Would you ride one of these?

[cludence]

I was given this recently to be used for a display. The previous owner was concerned about someone riding it and having an accident. I must say, I sat on it and it was enough to put me off. It feels wierd being suspended on a saddle with no seat post. Feels like it would snap the minute you hit a bump.

Wont be taking this one out for a spin, thats for sure!

[GaryF]

I always wondered what a softride beam would be like. I have read that you must maintain a very neutral position.

[cludence]

Makes a lovely creaking noise when you sit on it so is very offputting given it is made of carbon fibre.

Karen.

[Jeremy]

They were mainly used by the triathlon crowd i think....

Looking at it now, it doesnt look like it's height adjustable at all....that'd make it awkward to get a good fit

[kukamunga]

There was a MTB version of one of these, the PowerCurve XC. If I am not mistaken, the male host of this Melbourne Community TV cycling show may have been a Softride sponsored MTB rider in the mid-90s

Team Ritchey MTB team in the early mid 90s (Frischknecht, Djernis...) won Championships on rigid CrMo MTBs with Softride stems with great success, whilst most other teams were using RockShox/Manitou front suspension. But I digress....

Height is adjustable. Look at that slotted tab in top pic under the 'TR' in 'SOFTRIDE'

[Mulger bill]

I've seen the MTBs before.

Still wouldn't ride one, they just scream "odd", not in a nice 'bent way either.

Shaun

[WyvernRH]

Yup, I have one of these "beam" bikes, from 'Jones' of Melbourne according to the stickers. It rides very well if your style of riding uses spinning as oppose to pushing. The creaking noise is from the pivot. Allsop recommend these are serviced and various bits replaced every so often. The creaking can be very unnerving but really it sounds worse than it is. Not that I would dissuade anybody from fitting the service kit, do it! But it is a pivot thing not the beam itself.
Mine is a out and out time-trial or triathalon machine which has caused me a bit of trouble converting it to normal road use. It is very short in the top tube so I have had to fit a very long (for me) steerer and it still feels a bit cramped and the seat a bit forward.
The ride is well, different...., but it really smooths out the crappy country roads around here

Cheers

Richard

[WyvernRH]

Anoher pont, I doubt you are 92 kilo like me Cludance so I reckon you wuld be pretty safe on this bike, even if it does feel a weird to start with

Cheers

Richar

[cludence]

It has some marks on the saddle support so I suspect it has been knocked at some stage. I dont trust it wouldnt shatter on me.

Karen.

[WyvernRH]

Hmm, if the marks are at the 'top' end near the saddle I wouldn't worry too much. All the stress is down the bottom (front) end near the pivot. Abrasions or deep scratches at the front could be bad. I notice the beam is adjusted right down so it might be a bit small for you?

Cheers
Richard

It has some marks on the saddle support so I suspect it has been knocked at some stage. I dont trust it wouldnt shatter on me.

Karen.

[Kalgrm]

.... they just scream "odd", not in a nice 'bent way either.

Oooooh, you crawler!

[cludence]

The marks are near the top end. I dont trust it. It will be used for display purposes only to be safe. It is also too big for me even when set at the lowest adjustment.

Karen.

[rustychisel]

Send it to me!!!!!

I ALWAYS wanted to convert one into a fixed. Tee hee.

[blkmcs]

Resurrection time

Spotted this while having a coffee the other day, complete with e-bike conversion kit.

[zebee]

Bikesnob NYC has a couple of posts on one he's been riding.
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/07/soft ... rd-people/
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/09/getting-a-grip/
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/21/off- ... eir-heads/
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/22/clas ... d-edition/

Which is more or less "change a bunch of things and it's rideable"

[WyvernRH]

Bikesnob NYC has a couple of posts on one he's been riding.
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/07/soft ... rd-people/
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/09/getting-a-grip/
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/21/off- ... eir-heads/
https://bikesnobnyc.com/2023/03/22/clas ... d-edition/

Which is more or less "change a bunch of things and it's rideable"

To be fair to the frame design, he is bitching about all the kit hanging off it, not the actual bike design itself - which he ends up quite liking.

Richard

[rkelsen]

Spotted this while having a coffee the other day, complete with e-bike conversion kit.

And a K-mart saddle cover!

[zebee]

Spotted this while having a coffee the other day, complete with e-bike conversion kit.

And a K-mart saddle cover!

Well if it had the original seat then the cover is definitely an improvement. Unless you are too cheap to pay for a vasectomy.

Zebee

[uart]

Spotted this while having a coffee the other day, complete with e-bike conversion kit.

Dunno if it's just me, but I can't help thinking "medieval catapult" when I see those things. Like one minute you're riding along, next minute you go over a big bump and you're launched off into the castle ramparts.