Slam bar or standard bar on Cervelo Soloist?

Triathlon Forum
1

With the 76 degree forward-time trial position on the soloist, would you recommend a slam bar or a standard aero bar for tt’s?

2

Rossman,

I would recommend a shorty bar for most people. Ultimately this depends on your set-up and body dimensions, but that general recommendation is based on:

  1. Even with the saddle forwards it is likely that you will still be too stretched out on your “correct” aerobar length. You will probably need to go down 1.5 or 2 sizes (which unless you are a Syntace large and can go to a small, means a shorty bar).

  2. A shorty bar will allow you to have your STI levers at a reasonable reach. With the “correct” aerobar length, assuming that you are not over stretched, the STI levers would too close.

Keep in mind, although I am talking about a “shorty” bar this could also be a small Syntace (if you have long arms) or an adjustable bar (like the CarbonStryke) pulled all the way in. It doesn’t have to be a Jammer GT or slam bar.

Ultimately your fit will determine what you need.

3

Have you looked at the really small Syntace bars? The XXS? They are designed for ITU racing.

4

John,

Haven’t seen the XXS but it would do the trick as well. We did try cutting down an SL large or medium to make it shorter (although totally flat) and putting a bridging it. That was not as successful, although at least one of of sponsored pros rode one for a couple of seasons.

5

When I ran 76 degrees on my Giant TCR with neutral post/seat forward in about the same geometry as a Soloist I found that my Profile Jammer GT “big slam” bars were too short. Went to the size small Syntace C2 bars (on a medium TCR frame) and found they fit perfect. Another good bar might be the Profile Aero Lite since they are quite adjustable.