Cervélo has reprised its Soloist road bike, offering enthusiasts an all-rounder that takes its design cues from the brand’s top-tier R5 and S5 models at an affordable price.
Borrowing from lightweight design of the R5, and the racy geometry and wind-tunnel-derived shaping of the S5, Cervélo chose a simpler path for the Soloist’s cockpit, relying on internal cable routing that passes under the stem and through the bearing cap, while a threaded BBright T-47 bottom bracket reflects a further bid toward simplicity, mirroring the increasingly popular T47 thread bottom bracket standard that ensures ease of service and reliability.
The Soloist made its debut some 20 years ago, representing one of the first bike designs to incorporate true aerofoils derived from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), something that’s been part of Cervélo’s line-up ever since.
“The Soloist. It’s a name from deep in our history, but immediately familiar to anyone with bike racing memories extending back to the early-2000s. It was the weapon of choice for top World Tour contenders on CSC and the Cervelo Test Team, and we’re bringing it back for a new generation. The new Soloist is designed for the week-in, week-out rider and racer who can only justify one high-performance bike. It balances light weight and aerodynamic advantages to deliver a bike that really is ‘just right’. That’s the Soloist,” boasts Cervélo.
Above and beyond the new Soloist’s aerodynamic signature, the bike is designed around comfort as well, relying on a geometry that’s similar to the S5, yet allows for enough clearance to accommodate tires up to a hefty 34mm, conferring the compliance and nimble handling characteristics of the R5.
All in, Cervélo claims the Soloist tips the scales at 919 grams for 56cm frame, and 374 grams for the fork, making it 261 grams heavier than the R5, but still 154 grams lighter than the S5.
The Soloist is available in the following complete builds, as well as a frameset only for $2,700.
Frameset
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