but I think the 51 cm Soloist would probably be about right. A friend of mine is 5’10" and rides a 54cm, so I’d say probably go to the 51cm.
A good primer for fitting a road bike is this site:
I did basically the same thing; I switched from a 54 road to a 51 Soloist Carbon with forward seat post. I am essentially the same height as you. I love the 51. All depends on the bike fit. Good luck.
I’d rather be a rabid sloth than a hydrosloth but… I’m 5’10 and the 54 fits me like a comfortable glove, in both road and tri position. I’m not sure which bike I prefer as a tri bike now, my size medium SoftRide TT or the Soloist with the seat aero, along with tri bars. Kudos to the folks at Bend Bike N’ Sport who sold me a spare Soloist seat post so I can switch between the 2 position in less than 5 minutes!
Your dimensions are the same as me, and I ride a 51 soloist. There is no way I would want a bigger one. It fits me very well. To be safe, you should try both though, as it depends on how you want to be setup on it. If you want a classic tri position - steep and flat back, I can’t imagine wanting bigger than 51.
I’m 5’10.75 and I ride a 56 Soloist with a 110 stem. For TT I would turn the seatpost around and run an 80mm stem slammed at -16degrees with some jammers on the bars. Like this I could get plenty compact. I won Vineman in 2006 this way. There is a huge fit range with these bikes. If you have the means Joe or Kev at Davis Wheelworks in Davis are amazing folks. You will be there all day and will walk away assured with a fit based on your fitness, geometry, riding style, flexibility… etc.
Sorry for the spam… I love my soloist, I don’t think there is any other bike made with more bang for the buck.
Justin