CerveloSoloist
Origin
The original Soloist, launched in 2002, is widely credited with inventing the aero road category — it was Cervelo's first carbon road bike with true NACA-derived aerofoil tubing and the platform Frank Schleck used to win on Alpe d'Huez. Phased out around 2008 in favour of the S-series, the Soloist name was revived in 2022 as Cervelo's deliberately attainable all-rounder: it borrows aero geometry and tube shapes from the S5, lightness cues from the R5, and lands at roughly 250 g heavier than the R5 and 250 g lighter than the S5. Today it's pitched at the 'week-in week-out amateur racer' who wants one bike that can climb, sprint and do a hilly gran fondo on one set of wheels with up to 34 mm tyres.
Specifications
- Frame
- Full carbon fibre monocoque; claimed frame weight ~919 g painted (56 cm), fork ~374 g; T47 BBright threaded bottom bracket; semi-integrated cable routing; SP27 carbon aero seatpost
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 12-speed; builds from Shimano 105 (mechanical) and 105 Di2 up to Ultegra Di2 R8170, and SRAM Rival AXS up to Force eTap AXS (incl. Force AXS 1x). Ultegra Di2 build: 52/36T crank, 11-30T cassette
- Brakes
- Hydraulic disc brakes, groupset-matched (Shimano 105 / Ultegra Di2 or SRAM Rival / Force AXS), flat-mount, 12 mm thru-axles
- Wheels
- Reserve carbon on upper builds (e.g. Reserve 40/44, 40 mm front / 44 mm rear depth, Zipp hubs); alloy wheels on entry 105 build
The verdict
- Smartly balances aerodynamics and low weight — sits between the S5 (aero) and R5 (climbing) so one bike covers crits, climbs and gran fondos
- Sharp, direct race handling with R5-derived geometry — goes exactly where pointed, confident in fast corners
- Excellent stiffness and power transfer; responsive when sprinting despite the do-it-all brief
- Mechanic-friendly two-piece semi-integrated cockpit and threaded T47 bottom bracket — easier to service than fully integrated rivals
- Strong value: Reserve carbon wheels on upper builds and a price markedly below S5/R5 and many aero competitors
- Firm, sometimes punishing front end on rough surfaces; ride can feel fidgety on imperfect tarmac
- Heavier than dedicated climbing rivals and not as aero as dedicated aero bikes (Aeroad, Xelius) — jack of all trades, master of none
- No option for top-tier groupsets (no Dura-Ace / Red AXS build offered)
- Modest finishing kit and stock tyres on entry builds (alloy wheels, tyres described as 'claggy')
- Several testers reported creaking from the bottom bracket, headset or seatpost
Who it’s for
Where to buy Cervelo Soloist in Latvia
Local shops and marketplaces in your country.
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Want one?
Find this bike on the marketplace, or compare notes with riders already on one.