My wife and I have 4 bikes that are Softrides or Softride equipped. She and I have a Paul Barkey preproduction bikes and I have a Softride production single. All are road bikes. Mine also have front suspension stems on them. She and I also have a Burley Rock & Roll Softride equipped tandem. Great cross country riding bikes but you must learn to ride them the right way. You have to pedal in circles or you will pogo the bike. The other worst thing you can do is to get out of the saddle. The bikes are meant for you sit on and enjoy the ride. I wouldn't do this on a regular basis but I one time riding in a paceline hit a brick I coundn't see at 20+ MPH. No flat tire, no bent rim, no loss of control, just a loud thump and then a careful stop to see if I had damaged anything important. The red bike is the Paul Barkley and the other is the factory bike. Roger