OK, ask and yea shall receive. Below is some email conversions about this new frame.
“note just over 1.5kgs but will get to 1.2kgs
(1kg liter than top model Softy & 1.3kg than the classics)
once proper moulds made up also this frame has been beefed up
so it is extra strong for riders up to 100kgs “
“note the frame will debut @ Hawaii IM & be selling by end of year”
Not sure if Hawaii will be the debut. I’ve read that it’s already been raced by someone, not sure if
They qualified for Hawaii though.
“I rode the new Attack frame for the first time just 2 days pre half IM
19/8/07 as after having an amazing block of training in prep for Kona
where crazy 180km rides with almost 4000m of acsent & an hour
nippy run off the bike with jumpers , warm beany etc etc were on
the agenda Yeppoon half had now just become a solid hit out
but as my training bike was an old Softy classic beam set up usually
all 3 bottles full , spares etc it weighed a tonne + the beam was VERY
comfy so when initially feeling the new full carbon no moving parts
rigid beam frame I was nervous about how stiff it felt as my lumpty
bumpty stressed lower genital region was rather raw & inflamed
from 20 hour weeks in the saddle during July & early Aug #*!?$!!!
Hence with my very limited taper & tender legs a true test debut race
for the new Attack frame was @ risk as Hawaii bound race favourite pro
Cameron Watt with a firm 5th @ IM Australia had DNF'd into the bike leg .
I managed to deal with my flat spots during the entire race by sinking into
suttle IM paced efforts & with a few spurts here an there clocked a 4.30min
time nearly 8min ahead of 3rd placed Rocket Rod who takes no prisoners on
the bike leg while the winner doubled his 90sec leed over me on the bike to
take out the fastest run of the day , well until we meet again in Hawaii noting
on a rather cool windy sprinkly 20ish degree nasty sea chop central QLD day
Jimbo the Tassie demon & Kona team mate cruized home for tape homours .....
Using the 650c Hed tri-spoke rear without the revolutionary Gravity Zero hub
was a selection based on appearence & one I will never make again but I had
sent the wheel to engineer extraordinaire Kevin Hancett from
www.gravity-zero.com.au as it would of been my best option for Kona IM where discs aren't illegal due to
the hi-wind factor but big Kev was this time unable to weave his magic & install
his superior rear hub into the super aero full carbon Hed tri-spoke .
I know in my heart it set me back several minutes
costing me a debut win on this
sweet Attack frame limited taper & tactical blunders aside & with the 20mm single
tyres also being a poor selection for what is the roughest road surface in any triathlon
in Australia , maybe bar the testing Maitland tri where the Softride is at its best !
The rear end which Graeme stiffened for track cycling was amazing , the
excelleration & power transfer to the back wheel was instant & with the 650c
wheel it felt @ times like a motor bike attemping a wheely !!!!!!!
Thanx so much Graeme for making the Attack frame prototype into a 650c
frame as I know it was a drama to convert all the tooling around from the 700c
sizing though I'm sure I will do you justice once riding into the lava feilds
of Kona & hopefully next year if a qualify again we may go with a 666c rear
wheel , 650c front & use your integrated aerobar fork front end to really take offf !
The absorption properties were not as releaving as the classic beam which I would
rate @ 6 out of 10 while the rocket beam is 4 the new attack beam is around 2 though
pre race I thought it was closer to a standard frame of 0.5 where the wheels , tyres
& saddle play a much higher role in the frames absorption characteristcs but once
pumped up with carbs , adrenaline & a race psychy while riding on the roughest
road in any tri down under the frame exposed itself & with the pair of Hed tri-spokes
running 20mm singles the frame had no where to hide while being loaded up !!!
Softride rocket beams tend to have a springy retention rate than the classic beam
which assists in stimulating a higher cadence . My pedalling action averaged
100 RPM ( the highest ever ) with 140 RPM max on the Attack beam during my
2.29min 90km bike split @ Yeppoon & the feel was so crisp as with only 50km
riding 2 days pre race the frame was nothing short of brilliant !
Riding with Kevin Hancett's gravity zero hub during the last 6000kms of my riding
has also evolved my pedal stroke into a more effecient torque range due to
smoothing out my power tranfer through the 12 & 6 o'clock dead spots with an
enhanced cadence & in combination with being forward on the saddle .
The best feature of a beam frame is the fact that 80 degree + seat angles can
be obtained with minimal jarring from road vibrations being absorpted by the
weight bearing muscles & spinal region via the seat post thus enhancing
synergististic muscle action , increasing power & especially for IM racing
minimizing dehydration & carb consumption . Both Softride classic & rocket
beams work in unism with the free wheeling gravity zero hub to maximize
rider performance to new heights & I have no doubt once I ride the Attack beam
frame with Kevin's rear hub history will be beckoning , STAY TUNED !?!”
Now what do you think?
ShaRRky