Show us your..........SOFTRIDE.
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Show us your..........SOFTRIDE.
I've been waiting for someone to open a Softride thread. While not vintage, they certainly are classic in my eyes. Here are my three. The yellow one is a Powerwing with 10 speed Ultegra. The blue one is also a Powerwing with an 8 speed DuraAce/600 mix. The white one is a Norwester with 7 speed triple RSX. It is set up as a commuter. The lighted sign is a recent purchase. I really enjoy the ride these bikes have and you will answer questions at every stop.
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Do they come with a step stool to climb up to the saddle?
Cool looking bikes, but I can so see myself wiping out and destroying one of those...
Cool looking bikes, but I can so see myself wiping out and destroying one of those...
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Any instances of rider being spectacularly catapaulted over the bars in an endo?
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#4
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To the OP -- presumably you find the Softride design superior to other forms of suspension. How would you characterize it's advantages?
My bikes all have suspension seat posts (USE, Rockshox, White Bros), and two of my rides have elastomeric seat-stay suspension as well. I like a little "controlled mush".
I actually owned a Softride mtb for the space of about 2 hours at a swap meet. Bought it for not much money. Rode it around the swap looking for more deals. The bike was way too small for me, the saddle was cheap and spongy, so that 5mph ride in a parking lot wuddn't no test ride. Sold it a couple hrs later for several times what I paid. The beam suspension itself was a little too mushy for me -- not to mention I wanted to make some green.
IIRC their website offers beams in two different stiffness levels. I'll have to get lucky and find the stiffer variant on a bike my size.
My bikes all have suspension seat posts (USE, Rockshox, White Bros), and two of my rides have elastomeric seat-stay suspension as well. I like a little "controlled mush".
I actually owned a Softride mtb for the space of about 2 hours at a swap meet. Bought it for not much money. Rode it around the swap looking for more deals. The bike was way too small for me, the saddle was cheap and spongy, so that 5mph ride in a parking lot wuddn't no test ride. Sold it a couple hrs later for several times what I paid. The beam suspension itself was a little too mushy for me -- not to mention I wanted to make some green.
IIRC their website offers beams in two different stiffness levels. I'll have to get lucky and find the stiffer variant on a bike my size.
Last edited by Drakonchik; 05-24-10 at 07:00 PM.
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To the OP -- presumably you find the Softride design superior to other forms of suspension. How would you characterize it's advantages?
My bikes all have suspension seat posts (USE, Rockshox, White Bros), and two of my rides have elastomeric seat-stay suspension as well. I like a little "controlled mush".
I actually owned a Softride mtb for the space of about 2 hours at a swap meet. Bought it for not much money. Rode it around the swap looking for more deals. The bike was way too small for me, the saddle was cheap and spongy, so that 5mph ride in a parking lot wuddn't no test ride. Sold it a couple hrs later for several times what I paid. The beam suspension itself was a little too mushy for me -- not to mention I wanted to make some green.
IIRC their website offers beams in two different stiffness levels. I'll have to get lucky and find the stiffer variant on a bike my size.
My bikes all have suspension seat posts (USE, Rockshox, White Bros), and two of my rides have elastomeric seat-stay suspension as well. I like a little "controlled mush".
I actually owned a Softride mtb for the space of about 2 hours at a swap meet. Bought it for not much money. Rode it around the swap looking for more deals. The bike was way too small for me, the saddle was cheap and spongy, so that 5mph ride in a parking lot wuddn't no test ride. Sold it a couple hrs later for several times what I paid. The beam suspension itself was a little too mushy for me -- not to mention I wanted to make some green.
IIRC their website offers beams in two different stiffness levels. I'll have to get lucky and find the stiffer variant on a bike my size.
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This halfway counts right? Even though I'm not the stoker?
The first "WOW" bike I ever saw when I first started getting into bikes was a softride. I started out doing triathlons and always wanted (and still want) a Rocket or a FasTT.
The first "WOW" bike I ever saw when I first started getting into bikes was a softride. I started out doing triathlons and always wanted (and still want) a Rocket or a FasTT.
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Lovely bikes. The modern equivalent are TitanFlex, also fantastic bikes.
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The Bike Friday Air Friday uses a similar titanium suspension beam.
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I don't have any bouncing issues. It really smooths out your spinning. I'll be riding the yellow Powerwing on TOMRV, a 2 day very hilly ride through Iowa,Illinois and Wisconsin. I ride the 200 and 220 lbs road weight beams. I weigh 175. I like the slightly stiffer beams. I sometimes ride them with Zipp 404's and they do feel a bit faster than conventional bikes.
#11
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I don't know why people think you loose energy due to suspension seat posts. Seems to me, based on that theory, you would loose equal and opposite energy by being jostled and propelled by a fully rigid seat post.
I suspect the truth is that both groups of people (mush posters & stiff posters), if they are skilled riders, learn to jockey and hold a more or less level position and thus neither technology is better from an efficiency point of view.
Suspension posts let you sink into a hit which can be advantageous as you pick a line. And you can still sit up and jockey when you want to. Both options open.
