Ok, maybe this is totally untrue, but today I received an email from the German Softride dealer saying that Allsop Inc. USA stopped it’s bike production, which supposedly means Softride. It goes on to say that they’re looking for a new buyer and that there’s enough spare parts for a while.
What the heck? Is there any truth to this? I mean, why would the German importer lie? Just curious! Jan
Hmmm . . . this would be bad news. I really like my Softride and doubt my wife would let me buy a Titanflex to replace it just because I can’t get spare parts.
But I don’t see anything on Softride’s or Allsop’s website.
Never understood why there isn’t more Softride love in the tri world. Guess the concept is too unconventional for most of us.
Damn! I hope not. I love my SR.
Adamsoftride, where are you?
Damn!
Luckily, I already have laid in the parts for my next beam overhaul–probably won’t have to do that for another two years.
Yeah, I agree on the lack of Softride love. But they don’t appear to be effectively marketing the product well anymore, nor do they appear to be introducing the “new” products that the market seems to demand these days.
Hmm… There is a FASST on e-bay for $1200 buy it now… I was wondering why a new model would be on e-bay at a 50% discount.
I’d better pull apart my pivot and beam to make sure all is well before I can’t get parts, if this is all true.
Agreed about the marketing. They also need to convince some more pros to try them.
Already sold
dave
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Is there any truth to this?
It’s true according to my bike guy. I asked him about a couple of deals I had found on SR and he told me that word was SR was shutting its doors. Too bad, really. I thought they had a really good product.
when i was shopping around for my first tri-bike a few months ago, i asked a couple of elite triathletes about the soft-ride, since i thought the design looked cool and radical. not to offend anyone that rides one, but they basically told me they were “junk” then gave me weird looks for even mentioning soft-rides.
i guess in hindsight, they gave me good advice!
Junk? I’d argue with that, but I guess, if this whole talk of them going bankrupt is true, it’s a moot point. I was wondering if they’d survive the latest blow that the USCF was making (with thier spineless “me too” move to comply with the UCI regs against anything not “retro”). I guess I was just thinking too late…
I certainly hope it’s just a rumor. 3 Softrides in my stable (and was even looking at another) say that I want them to be around for a long time.
I agree. I owned a couplle of them- A Rocket TT and a Powerwing. I had very good performances on them. It was a solid concept. They were fast bikes.
Perhaps a strong element of this is the fact that people are so heavily influenced by what is fashionable as opposed to what is functional.
In fairness, there were (are) some attendant mechnical and maintenance/fitting procedures with Softrides that are not in place with other bikes.
What was there reason to call them junk? Had they tried them? A lot of people call computrainers junk. Or, or, or.
Guess this will give titanflex some more business. Did Scott M. ride his titanflex in the worlds last weekend? Is he going to ride in the IHW tomorrow?
Dave
again, i didn’t call them “junk.” since i now nothing about bikes, i asked a few pro/elite guys for their opinion.
i actually thought the soft-rides are radically innovative-looking and was seriously interested in buying one. when my friends shot it down, i had to listen…why they think they’re junk is beyond me. as a beginner, i’m not about to question the advice of an expert.
This is a nightmare! I was just about to buy my first Tri bike–a softride.
So for softride owners, say they are bankrupt. How many spare parts do you really need? Do these bikes break down a lot? Are they things that there is no aftermarket for (i.e., screws you can’t get at Home Depot or something).
I did not say you, I was asking about your “experts”.
I road a SF once when I was looking to buy a new bike. I was faster than anything I had ridden. But, I did not like the way the beam went up, and the mechanical concerns. This is why I am looking at a Titanflex now. Yes, all the “experts” say it is junk. But, I have basically yet to find a person with a beam bike who does not love them.
Dave
Hey folks…if “Alsop” was to file bankruptsy…that is NOT “Softride”…they are related but not the same company Alsop does NOT make bikes, nor bike parts.
That’s you on the far right, isn’t it? The scion of the Alsop family?
In 12 years of riding Softrides, I have yet to replace a beam or any of the mounting parts. But I have the classic beam type, not the Rocket type. My understanding is that the Rocket type beam (the straight one) has more problems than the classic. My only concern was in purchasing future bikes and beams…