Which Cervelo; R3-SL or Soloist Carbon?

Rick has a very interesting question about one of our favorite frame makers, Cervelo. He wants to know which frame we would buy, the R3-SL or the Soloist Carbon. He will be using it for everything from training to racing; he needs a good bike for all round cycling, hills and flat. Here are our thoughts

Question: I am considering 2 different framesets, both from Cervelo. I am looking at the R3-SL, and the Soloist Carbon. I'll use the bike for racing, training, and recreational riding. I'm looking for the best all around bike for the flats and climbing. Would love to hear your thoughts on which way you would go.
Thanks,
Rick.

Hi Rick,

Good choice in frames, Cervelo have a great range and you have gone to the top, which is the best place to start. Both frames are amongst the best you can get and we can see your predicament trying to split them.

Cervelo R3-SL

This is the frame that is strong enough to carry the winners of two Paris-Roubaix, over the cobbles of Northern France and yet light enough for Spanish mountain goat, Carlos Sastre to soar above the Alps. Cervelo don't go on about weight, they consider stiffness, strength, comfort and safety as there most important facets. The weight of the frame is light anyway, so you don't need to worry on that score.

The tube shapes are designed for optimum performance and the pencil thin seat stays are strong and very light. The manufacture of the frame may add slight weight, but it guarantees strength as the carbon fiber runs from bottom bracket to down tube to head tube and top tube, lots of strength and stiffness. Top frame with top quality.

The Soloist Carbon is a more aero design with a more "chunky" look. It has oversize tubes and bottom bracket area giving lots of stiffness and strength, the fibers are set up to give a continuous path for better load transfer. The seat stays are more aero than the R3-SL and the cables are internal for a smooth look.

Very strong, very aero and a good looking frame, lots of carbon around the head tube and bottom bracket and the back end is obviously strong with plenty carbon material in that area.

A very difficult decision, the Soloist has been around for a long time and the design has been perfected over many years, I'm not sure about the aerodynamics, are they needed? You have to be going fast for them to make a difference, but the frame is exceptionally stiff. The R3-SL has everything that the Soloist has, less the aerodynamics. The seat stays are very thin and takes a while to get used too, but then it isn't you who will be looking at them, but the riders behind you. I am edged towards the R3-SL, if it is good enough for the mountains as well as the cobbles it must be a great frame, its not so "in your face" as the Soloist, but that is a nice thing if you don't want to attract attention to your self. In the end the R3-SL costs a lot more, it gets the vote, but only just. A very hard decision, let us know which you choose.

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Which Cervelo; R3-SL or Soloist Carbon?

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