Softail cyclocross bike?
 

I was looking at the Moots website, and noticed that they do this cool thing with their mountain bikes. They call it YBB, and it appears to be a short travel rear suspension. Not too much, like an inch or less. How would this work on a cross bike? I've been to races where I wouldn't mind a bit of relief in the rear, going over frozen mud and such. It could probably help with fatigue in that way.It doesn't look too heavy, Moots says it only adds an ounce of weight. Besides that, what could the downsides be? Would it only work with steel or titanium? (I noticed there's nothing by the bottom bracket, and aluminum doesn't flex well). With the right geometry, imo, any loss of stiffness wouldn't make much difference. On the other hand, that stiffness could give an advantage, and we should all just HTFU.

moots offers the YBB on their psychlo x cyclocross frame

oh, they do? that's awesome. if only I had the money for a new frame, and didn't have a perfectly good 3.5 month-old one.

i just happened to see one a few weeks ago and i also have their 2012 catalog on my coffee table :)

i didnt get a chance to ask the owner what they thought of the frame but by the looks of the dirt hanging off it they had given it a thorough test.

Siren is the only other maker I know of that still makes a softail. For cross racing, there's so much out-of-saddle acceleration that I personally wouldn't want that much rear suspension. Thudbuster ST might be your ticket?

Moots uses the elasticity of titanium, as its own spring,
then the monostay becomes a piston.
dampened probably with an elastomer inside..


Trek did a one off frame for Hincappie in Paris Roubaix, a few years back ,
George was a DNF that year , the alloy steerer on his CF forks broke
and he took a side trip into a drainage ditch.

I saw a Moots frame with a YBB at a cyclocross race in 2011, so it has been done. You can do it if you have the cash to buy one of their bikes or frames. I hear Moots make a nice bike, but I have not talked with anyone on the suspension frame.

Trek sold a carbon Pilot s.p.a. bike with an elastomer in the rear to dampen the ride similar to the Moots design. A friend of mine owns that bike and recently purchased a new ride without suspension. He surmised that the frame flexing was robing him of some power. Since there is only an inch of travel and no hinges it can not be as lossy as a mountain bike rear suspension but yeah I watched his frame flex on every pedal stroke.

If you are looking for some additional cushion in the saddle, I would also recommend a suspension seatpost. They are removable if they do not provide an acceptable the weight to comfort ratio.