Show us your..........SOFTRIDE.
#76
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soft-ride carbon beam wanted
i'm based in South Africa and trying to find a carbon beam to complete my Allsop, any chance you can help??
#77
aka: Mike J.
Resurrectiing this thread again, didn't think we needed a second SoftRide thread.
A few years ago I posted in this thread about maybe fun to have one someday (post #69).
Well today is that someday:
Just picked it up yesterday.
Does anyone have a link to any Softride archives? My web searching is coming up marginal. I also need to figure out the proper rear derailleur cable routing, the guy I got it from had a shop replace cables and they routed the rear derraileur cable along the outside of the frame and I'd like to tuck it back inside. There is a little cable housing noise going on so I'm going to re-route the cable housings around the headtube.
Not sure how long I'll have this one, maybe for a long time due to how adjustable the riding position is.
The guy said it has ceramic bearings for the wheel bearings. Also came with an extra cassette and a DuraAce rear derailleur along with a few other bits and pieces.
Here is a pic of the underside of the bottom bracket:
A few years ago I posted in this thread about maybe fun to have one someday (post #69).
Well today is that someday:
Just picked it up yesterday.
Does anyone have a link to any Softride archives? My web searching is coming up marginal. I also need to figure out the proper rear derailleur cable routing, the guy I got it from had a shop replace cables and they routed the rear derraileur cable along the outside of the frame and I'd like to tuck it back inside. There is a little cable housing noise going on so I'm going to re-route the cable housings around the headtube.
Not sure how long I'll have this one, maybe for a long time due to how adjustable the riding position is.
The guy said it has ceramic bearings for the wheel bearings. Also came with an extra cassette and a DuraAce rear derailleur along with a few other bits and pieces.
Here is a pic of the underside of the bottom bracket:
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Last edited by treebound; 08-30-17 at 07:22 AM. Reason: Typo
#78
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Here's my Norwester. Steel frame, 3x8, pretty vanilla little touring bike, but it is all-day comfortable.
Crazy handling, too. The wheelbase is really short, like 39 inches, and you can power through a corner like no other bike I've had. Climbs pretty well, if you spin rather than mash, and it's a hoot on fast descents.
I picked it up last May, and took it for a week long 600 mile tour earlier this month. I always keep an eye out for interesting bikes, and this one was too good of a deal to pass up.
Crazy handling, too. The wheelbase is really short, like 39 inches, and you can power through a corner like no other bike I've had. Climbs pretty well, if you spin rather than mash, and it's a hoot on fast descents.
I picked it up last May, and took it for a week long 600 mile tour earlier this month. I always keep an eye out for interesting bikes, and this one was too good of a deal to pass up.
Last edited by Ironfish653; 09-17-17 at 02:59 PM.
#79
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Well okay, since this thread has been bumped....
I have had this bike in my possession for about a year.
Custom made, fillet brazed by Glenn Erickson. Beautiful workmanship, beautiful paint, nice components. Ugly ugly bike.
Check out the fillet brazing:
Note the lug-like fitting where the Softride beam attaches to the top tube:
The rear brake cable is routed through the tube:
A wire is routed through the fork; I'm not sure whether this was intended for a dynamo hub or an Avocet cyclocomputer:
I changed the handlebar (it came with a Scott in-out bar ) and the crankset (Dura-Ace 6400 with too long arms) but otherwise I think it's still the way it came to me. I rode it on a 200 km brevet in the fall, and found it mostly very comfortable with the exception of the Dura-Ace STI levers, which I loathe. Also, the stem is too short for me.
There's a bizarre disparity between the evident quality of workmanship of the frame, the high end components, and the extremely clunky stem and saddle clamp.
The saddle settles into a lower position as soon as you put any weight on it, which makes it hard to find exactly the right saddle position. If anyone knows the secret to how this is done, please share. The same goes for the stem. If I ever ride the bike again, I will need to make some changes; to start with, the STI levers will have to go, and the stem will have to be longer. But that's just the beginning. And I'm not sure it's worth it to me to make these changes.
I have had this bike in my possession for about a year.
Custom made, fillet brazed by Glenn Erickson. Beautiful workmanship, beautiful paint, nice components. Ugly ugly bike.
Check out the fillet brazing:
Note the lug-like fitting where the Softride beam attaches to the top tube:
The rear brake cable is routed through the tube:
A wire is routed through the fork; I'm not sure whether this was intended for a dynamo hub or an Avocet cyclocomputer:
I changed the handlebar (it came with a Scott in-out bar ) and the crankset (Dura-Ace 6400 with too long arms) but otherwise I think it's still the way it came to me. I rode it on a 200 km brevet in the fall, and found it mostly very comfortable with the exception of the Dura-Ace STI levers, which I loathe. Also, the stem is too short for me.
