I’ve been on gold soloist frame now for around 6500 miles; mine is a custom build; just bought the frame set. Love this bike. I also have a Caledonia which is also fantastic.
I have this bike and custom built it as well. I try my hardest on the faster group rides and the bike is 100% not holding me back. This bike is great for all types of riding.
I just bought this bike around 3 weeks ago. It’s a beast! The bike flies, looks great in person (mine is also gold), and is very comfortable. However, I had the dealer change the stem 3 times until it fit perfectly. I also swapped the seat for a Caledonia seat, which was much more comfortable in long rides.
Great review, Steve! Funny - I just met Miles and his soloist after the Bullet Train last week. Had been thinking about upgrading recently, and this is the first video that came up!
Great Value bike , Im on the fence between the Soloist vs the R5 I know the R5 is lighter and the price for the R5 is not that much more but I do like the look of the Soloist better, the problem with Cervelo is that they come only in 2 colors, They should give more choices.
This is the bike that I recommend to any remotely serious recreational rider, probably best bang for the buck without going to Chinese brands. That said, I also recommend asking the bike shop to swap out chainrings/casettes for riders doing more hills and/or pushing fewer watts to something like 52/36 and 11-34, but that's not really a huge deal. I would go for the dual-side Favero Assioma Duo, though, for most people. I think for great rider/racer you probably don't have to work much on pedaling motion/balance, but for lesser riders, the dual-side data can be extremely valuable.
I'm doing some research to get a new bike after 1 year without a bike. My last 2 bikes were supersixes, a 2021 regular and a 2021 hi-mod. I had the frame crack issue wth both, and both were replaced by warranty but I gave up on the model and sold. Now that cannondale solved it for good with the 2024 model, my choice is between the soloist and the supersix. If I get the soloist it will be my first non cannondale bike in a long tiime.
Ultegra 12 speed shifts great. Better than ever! The reason yours is slow is that poorly designed direct mount hanger you have. Get the standard hanger and the original B link for the derailleur and it’ll be great.
You can order the Cervelo Soloist and the components Miles speced on the bike using these links to stores I’ve vetted and recommend:
Cervelo Soloist:
Competitive Cyclist - snp.link/49ee16c1
Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/3W1Q0IG
Shimano Ultegra Groupset:
Performance Bike - snp.link/9da264d4
Merlin Cycles - prf.hn/l/bxl30QD
Reserve 40|44 Wheelset:
BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - tinyurl.com/3c68uxd4
Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/3S7UKeN
Enve Aero Road Handlebars:
BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - tinyurl.com/24edzwwj
Performance Bike - snp.link/ab49caef
Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/4d0CYlv
Cervelo ST31 Stem:
Competitive Cyclist - snp.link/f8565195
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR Tires:
BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - tinyurl.com/mwbe8d28
Performance Bike - snp.link/2d926d40
Tweeks Cycles - tidd.ly/46l0dot
Amazon - amzn.to/3LnOnjx
Fizik Antares Saddle:
BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - tinyurl.com/mvrw2psx
Performance Bike - snp.link/8c9b5379
Merlin Cycles - prf.hn/l/MbWARA9
4iiii Power Meter:
BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - tinyurl.com/33by9882
Performance Bike - snp.link/fa4ea31c
Merlin Cycles - prf.hn/l/QLaQz3d
Great to hear all those achievements. I'm 51.. still racing.. This gives me the push to keep on doing what I love.. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for finally stating what I’ve also thought: 11-speed Di2 > 12-speed Di2
I’ve been on gold soloist frame now for around 6500 miles; mine is a custom build; just bought the frame set. Love this bike. I also have a Caledonia which is also fantastic.
That is awesome!
Thank you for this review! I appreciate this comprehensive review and thoughts from a highly skilled cyclist.
Yoiu're welcome. Thanks for the feedback.
I have this bike and custom built it as well. I try my hardest on the faster group rides and the bike is 100% not holding me back. This bike is great for all types of riding.
I just bought this bike around 3 weeks ago. It’s a beast! The bike flies, looks great in person (mine is also gold), and is very comfortable. However, I had the dealer change the stem 3 times until it fit perfectly. I also swapped the seat for a Caledonia seat, which was much more comfortable in long rides.
Great review, Steve! Funny - I just met Miles and his soloist after the Bullet Train last week. Had been thinking about upgrading recently, and this is the first video that came up!
That is funny. Now you know all of what he thinks about the bike.
Great content Gentleman! Always appreciate your thoughts
Much appreciated!
I bought the same soloist 4 months ago, mine came with sram instead. I really love this bike
Great Value bike , Im on the fence between the Soloist vs the R5 I know the R5 is lighter and the price for the R5 is not that much more but I do like the look of the Soloist better, the problem with Cervelo is that they come only in 2 colors, They should give more choices.
This is the bike that I recommend to any remotely serious recreational rider, probably best bang for the buck without going to Chinese brands. That said, I also recommend asking the bike shop to swap out chainrings/casettes for riders doing more hills and/or pushing fewer watts to something like 52/36 and 11-34, but that's not really a huge deal.
I would go for the dual-side Favero Assioma Duo, though, for most people. I think for great rider/racer you probably don't have to work much on pedaling motion/balance, but for lesser riders, the dual-side data can be extremely valuable.
I'm doing some research to get a new bike after 1 year without a bike. My last 2 bikes were supersixes, a 2021 regular and a 2021 hi-mod. I had the frame crack issue wth both, and both were replaced by warranty but I gave up on the model and sold. Now that cannondale solved it for good with the 2024 model, my choice is between the soloist and the supersix. If I get the soloist it will be my first non cannondale bike in a long tiime.
Is that Alexander Hamilton in the white helmet? 😂.
Really though, great video and I sincerely appreciate these types of videos. 👊🏼🙏🏼
Just bought mine!
Love it
Just wish I bought glacier white 😂
Oh man, I want the new blue colorway they're releasing for 2025.
Great review.thank you
By the time you upgrade the Soloist, it becomes a 10k bike. How do I know? I have one.
Ultegra 12 speed shifts great. Better than ever! The reason yours is slow is that poorly designed direct mount hanger you have. Get the standard hanger and the original B link for the derailleur and it’ll be great.
I want to know why he choose it over the tarmac sl8?
Price for similar spec sl8 is $9K.
Tarmac is great but you see them everywhere. They also used to have head tube wear issues.
Cervelo S5 review next?
wow. that guy was over 50?!? Looked like 35...
Rides like he's 35 too!
... and the weight of this bike is...?
I have a size 51 soloist Ultegra Di2 and it weighted in at 17 pounds flat with xt pedals and bottle cages