I suspect the truth is that both groups of people (mush posters & stiff posters), if they are skilled riders, learn to jockey and hold a more or less level position and thus neither technology is better from an efficiency point of view.
Suspension posts let you sink into a hit which can be advantageous as you pick a line. And you can still sit up and jockey when you want to. Both options open.
Last edited by Drakonchik; 05-25-10 at 01:36 PM.
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Perhaps it was broken or maybe it was not properly set up, but she looked like she was on top of a lazy pogo stick.
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I don't know why people think you loose energy due to suspension seat posts. Seems to me, based on that theory, you would loose equal and opposite energy by being jostled and propelled by a fully rigid seat post.
I suspect the truth is that both groups of people (mush posters & stiff posters), if they are skilled riders, learn to jockey and hold a more or less level position and thus neither technology is better from an efficiency point of view.
Suspension posts let you sink into a hit which can be advantageous as you pick a line. And you can still sit up and jockey when you want to. Both options open.
I suspect the truth is that both groups of people (mush posters & stiff posters), if they are skilled riders, learn to jockey and hold a more or less level position and thus neither technology is better from an efficiency point of view.
Suspension posts let you sink into a hit which can be advantageous as you pick a line. And you can still sit up and jockey when you want to. Both options open.
#14
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"Semi-standing" means using additional energy to change your orientation to the bike & cranks. Sinking into a hit utilizes learned reactions and anticipation -- not energy.
Methinks the skilled rider's body will notice and adjust to any propulsion up (or sag down) regardless of source in order to stay within a "fairly ideal" zone. ("Fairly ideal" rather than a fixed distance from sit bones to cranks.)
Last edited by Drakonchik; 05-25-10 at 02:33 PM.
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My wife and I just picked up a rigid tandem because she felt like she was always bouncing, but I've talked to other people who love them and don't have any bouncing issues. I think it probably does help smooth out your pedal stroke, but it's not for everybody.
I still want one.
I still want one.
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I promised some photos of my Softrides so here they are. The red one is a pre-production bike built as a test mule by Paul Barkley for Allsop. It is frame number 49 and my wife owns frame number 46. It is set up for long distance riding has a front Allsop suspension stem. The bike with the Aerospkes is a regular production bike with some upgrades and uses a Girvin Flexstem. My wife and I also own a Burley Rock and Roll with the Softride suspension stoker set up. Roger
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The beams don't flex equally in both directions and are actually two beams fused together. They are designed to go down easily and the rubber membrane stops most off the bouncing and slow the upward return. You do need to pedal in circles of you will pogo the the bike and you do need to remember to stay seated on the seat. Roger
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Well....... I can tell you that I wondered about it myself on the last century I rode, as I passed a young lady who was riding a soft-ride bike. I was mesmerized by her butt rhythmically going up and down as I passed her.
Perhaps it was broken or maybe it was not properly set up, but she looked like she was on top of a lazy pogo stick.
Perhaps it was broken or maybe it was not properly set up, but she looked like she was on top of a lazy pogo stick.
Actually I've noticed that the butts of nicely built people (of either sex) riding these things describe a delightfully complex oscillation that has a large slow bounce with a quick short yaw superimposed on it -- indeed attention-captivating.
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Like I said, equal and opposite reactions to the same bumps. You sink into the bump, or you diliberately rise above the bump. In either case you are jockeying/pogoing/moving out of your theoretical ideal distance (and orientation) to your cranks. (Or third case where you are riding the rigid, don't rise, and are therefore propelled.)
"Semi-standing" means using additional energy to change your orientation to the bike & cranks. Sinking into a hit utilizes learned reactions and anticipation -- not energy.
Methinks the skilled rider's body will notice and adjust to any propulsion up (or sag down) regardless of source in order to stay within a "fairly ideal" zone. ("Fairly ideal" rather than a fixed distance from sit bones to cranks.)
"Semi-standing" means using additional energy to change your orientation to the bike & cranks. Sinking into a hit utilizes learned reactions and anticipation -- not energy.
Methinks the skilled rider's body will notice and adjust to any propulsion up (or sag down) regardless of source in order to stay within a "fairly ideal" zone. ("Fairly ideal" rather than a fixed distance from sit bones to cranks.)
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Hey guys, first post here but and I found this thread via searching for more info on Softrides. Please don't shoot me for bumping an old-ish thread!
I ended up putting a deposit on this beast yesterday:
Also managed to get the original spec sheet off of Softride for it: Softride Ironman Qualifier
Can't wait to pick it up on Monday!
I ended up putting a deposit on this beast yesterday:
Also managed to get the original spec sheet off of Softride for it: Softride Ironman Qualifier
Can't wait to pick it up on Monday!
Last edited by Michael A; 06-16-10 at 10:55 AM.
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That thing looks like a stealth bomber, fast and lethal.
Have fun on that thing. Can't access the link you provided, but I'd be interested to hear how much it weighs fully equipped.
Have fun on that thing. Can't access the link you provided, but I'd be interested to hear how much it weighs fully equipped.