tgarson wrote:
Legit question, I always see the Softride (or similar beam-bike threads) and I know that there are some distinct advantages to a beam design, like aerodynamics, and I'm presuming weight? But almost all former Softride owners all seem to have such a devout passion for their former bikes, what is it specifically that you loved so much about them? Are they that much more comfortable? I have the solo-style on all of mine (similar to the one posted above by Tribato). The lower frame, due to the smaller triangles, is quite stiff, which lends itself very well to power transfer. The beam does a wonderful job of isolating the rider from not only the larger hits, but also just the general road buzz (especially if you ride a lot of chip-sealed roads). That isolation is a key element in staving off fatigue.
Weight isn't an advantage -- a Softride of the same size would actually be heavier. I've heard a lot of people say that Softrides don't climb well. I'd have to qualify that to say that some people can't climb well on Softrides -- I've got a few USCF Hillclimb TT titles that say they climb just fine.
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