https://www.softride.com/bike/adjustability.asp

On this page you can see how the softride's adjustability requires the seat to move laterally in corelation to the height adjustment. Is this a good or a bad thing?

what do you all think of softrides by the way? pros? cons? anyone here actually own or test ride one?

thanks
Matt

its illegal

I can't comment on softride specifically, but did ride my mtb with slicks before I got my roadie. I couldn't get into a rhythm with a suspension.

I have a personal friend who rides a Softride road bike who can't understand why anybody would want to ride anything else.

I have two other sets of friends who both had Softride beams for their rear tandem seats. Both got rid of them after a season. In one case that involved having a whole new rear triangle fabricated for their custom frame.

I own two Softrides and love them! I use my Powerwing 650 for triathlons, time trials, and just to kick my buddies ass occasionally. I also have an older model Solo for my road bike, although it's practically brand new because the original owner couldn't get into it and left it hanging for a few years. The Solo is like riding a caddie. I let people take it for a spin (yes, you have to spin)and they come back saying, "Wow, I could ride this all day." That being said, I'm fixing up an old lugged steel, 26" wheel touring bike to ride for ten weeks this summer. The seat is everything, then the legs and engine. I've had my ass whipped by kids on 25lb pieces of junk and it's a joy to see.

What?

For racing.

Since Matt 1 didn’t mention anything about racing these bikes/frames, the “illegal” comment was somewhat misleading….

their site claims you get more traction in corners, if you take a look there are also pictures to back up their claim? is this a stretch or is it true? you have to admit, their website is very convincing of their argument that softrides are better bikes in more than one ways. (ignoring the lame UCI pint of view - i don't care what's 'illegal' according to them)

Should I sell my Cannondale for one?!?

slvoid --- do you know WHY they're illegal?

Bicycle raceing is supposed to be a contest of riders. As such the challenge is to allow gradual technological improvement of the bikes without permitting huge changes that would convert the race to a purely engineering contest. Combining these two concepts is a pretty tall order. Currently, for use in massed start raceing events, a bicycle has to have a conventional double diamond frame. Bicycles that don't have a seat tube, like Softrides and some Kestrals, are not allowed.

In other words, it must look like something from "The Partridge Family", NOT like something from "Robotech".

To try to even things out I guess, rules say it has to be a traditional frame, and the softride is a triangle short.

They are only illegal for UCI racing. They are not illegal for USCF races until 2007.

They are also legal for all triathlons except ITU elite/pro Olympic distance races.

I have one (Powerwing 700) set up for triathlons. I love it. I have a lot of flexibility in how I can set it up. I can go steep and low for short course racing. Or move the saddle back and put a few headset spacers in and go slack and not-so-low for long course. It is a really aerodynamic frame. And it is comfortable which really helps with the run that I have to do right after.

A few years ago I quit riding for a while. When I decided I was done with bikes I sold my beautiful blue Softride PowerWing. One of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. Now that I'm riding again I would love to have that bike back. The adjustability, ride and look are awesome. If I do ever get another road bike it will be another Softride.

SS

I don't see where the traction in the corners is very valid. There is a big difference between suspending the bike (like MTB full suspension) and suspending the rider (Softride).

I have used a suspension seatpost on a hardtail MTB, again suspending the rider. It did nothing for cornering traction. It did make rough trails more comfortable when in the saddle.

Any suspension at all on a bicycle is going to cause a loss of pedaling efficiency. However, it can make the ride more comfortable. Like anything, there is always a tradeoff.

Understood, but IMO UCI is a bit snobby. If everyone starts racing the "robotech" bikes, doesn't winning still come down to the most conditioned, skilled and tactical rider? If it's got 2 wheels, pedals and is powered and maneuvered by a human being ain't it a frikkin' bicycle? If some slob like me is faster than Lance solely because of some robobike, then Lance should get his hiney on that robobike too. I say reward the engineers and thinkers if their ideas actually work. Maybe with this philosophy (ok, it's not a deep philosophy) we'd all be wizzing around on 50mph bikes instead of 10mpg SUV's! The UCI is a bunch of palm-rubbing, oil grubbing facists I tell ya!!

I hate the Partridge Family and their stupid bus. I say hack off the metal roof starting behind the drivers cab, rip the seats out and VOILA! --- you've got yourself the biggest, baddest El Camino ever