I fit a 51cm cervelo p2c according to a pro-fitter. However, i’m looking to buy a soloist team because i can only afford one bike for both tri and road riding. When i shop for Soloists, should i look for a 54 which is my roadbike size, or something smaller so my tri-position will benifit. I understand this is probably an inate problem with buying a dual use bike, but i’m looking for some help from people who are riding soloists in both aero and road setups.
I am 5’10" and rode a 56cm, which was fine for road but the head tube was long for tri, given your size I would go for a 54cm, a 51cm in the forward position would make the top tube to short in my opinion.
I’m 5’11.5". I don’t know my inseam, but my saddle height is 78cm. I just set up a 56 Soloist team that I got from a ST’r here (thanks Jim!). The 56 is perfect. I can have the saddle as far back as I would want, and as far forward as directly over the bb. The aerobars are ~12cm down from the saddle with a standard-slope stem and no spacers. The bars are positioned where I want them (fore and aft), and that’s with a 110 stem. So, they could be a lot closer for somebody with a shorter torso. BTW – I ride a 58 or 59 in “normal” road bikes, so the Soloist is a size down from my road bike size. If I were intending to road race the Soloist, I’d have got a 58.
This would make a great tri bike for someone with my dimensions. YMMV.
I’m nearly the same size and rode a 54cm Soloist with a 10cm stem, shorty clip-ons and saddle height at 71cm. Nice road set-up with the seatpost in the normal position and the saddle pushed forward. If you’re going to flip the seatpost, then the TT becomes significantly shorter, allowing for a more traditional tri set-up with aerobars. Looking back on my set-up, I would have shortened the cockpit another 2-3cm with a shorter stem and different seat, as well as used different clip-ons.
Take into consideration that swapping a Soloist from a “road bike” to a “tri bike” is a bit more intensive than just flipping the seat-post and tossing on a set of aerobars. Then again, many folks ride a Soloist in road position with aerobars just fine.
As Gary mentions…TT is most important and you can then find the proper stem to assist (however crazy it might be).
If you’re looking for a 54cm, mine will be on ebay soon. I’ve had enough…
I would go with the 51, especially if you want to get low and aero. I ride a 54 P3 and a 54 Soloist. I am 5 '10 with a 32.5 inch inseam. The 54 Soloist would probaby be fine for road riding but I bet you would be too stretched out in the aero position. My 2 cents.
I’ll weigh in as well. I’m 5-10 with a 33" inseam. I ride a 54cm SLC for road races - perfect fit. I’ve done 6 tris on it as well (from sprints to the DeSoto triple to to IM LP this year). Worked great for tris with a little trial and error (bought another seat post, stem swapping, etc.)
You are unfortunately right between sizes. Personally, I would go with the 51cm as well. There is a big difference in the head tube lengths and I am barely able to get low enough up front with a neg stem slammed all the way down on the head tube. About right for long stuff like IM, but I could stand to be a bit lower for shorter stuff. You might need a longer stem though to not feel cramped and then handling would be compromised with so much weight over the front. Hard to test at a shop I’m sure, but I would definitely recommend it.
Road racing, just flip the stem if you need to (might even need a longer one - ala Euro roadie style: smallish bike and long stem that is).
But, a 54cm would work. Definitely more stable and a better “road” fit for you.
Good luck!
Here is a photo of my position from the front from earlier this Spring - no comments on the roadie tan (as before)! Just finished a spring road race series and it took me all damn summer to get rid of it!
I’m a little over 6 foot and have long legs/arms and short torso. Saddle distance to the BB is 78cm and I usually ride my 56cm soloist with the saddle 1 cm behind the BB. I have no spacers and my armpads are about 11 cm from the saddle.
Given your dimensions, I also think that a 51 cm will fit you better.
The photos below are of my son in his Soloist a few months ago when he was about 5’8". He is about 5’9" now and still riding it, but according to John Cobb not for much longer. My guess is that he will need a 56 just when he turns 14 in February. But then he complains that riders in the ProTour much taller than him are riding 54’s. And when he found out that Cancellara rode a 54 to win the worlds TT I argued no more and told him to ask Mr. Cobb why riders much taller than him are riding such small frames (in a few more days he will find out why).
I have an idea why don’t you try them out in the shop, I can’t believe someone 5’9" would fit a 51cm especially when the seat is flipped forward, it must look like me riding my 7 year old son’s bike.
A picture is better than a thousand words, Isn’t it?
That bike is a Soloist size 54 cm frame and Sergio Jr at that time was 5’8". I know that is precise because I have been measuring him for the last two years every month.
Cancellara is even taller than Zabriskie and is also riding a P3C. But you can not compare in this regard a P3C vs a Soloist. I guess that Cancellara is not riding a 54 Soloist in the Pro Tour. Maybe Gerard has that info.
I just bought a 54 P2SL for Sergio Jr. I hope that he will be able to use it at least until next August. I am pretty sure he will need a 56 Soloist sooner. Too bad he will be taller than me when he starts using the SLC
I know that is precise because I have been measuring him for the last two years every month.
Your kidding right?
No I am not. If you have kids they will appreciate if you do it at least from time to time. Kids love to see those pencil marks getting higher and higher on the wall. Sergio grew so fast that I started measuring him more frequently over these last two years.
Sometimes it is complicated to position a rider so you can imagine what it is like to position a rider that changes frame size every 6 - 7 months.
