Chuckk

How do you size a Softride?
I passed on several before I got mine, and the problem was how can you find a proper sized frame?
Is there some way to relate what you can see on a used bike to your normal bike size?
I'd also been told that there were as many as five different weight beams, each one for a range of about 20 pounds.
On my Norwester, The beam label says max. weight 220 lbs ATB, or 240 lbs Road and nothing about different beams.
I know I would have tried one sooner if they didn't seem to have a aura of majik about them.

rhenning

The actual frames were sized like normal bike. Mine for example are 58CM bikes which is what I normally ride. With that being the case the beam is set about the middle of the beam height adjustment 58Cm+ 3/4 of an inch to allow for sag when my weight is applied. The beams are all bent and sized the same so basically interchange. They have vast amount of adjustment both up and down and fore aft to find you sweet spot. Roger

treebound 

Somewhere on the internat “way back machine” (archive.org maybe, where older internet pages are sometimes archived, nickname related to the cartoon Mr. Peabody and his wayback machine) there is a page showing the dimensions of the headtube relative to standard bike frame sizing. There might be some documents archived on the facebook softride owner’s group page as well.

I think the one I currently have is a 56cm sized frame, give or take a little because the headtube dimensions didn’t cleanly match up with the chart I was looking at. I’ve since changed phones and computers and lost the link to the dimension page in the process.

SpeedofLite 

PDF of Softrides Fitting doc.
Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

brandenjs

This thread hasn't been replied to for almost a year ago, so here it is again. I found myself the owner of this beast. As far as I can tell it is a 2000 Softride Rocket. Full Dura Ace group, except the wheels. Someone has stripped it down and I'm debating doing some fancy roloc disc work on the aluminum or going about a fancy paint job. I know these bikes have a love/hate following, but could be cool to work on.

Chuckk

This puppy showed up on CL this morning, and was just too pretty to pass up.
It says Powercurve, but is also labeled as a "Concept 2" (exercise equipment maker) T650. Anybody familiar with that?
Came with paperwork copyrighted between '95 and '99. Components are a mix so I'm guessing 2000?

RobbieTunes

^^ That is ace. ^^

650c? Beautiful crankset. Stem looks like an engineering contest gone awry, but I'll bet it works.
I always wanted one, but when the tri-folks and owners were all selling them a few years ago, they wanted an arm and a leg for their beams.
I still want one. And another Giant MCR. Kind of like the Sharpei bulldogs of bikes.

Chuckk

The P.O. told me it was a RaceFace crank, but I haven't been able to find anything like it.

I've picked up this and a Cannondale Multisport 1000 in the last couple months. I'm a bottom feeder pricewise, and bet the Covid has crumbled the triathlon 650c market.
Maybe it will be back.

Ironfish653

Chuckk That’s a really cool example!
I’ve seen a couple other Concept2 badged SoftRides before, IIRC they were all PowerCurves, and as far as I know, they’re just Allsop/SoftRides with different stickers.

Concept2 also appeared on the SoftRide tandem-V show bike. Concept2 (Dreissigacker) was (still is) a rowing company; they make some of the best oars in the business.
They were doing some pretty innovative composite work in the 1990s, and may have been involved in the development of the carbon bodied Power-V.

SpeedofLite 

That crank looks like a Topline to me.
I have one just like it on my 1996 Felt tri bike.



Can't say I know a lot about RaceFace except every one I've ever seen was chunky looking.

Lbxpdx

I have the same bike, though a different stem and it has down tube shifters. Mine is full dura ace. I dig the purple. I bought mine a few years ago at a pawnshop. It is extremely comfortable, though I haven’t touched it since I got a nice 650b bike.

Chuckk

That's it, they sure are pretty!
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...15&AbsPos=1955

shotgunslade

I posted in this thread a few years ago when I bought a late 90's Softride Powerwing and did some upgrades. After a few years, I found the large frame to be a bit small and arranged for a exchange to get an XL Roadwing frame. Have since upgraded several more components. I realize that the steerer extender is not recommended, but I'm a really tall, aging rider and slammed stems aren't nearly as comfortable as they used to be. Upgrades include Ultegra 6800 compact crankset, front derailleur, calipers and brifters, Dura Ace 7900 rear derailleur, Velocity Deep-V rims with Dura Ace hubs, and Alpha Q Aero Fork. Next upgrade is Vuelta Corsa Superlite wheelset. Not sure which tires yet. May see if 700-28 tires will fit.

Dave_Chelt

I need a Bianchi EL-OS Softride in my life! The beam frames aren’t very attractive, and I’d be concerned about replacing any of the limited life components but hey - you only live once 🙂. The Bianchis seem to appear on German ebay reasonably regularly, so fingers crossed 🤞

Sancho20

I was told this was a limited edition and that they only made 50 each year in this finish.. Not sure if it's true or not and could anyone help with a value.. I've tried a few other forums but not much luck.. Thanks

Dylansbob 

Looks like a couple hundred in parts, unless those are 700 wheels. Then maybe an extra c-note. Probably worth more in parts than a complete.

jamesdak 

Well, heck....since this was revived.

I picked this up last fall just to see what a Softride was about. For some reason it had these Gipiemme Parade wheels with a Campagnolo 10 speed cassette on it. The DT shifters are 7 speed indexed and in friction mode weren't covering the block.


How I got it with an extra bottle and set of Shimano 105 wheels.

How I rode it the other day for the first real test after a cleaning, degreasing, relubing, and mild tune. Added on those Zonda wheels.

Parts Softride I got for the heavier beam. Just can't seem to get the pin to come out so I haven't swapped them yet.

Sancho20

So $300 for the whole bike?

Dylansbob 

In parts, probably.

If you try selling it as a bike, you probably would sit on it for a year or more asking $250. I'm in a hot bicycle area and the last one I saw was $400 for years before going down to $125 before it disappeared from CL. You might get lucky with someone who just had to have it, but the average selling price on Softrides is less than the parts on them.

jamesdak 

Try the Softride Owners group on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/36519069043

Sancho20

Crazy I thought it would be worth more than that.. Cause I know the wheels gotta be worth more than $300 or were you talking $300 without the wheels?

jamesdak 

?? I didn't offer a quote that was someone else. In fact I agree with you. I'm debating selling mine before I put any money into it and would be hard pressed to let mine go for $300 with those Zonda's on it. You're is a lot nicer with much better parts and has to be worth a good bit more.

ifixbikes

Rocket TT7 w/ carbon beam. Sadly no local interest so she's come apart.


I knew it was light but I couldn't believe how light the frame and beam combo was.

jamesdak 

By coincidence I did the first full, honest ride of mine this morning and it basically crushed everything in my stable. Not sure why these didn't catch on because man are they fast.

Here's how it setup up now and was ridden today.



I too have had no interest locally in mine as I tried to sell it. But know that I know how well and fast it rides I'm taking it off the market and keeping it!

trimenc

There is a lot of misinformation about the Softride brand and the beams/stems in this thread. I worked with Peter Koskinin, one of the biggest Softride reps in the U.S.A. for quite some time when I was an employee of the triathlon specific bike store Inside Out Sports back in the late 90's and early 2000's. If anyone has questions about their Softride bike, I can get you the answers. Also, if you want to sell those RocketWing bikes, please let me know.