Zipp frames vs. TitanFlex frames

Triathlon Forum
21

Softride is still open and will honor any warranty issues. They also have enough stock for everybody with regard to parts (bolts, beams, etc).

They are no longer producing bicycles though. They are only making indoor bikes and car racks. The company is looking for a new owner. Got any interest? Maybe slowtwich could buy them and we could all have a bike. :slight_smile:

22

Softride warranties expire Aug 31 2008
.

23

Nope, no insult taken. : )

To answer a few of your questions:

  1. Weight - a large frame large beam 700c weighs in at about 22 lbs with no regard for weight when building it.
  2. Availability - I can get all parts that can break or need replacing except the frame and beam from the former Zipp employee that hand built the frames
  3. Stiffness - Never noticed any problems with stiffness when comparing to my Cannondale, Kestrel, Treks, Softrides and custom Tiemeyer
  4. Durability - never noticed any difference then with other bikes. I ride mine for training everyday and racing
  5. Aero-ness - Tested by Zipp as the fastest bike frame made (lots due to the lack of seat stays and seat tube) other then the Lotus.
  6. Stiffenss up hills and sprints - Although this is not done much by me - Ive had no problems holding with other cyclists in these situations -
  7. Climbing - I ride everyday in Sedona, AZ with a ā€œflatā€ route of 30 miles of 3,000-4,000 feet of climbing. I have no problems climbing with this bike, I;m not sure where all the bad PR came from in regards of beam bikes not climbing well. I will say that when I do a climbing ride (5,000-7,000 feet) I use my Trek 5200. I pass tons of people in races going up hill. I see no problem climbing with this bike over any other.
24

Zipp,
Thanks for the reply. Hey did you see this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZIPP-3001-BICYCLE-EXCELLENT-CONDITION-RARE-FAST_W0QQitemZ120063589102QQihZ002QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

25
  1. Aero-ness - Tested by Zipp as the fastest bike frame made (lots due to the lack of seat stays and seat tube) other then the Lotus.

Any chance you got a link to this, or info about the test?

cheers

26

This is from my mid-to-late 90ā€™s memory so correct me if Iā€™m wrongā€¦

If I recall I think that test had a lot to do with yaw angles and after taking everything into account (supposing that the wind came from all directions equally) the Zipp was on average the most aero.

I do recall being turned off and thinking that there was no way the wind would come from the sides as much or more than it comes from the front.

Anywayā€¦ since you are looking into bikes (and are starting what sounds like a quest) have you looked into the following:
Kestrel KM40 or Airfoil Pro
Trek Y-Foil
C4 Joker
Carbonsports Beam-bike
Lemond Boomerang

27

Thanks for the suggestionsā€¦i see you noticed!

Iā€™m just busy amassing an enviable collectionā€¦even if itā€™s only imaginary now

28

A friend has a Zipp 2001. He says the frame is a noodle (the stays rub when he climbs), but REALLY fast. They even hid the rear brake down behind the BB, if I recall.

29

That was my experience with the Zipp, the Softride Power V and the Softride Rocketwing. The bikes with seatstays like the Roadwing, Powerwing, Y-foil, KM40 and TitanFlex are stiff. Knowing what I know now, I would take stiff over a little bit more aero. The other bikes are great sit-down bikes but for me I like standing to power over the top of hills and to give myself more circulation.

The only bikes that donā€™t have seatstays and are stiff (in my opinion) are the Lotus and the FASTT. The Lotus has titanium embedded in the frame to make it stronger and the FASTT is just a great bike that Softride took 10+ years of development to create.

30

I think Joshatzipp may know something about this. I read that ā€œreportā€ ages ago! : )

31

As much as I love the Zippsā€¦people have NO idea what they are really worth. Iā€™d be surprised if he got 1 bid at that start price. One just went on eBay higher then most at about $1650. Thats a good price for the seller.

32

Where in the world did you score two brand new frames? Great acquisition!

33

Iā€™ve been a Zipp 2001 owner since I purchased my first one in 1999 as a gift to me for finishing my first IM event. It was my dream bike ever since I saw the first ones in the early 90ā€™s. Over the next year or so I got to know the guy who hand built them all. I found out that he still had a few frames sitting around still in the boxes : ) I bought 2 of them since they were my size.

They are mineā€¦ALL MINE!!! : )

34

LUCKY! Hey who is your source. Any chance heā€™ll make more? Itā€™s a great design that with todays newer carbon fiber technology could overcome the flaws that I mentioned earlier (weight, stiffness, fit and availability). Plus they wouldnā€™t have to be handmade. I bet we could get them mass produced for like 100 bucks each! :slight_smile: Wanna buy the patent with me? :slight_smile:

35

Produced for $100 and sold for $2,300 per frame. Sounds like a deal to me!! : )