There's a bizarre disparity between the evident quality of workmanship of the frame, the high end components, and the extremely clunky stem and saddle clamp.
The saddle settles into a lower position as soon as you put any weight on it, which makes it hard to find exactly the right saddle position. If anyone knows the secret to how this is done, please share. The same goes for the stem. If I ever ride the bike again, I will need to make some changes; to start with, the STI levers will have to go, and the stem will have to be longer. But that's just the beginning. And I'm not sure it's worth it to me to make these changes.
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#80
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Chuck, there should be a weight rating label on the bottom of underside of the beam. IIRC correctly, they came in 20 lb increments with the stiffest beam being rated for 220-240 lbs.
#81
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With the newest of them being 10 years old, (mine's almost 20) and being few and far between when they were still in production, there's probably not much left out there.
#82
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I love the freakish look of these bikes, and kept my eyes open for one.
But I think in 30 years of riding, I may have seen one on the road - maybe 20 years ago.
Were they made illegal for triathlons?
One of the things that kept me wary of the few used ones is the suspension beam. I think they are weight specific? If so how do you ID the correct beam?
But I think in 30 years of riding, I may have seen one on the road - maybe 20 years ago.
Were they made illegal for triathlons?
One of the things that kept me wary of the few used ones is the suspension beam. I think they are weight specific? If so how do you ID the correct beam?
Actually, most of the ones I see still around are set up for TT/Triathlons, many of them were designed for 650 wheels, for better 'aero.'
#83
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I don't want to turn this into an appraisal thread, but I am curious what people think is the market for these things. I get the impression they're worth more as parts than as complete bikes
I can't even decide if they appeal to me, honestly. But I can see how they'd have their loyal fans.
I can't even decide if they appeal to me, honestly. But I can see how they'd have their loyal fans.
#84
aka: Mike J.
The Softride Bike Owner's group on Facebook is probably the best place to find links and ask questions.
With the newest of them being 10 years old, (mine's almost 20) and being few and far between when they were still in production, there's probably not much left out there.
With the newest of them being 10 years old, (mine's almost 20) and being few and far between when they were still in production, there's probably not much left out there.
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#85
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Looking for Softride seat bracket parts
We have a Burley tandem with a softride stoker seat... we're missing the circular connector pieces that connect the seat to the seat post... any help locating parts would be great to great our bike back on the road! Thank you.
#87
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When I first noticed the title of the thread, I thought it would be about these...
#88
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Check with the Softride Bike Owner's group on Facebook. Some of those guys have good size collections of parts, for occasions such as this.
#89
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#91
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Softride thread revival!
Found the photoless CL ad a couple weeks ago. When I asked for a photo after a few days, the price cut by almost 2/3rds!
Seller had picked it out of a closeout at a pawn shop. Many awful details that made it seem like it may have been a homeless bike before being pawned!
But it cleaned up pretty well, and with a bunch of swapped parts seems like an interesting sub hundred dollar ride!
1997 Softride Norwester
Before:
Found the photoless CL ad a couple weeks ago. When I asked for a photo after a few days, the price cut by almost 2/3rds!
Seller had picked it out of a closeout at a pawn shop. Many awful details that made it seem like it may have been a homeless bike before being pawned!
But it cleaned up pretty well, and with a bunch of swapped parts seems like an interesting sub hundred dollar ride!
1997 Softride Norwester
Before:
#92
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Whether you like Softrides or not, this is just plain wrong. So wrong that the extra leverage from the high up handlebars resulted in cracking of the head tube (if you look closely, you can see the hose clamp holding it together). The guy who brought it to the co-op said his LBS put that stem/handlebar set up on for him and didn't warn him at all that it could damage the bike. Take home lesson: don't try to turn a time trial bike into a hybrid. . .
#93
just having fun
Howdy hi hello! Resurrecting this thread to post a few of my previous rides along with my current one!
First up is my ride right now. It's a 1994 TiCycles Softride built by Dave Levy whom still builds the frames for TiCycles. It's 1/1 I believe, and one of few Softrides actually built with road geometry. Most were built as MTB/TT frames with some commuters and tandems thrown in as well. I built it 1X as it came up on a craigslist search and i thought, why the heck not? So far, I love it! Everything on the bike is either from craigslist or taken from my previous bikes. The only original parts on it now are the headset and fork.
My bike before this was an early 90s Cyclops Stealth softride TT bike. No serial number and of course, the builder has passed away. It was originally built for a Dr as noted in the frame decal. I bet they were a dentist. Unfortunately I broke the seat stay on an unseen pothole. I still have the frame and will repair it some day. God it was a beautiful bike to ride. The thing on the stem is a bell and I have a naloxone kit in the bottle holder at the back, in case you were wondering.
