looking at a Rocky Mtn. Solo 50 ST. it's columbus spirit with a carbon rear and seat tube. i know they build their mtn bikes in house but not sure about their road bikes. and the only other frame i've seen use this configuration is Cinelli but i don't think they make them anymore. so does anyone own, know of someone who owns one of these bikes? looking for some opinions. thanks all.

I ride an '04 Solo AL:30 that was welded in Delta, BC, Canada, but I know their more current frames are welded in Taiwan since they closed their factory in BC.

The ride is fine for me, but this is my first road bike, so not much to compare to. Mine is all AL too ... haven't heard anything about their carbon stuff.

I have owned three Rocky Mountain solo bikes a AL 50 an RCSTt and a Solo ST. all were nice bikes. Rocky seems to buy whole tube sets to make individual bikes so the Solo St you are talking about is by my definition a Frankenbike because of the carbon rear end and seattube.

Cambria was selling the Solo St as a whole steel bike which as far as I am concerned @ $349.00 was a steal.


GVH bicycles is currently selling the Cinelli Spirit

Anyways there is my Two cents worth

The solo 50 st is the identical frame to Cinelli Spirit. I think it is a very hawt frame.

A similar frame would be the Marinoni Piuma. It is built with Columbus Spirit tubing. You can get it with a Foco steel or Columbus Muscle carbon rear triangle. The great advantage to Marinoni is that for a very reasonable price you can get full custom geometry and your choice of paint colours. You can also get the frame only or have them build a bike to your specs.

GVH used to have the Cinelli's last year, he didn't and couldn't get my size, he bought them as a closeout. i was also looking at the Viner's he has, the T13. Deda 16.5 steel with carbon seat stay was pretty good at $1000 with a Reynolds fork. He has a Viner Sidius carbon in a smaller size, i'll email him if he can get my size, and the Pegoretti Duende he has in my size is a STRONG possiblity. I've heard good things about Marinoni, and the Piuma is an option as well as the Fusion 2. i just have to find a dealer to get prices

Another company using that tubeset is Ciocc with their De Luxe Carbon. I've always liked the look of that bike. At least with the Rocky Mountain you won't be paying an exotic price for essentially the same frame.

http://www.ciocc.it/image/biciclette/altarisoluzione/deluxe2048.jpg

i also found Somec does the same thing. problem is it's tough to find dealers. i'd take a guess that the Ciocc and Somec framesets probably go for over $2500.

I bought my Cinelli Spirit from Rocky Mountain in August of last year. Incredible frame. Light, fast, maneuverable. Great deal, too as mine was half of retail. :cool: