OK, softride and titanflex are the main beam bikes. What are the advantages and disadvantages of one versus the other. Does Titanflex have the same bobbing/pedal in circles training thing that the softride classic beam has?
How many water bottles can you get onto these things & howmps if there is no seat tube & on the softride no regular seat post?
Does Titanflex absorb as much road vibration and bumps as the softride?
Can you only get Titanflex’s direct from the manufacturer/do you need to do the maintenance on it yourself?
Titan-Flex is a lighter, mechanically simpler design with several different boom stiffness options. I think they’re only available directly from Tom himself, but understand that he’s excellent to work with. Based solely on the pictures I’ve seen, you need a behind the seat carrier if you want to carry more than one bottle.
I have had a softride since last september my main concern before building it was how long to adapt.
No worries I completged a century ride first weekend after building the bike and had no problems learning to ride the beam with exception of high cadence on climbs I did bounce a little but over that ride I adjusted so learning curve for myself at least was very short. This was 2 weeks after ironman wisconsin on
a cannondale then used the softride in florida 6 weeks later.
Softride is a Beam bike. TitanFlex is a Boom bike. Both do what they advertise, namely, suspend your rear end above the rest of the bike to isolate it not only from road shock, but even outright big shocking bumps. They have allowed many riders with back problems to be able to continue their riding when rigid frames beat them up too much to do so.
TitanFlex is BY FAR the simplest mechanically. One allen bolt holds the boom in place…you can slide the boom in or out a significant distance…the result is lenthening/shortening your cockpit. The seatpost is just like on a normal bike…one allen bolt allows you to raise or lower the seat. Seat fore-aft is just like on a normal bike, too. The frame is very rigid: you can stand and crank on it with less flex than most DD bikes…very, very stiff frame. The only thing you have to do is decide which framesize is correct, and choose your boom stiffness. Hint to those looking for a TT setup…make sure the frame you choose has an adequate Front-to-Center distance for good weight distribution when in the aero position. The Large 650 has a greater F-to-C distance than the middle-sized 700. If you are around 6 feet tall, and the Large 700 may not be long enough front-to-center in a TT setup, so, in these cases, I’d go for a 700 XL if you don’t want a 650. I’m 71 inches with 32 inseam and rather heavy upper body, and the 700 is fine…if I were taller and/or heavier upper body, I’d be better fit on the Large 650. Otherwise, if riding in a normal road configuration, just go by the charts. Oh, you can get a functional TitanFlex into the mid-teens weight-wise.
The TF has THREE water-bottle cage holes pre-drilled. All carry a Large water bottle on the Large 700 framesize…don’t know about the other sizes. That’s enough water for races where water is available on course.
Softride is mechanically more complex, but, I understand they have improved greatly from their original iterations.
Softride may be more aerodynamic as a frame only. How one is able to position oneself on the bike is more important than the frame drag numbers…either of these bikes WILL BE MORE COMFORTABLE than a traditional DD configuration, so, especially on rough and/or long courses, your bike split should be better on either of these bikes. I find that with less effort spent trying to keep the pain down from hard jarring bumps, my legs don’t seem as tired after the ride. You can actually STAY SEATED and pedal while riding across railroad ties in the roadbed. The suspended weight also allows better cornering than non-suspended designs…just ask the engineers that know about vehicles with suspension vs. those without…you do have to modify your cornering technique, though; you stay fully seated on a beam/boom bike, not weighting the extended outside leg like on a rigid setup.
I highly recommend people trying these bikes. It certainly makes it tough to go back to a double diamond…even if your sore back heals. One day I hope to get a TF in a road configuration to replace my Talon…which I only use now on big group rides.
I did a lot of research before buying my TitanFlex. The one thing that concerned me with the Softride was the mechanical aspect. I have seen way too many issues with the way it goes together and adjustments are a pain. I think the Classic has more of a problem with the “bounce” than the Rocket series. I have never felt like I bounce on the TitanFlex. Here in Michigan, we have some pretty bad roads and a lot of chip coating. This summer has been a dream on the TitanFlex because I don’t get beat to death on the rides - long or short.
I have one bottle on the down tube and behind the seat bottle holder for 3 bottles. This is fine for races where you have support. On long training rides you have the 3 plus what you can carry in your jersey or you have to stop for refills. That isn’t that diffferent than a DD bike reallly.
