I am thinking about getting a Soloist Team bike but am wondering how the ride is. For reference, I own an aluminum road bike with carbon forks and a P3C. The P3C is amazingly better (gentler) riding over cracks and pavement imperfections compared to the aluminum road bike (can painfully feel the cracks in the road). I will be putting from 100 to 250 miles a week on the soloist next year and don’t want to compromise too much on comfort. There is no nearby bike store to test a team soloist and I may purchase online (I did a 12 hour round trip to get the P3C). SO… I would prefer to get a team soloist instead of carbon soloist if it rides reasonably well over road imperfections. The team would be half the price and if I drop it in a race, I will probably be able to ride it again.
To summarize my questions regarding the team soloist:
How does the Team Soloist ride compared to a carbon soloist?
Is there much weight difference between carbon and team edition assuming both set up with Ultegra?
Are there any other road bikes that have comparable aerodynamics to the soloist?
I am 5’ 8" barefoot with 31" inseam. I ride a 51 cm P3C and a 54 cm in most road bikes. Would the team soloist likely need to be a 54 cm size?
I’m 5-10 and ride a 54. I would think you would want a 51?
The SLC vs. the team has been debated quite a bit. Since CSC used the Soloist team for years and won many a races with it, obviously, it will be good enough for you
I love my Soloist Carbon, but I would not say it rides great for a carbon bike, since that was NOT its intended purpose. It is a stiff, aero road bike. For reference, my prevoius Litespeed Vortex rode MUCH nicer and the SLC rides about the same as my AL Guru with the same tires/rims.
I don’t know of any other aero road bikes out there. Also, the carbon version is a little more aero than the AL version (headtube and seatstays not possible with alum). It is a good bit lighter with their respective kits as well.
In short: for more than double the cost, you get marginally better aerodynamics and lighter weight. That is about it. It was worth it too me, but a critical eye and commen sense would say to get the team.
I went through this same debate several months ago and ended up getting a Trek Madone 5.2SL. It is my first road bike and I was really looking for something that is both comfortable for long base rides and still more bike than I'll ever need or deserve. rroof's comments about the SLC are nothing but consistent- he has posted on more than one occasion that his SLC is designed for speed and not necessarily comfort (although it has to be pretty comfortable too). From what I can tell, the ride quality on the SLC is not that "plush" feel that one typically associates with carbon. This may be why some (inlcuding rroof) say that the ride of the SLC is not going to be much more comfortable than the alu team version? Note that "ride" and "comfort" are pretty subjective terms...
I found a good deal on the Trek and bought it knowing that I will eventually save up for the Cervelo SLC. I figure that the Trek is great for those rides where comfort is important and the SLC will be my ride for hilly tri races. I guess it also comes down to what type of riding you’ll do? FYI, rroof’s SLC is sweet! I get bike envy every time I see it!!
If it were me, buy the SLC or save up until you can. Keep your other road bike for bad weather and group rides. Get the SLC if that is what you really want, especially if you are (like me) the kind of person who will alway regret getting the “compromise.”
BTW- rroof and spot both had great IM races this year on SLC’s…seems like a great all around bike…