This thing was the first Softride I bought and the first bike I bought when I moved to Vancouver. I think I paid $375 for it. I loved it. It was 650C which was fun for a while. If I still had it, it would have some Spinergy's on it. I ended up getting some back 650C Rolf Vectors which did look pretty great. Sadly the frame developed a crack in the headtube. It's aluminum and not really a desirable frame and welding it/fixing it would cost too much, so I parted it out and kept the beam.
First up is my ride right now. It's a 1994 TiCycles Softride built by Dave Levy whom still builds the frames for TiCycles. It's 1/1 I believe, and one of few Softrides actually built with road geometry. Most were built as MTB/TT frames with some commuters and tandems thrown in as well. I built it 1X as it came up on a craigslist search and i thought, why the heck not? So far, I love it! Everything on the bike is either from craigslist or taken from my previous bikes. The only original parts on it now are the headset and fork.
My bike before this was an early 90s Cyclops Stealth softride TT bike. No serial number and of course, the builder has passed away. It was originally built for a Dr as noted in the frame decal. I bet they were a dentist. Unfortunately I broke the seat stay on an unseen pothole. I still have the frame and will repair it some day. God it was a beautiful bike to ride. The thing on the stem is a bell and I have a naloxone kit in the bottle holder at the back, in case you were wondering.
This thing was the first Softride I bought and the first bike I bought when I moved to Vancouver. I think I paid $375 for it. I loved it. It was 650C which was fun for a while. If I still had it, it would have some Spinergy's on it. I ended up getting some back 650C Rolf Vectors which did look pretty great. Sadly the frame developed a crack in the headtube. It's aluminum and not really a desirable frame and welding it/fixing it would cost too much, so I parted it out and kept the beam.
#95
aka: Mike J.
A Naloxone kit? Not a typical thing to see on a bike. There is probably a joke in there somewhere about the feeling some get riding a Softride bike.
I sold the yellow Softride I bought a few years ago, my weight coupled with frame flex was causing me concerns. I picked up a steel framed Allsop Softride not long ago that had sat in someone’s storage unit for 15+ years (not sure if I posted about this one yet), swapped out the stem and handlebars, fixed a few issues, and lately I’ve been coin-flipping on keeping or selling it. The soft market on Softrides is affecting the coin-flipping.
I sold the yellow Softride I bought a few years ago, my weight coupled with frame flex was causing me concerns. I picked up a steel framed Allsop Softride not long ago that had sat in someone’s storage unit for 15+ years (not sure if I posted about this one yet), swapped out the stem and handlebars, fixed a few issues, and lately I’ve been coin-flipping on keeping or selling it. The soft market on Softrides is affecting the coin-flipping.
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#96
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Almost 9 years later, I've finally come up with a picture of Steida. It's from one of the Canadian Tire Sprint Series races, circa 1990-1991. when he was riding for the Canadian based Evian-Miko team. Note the down tube decal, which says Allsop, as opposed to Softride. I remember him crashing it in the Ottawa race.
#98
just having fun
A Naloxone kit? Not a typical thing to see on a bike. There is probably a joke in there somewhere about the feeling some get riding a Softride bike.
I sold the yellow Softride I bought a few years ago, my weight coupled with frame flex was causing me concerns. I picked up a steel framed Allsop Softride not long ago that had sat in someone’s storage unit for 15+ years (not sure if I posted about this one yet), swapped out the stem and handlebars, fixed a few issues, and lately I’ve been coin-flipping on keeping or selling it. The soft market on Softrides is affecting the coin-flipping.
I sold the yellow Softride I bought a few years ago, my weight coupled with frame flex was causing me concerns. I picked up a steel framed Allsop Softride not long ago that had sat in someone’s storage unit for 15+ years (not sure if I posted about this one yet), swapped out the stem and handlebars, fixed a few issues, and lately I’ve been coin-flipping on keeping or selling it. The soft market on Softrides is affecting the coin-flipping.
Yeah i don't think most people get a softride to try to make money. they def are collector pieces, but not for the collector yearning to make a buck i would think. maybe in 10 years or so.
nice ride though!
#99
just having fun
That's a cool photo! I love seeing vintage softride photos of them like this. Mike Allsop was one of the inventors. I wonder if this was one of the early Paul Barkley built ones?
Almost 9 years later, I've finally come up with a picture of Steida. It's from one of the Canadian Tire Sprint Series races, circa 1990-1991. when he was riding for the Canadian based Evian-Miko team. Note the down tube decal, which says Allsop, as opposed to Softride. I remember him crashing it in the Ottawa race.
#100
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I rode and loved a Softride MTB about 20 or so years ago, but someone offered me too much money for the bike and a couple of stems and they're gone. Also had a Slingshot that had the same fate. Funny thing now is I can't sell any of my bikes.