TitanFlex is direct sale, but Tom is great to work with. The only maintenance that is “different” than a DD bike is you need to pull and lub the boom once a year. I have 10 thumbs and can do that. The softride has parts that must be replaced on a regular basis (according to their web site) and I have had people tell me that 3 hands would be nice.
Like everyone, I have a biased point of view, but I really like the bike. Next year as I train for IMMOO will be the real test. I did MOO twice on a Trek Hilo and thought I would die before I got of the bike and my pathetic run was even worse.
I was in your shoes last April. I thought long and hard between the Softride and TitanFlex and TF got the nod – I’m not saying this is the best possible decision for everyone, but I think it was for me. If it’s of any help, I posted some of my impressions of the bike:
As others have said, Tom is fantastic to deal with. If you e-mail him, give it a couple of days because there seems to be some sort of filter or firewall that takes a few days to get through before you get a response from Tom (that was my case anyway). Also, Tom can get just about any component and he sells them at little or not profit – comes in handy if you want to build your bike your own way.
BTW – I build my own bikes and I haven’t run across anything unusual about the TitanFlex as far as maintenance is concerned, so any competent bike shop should be able to handle build and maintenance. However, this is my first bike with internal cable routings so I’m not sure what special maintenance problems might crop up in the future.
I don’t get the whole mechanically more complex hyperbole? My 03’ Accord is more complex than a Dodge but it certainly doesn’t stop me from buying it?!?!?!
Replacing the bolt takes all of 2 minutes and an allen wrench, tops.
Tons of miles on my Classic Beam and I have not had a single problem. Going in and out of the bike case is just like lowering or removing the seatpost on a regular bike, loosen the bolt and that’s it.
As far as aerodynmics differences, I could care less and the avg AGer ain’t gonna know the difference. I ride my bike on the road, not in a wind tunnel. I bought mine for comfort as the primary purchasing decision.
I’m don’t know enough about the Titan to comment, but as far as saying a Softride is more complex is not necessarily a reason to sway a decision IMO.
Without going into too much detail, I’ve owned both. I sold my Softride Rocket and bought a Titanflex and am very happy with the change. I had many mechanical problems with the Rocket and none with the TF. The TF is lighter, stiffer, equally compliant to road chatter, cheaper, and will not break. I have a Minoura for behind the seat and a bottle on the frame. As for care and feeding, just take it to a regular bike shop. Unlike the Softride, the TF will not need any highly specialized work. You can’t go wrong with a TF.
I’ve got two SR’s, both classic beams. If there was a learning curve it was not steep nor long. I’ve known about dozen cyclists who’ve owned a SR and one of the 12 never adapted and went through a couple of Rocket beams trying.
The only thing I can add to the above comments is that you can review the posts dealing with the Titanflex on this site. I don’t think you will find a single negative statement about either the bike or the company. Not so with the Softride.
I bought my Titanflex this year, and I am very happy.
I rode a Softride TT Rocketwing for three years until it got taken out by a car. I loved the ride and did all my bike split PR’s on it for triathlon’s and in addition always felt fresh for the run. After it got destroyed I decided to go back to a diamond frame tri/time trial bike ( the name which I won’t mention) and found it not nearly as comfortable, or in my case as fast for me time trialing as my Rocketwing and I just didn’t feel that same freshness starting the run as I did on the Softride. I recently sold my diamond frame tri bike and purchased a Softride FasTT and couldn’t be happier. I ride a regular diamond frame (carbon) for group rides, but love the Softride for Tris/Time Trialing.
You can read Slowman’s review of the Softride FasTT here:
I’ve never had any problem with bouncing or pedal stroke on the Softride. I always had a pretty smooth pedal stroke, but if you don’t it can only help it get better. I would definitely test ride one and decide for yourself. They’re probably not for everyone, but neither is carbon, titanium, aluminum, etc. I have no experience with the Titanflex, but have heard mostly favorable comments on them.
There are some other TitanFlex framesets than the standard one you see…you might want to check into those to see if any meet your specifications.
By the way, I am not a TitanFlex employee, although I’ve offered to be the Southeastern Rep for Tom…I know AJFranke and others would wrestle me for that position if there were such a thing! I just like the concept and bike, and feel it saved my ability to ride due to lower back pain issues.
Again, Softride is a fine bike, I’m sure. I just chose the one that seemed better for me…Adam at Softride is available on this site just as much as Tom is. The more Beam and Boom bikes that are on the road, the more likely I feel we beamers and boomers will be allowed to use our bikes in races in the future.
