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Frequently Asked Questions:
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 Why would I ever want or need suspension on a road bike?
I've heard that Softride bikes are heavy.
I've heard that you bounce up and down on the beam. I don't want to lose energy.
I've heard Softrides don't climb well.
Aren't Softrides really hard to ride in crosswinds?
Why aren't Softride frames made out of titanium or carbon fiber?
Which Beam design (Classic or Rocket) should I get?
Will test riding a Softride bike help me understand the benefits of Beam Suspension?
What does Softride mean by 'suspend the rider, not the bike'?
My beam squeaks and creaks. Is this normal?
What are the weight limits on the rocket and classic beams?
I've heard that Softrides are illegal for racing?
What is the warranty on Softride frames and Beams?
What size of Softride do I need?
What if I am a problem with my beam?
Question: Why would I ever want or need suspension on a road bike?
Answer: Familiarize yourself with the Performance Advantages and the
answer will become more evident. Suspension has substantial benefits on
both rough and "smooth" terrain; otherwise other performance wheeled
vehicles (cars, motorcycles...) wouldn't use it.
Question: I've heard that Softride bikes are heavy.
Answer 1: Softride
has cut a lot of weight off their bikes in the past few years. A
Classic R1 with Ultegra weighs 19.5lbs and Rockets are almost a pound
less. Yes, this is slightly more than some other options, however, when
you look at the overall vehicle weight (bike and rider) it is under 1%.
The myriad of other benefits offered by the design far outweigh such a
minor weight difference. Ride one to find out.
Answer 2:
Weight is the easiest concept to initially feel when looking at a
bicycle. However, weight is only a very small part of what makes a bike
ride well. A bicycle without comfort or stiffness will ride poorly no
matter how light it might be. Softride covers all the other bases
(aero, comfort, stiffness...) better than any other frame. Softride is
not the lightest, but they are certainly not heavy and offer many other
advantages that no other design offers. Ride one to find out.
Question: I've heard that you bounce up and down on the beam. I don't want to lose energy.
Answer 1:
The beam only reflects the loads placed upon it. Unlike a rigid frame,
a beam will adapt to your body instead of forcing you to adapt to the
frame. If your pedal stroke isn't smooth (round) or efficient, the beam
will let you know by moving up and down. As you ride more on a Softride
and your stroke improves, the bobbing will disappear. Unlike any other
frame, a Softride can help you become a better rider by giving you
feedback. Below is 1987 Tour de France Champion Stephan Roche's take on
beam motion:
"In the beginning. I rode with the beam for 100
yards and I did go up and down quite a bit...So, I brought it back to
my house and put it into the corner. I felt it wasn't possible to ride
the bike without bouncing. Then, the Softride people told me to give it
a little more time. I took the bike out a week later, and gave it a
three-hour spin - and now I don't want to give up the beam. It's
definitely special." - Stephan Roche, 1987 Tour de France Champion
Answer 2:
Beam motion can be caused by improper saddle height. If your saddle is
too high or too low, your muscles are unable to revolve smoothly and
will cause the beam to bob. For example, if your saddle is too high on
a rigid bike your hips are forced to extend out of the hip joint on
every revolution. On a beam, the hips will stay in joint with every
revolution, but the beam will pull down instead. The result is bob. The
solution is to adjust the saddle.
Answer 3: Beam
motion will be cut down drastically as the rider becomes more
experienced riding the bike. However, even if there is some beam
motion, Softride design is not sacrificing power and efficiency into
the drivetrain the way many frame suspension systems do. The drivetrain
is still 100% rigid and, because of its compact size and stiff aluminum
construction, is actually one of the more efficient power distributing
drivetrains available.
Question: Softrides don't climb well.
Answer 1:
Actually, Softrides climb quite well for most people. Because the
design allows the use of a very stiff frame material and a small rear
triangle, Softride can build a frame that accomplishes the opposing
factors of immense frame stiffness without compromising rider comfort.
The current frames are some of the stiffest and most responsive
available.
Answer 2: Most people who hold this
belief experienced Softride by riding on a Time Trial specific design
with a monostay, like the FasTT or the LE. Frames like the FasTT are
designed for Time Trial and flatter speed work and use a monostay rear
end to maximize aerodynamics. Therefore, the FasTT sacrifices some
torsional stiffness to maximize aerodynamic efficiency.
Softride models that are designed with climbing in mind, climb very
well. Because Softride is not dependent upon the frame material to be
both torsionally stiff and vertically compliant, Softride can use
exceptionally stiff frame material and a small rear triangle without
compromising on the rider's comfort. Current aluminum Softride frames
with a rear triangle are some of the stiffest and most responsive on
the market.
Question: Aren't Softrides really hard to ride in crosswinds?
Answer 1:
Upon initial observation one might think that Softride's would grab
more cross winds than a standard bike. However, wind tunnel testing
shows otherwise. Softride's are actually one of the few frames whose
coefficient of drag number actually improves against the competition as
the yaw angle (angle the wind is blowing) increases. The cross section
of a Softride frame really is not much greater than an average double
diamond (what is added in down tube is lost by not having a seat tube,
and the tubes are much more aerodynamic than your average round tube).
Wheel choice is the real culprit in most side wind situations. The
frontal area of a deep dish or disc wheel is far greater than the
frame's cross section.
Answer 2: Riding a bike in crosswinds is not fun no matter what you are on. The rider is the biggest windsock of all on a bike.
Question: Why aren't Softride frames made out of titanium or carbon fiber?
Answer:
Titanium and carbon fiber are good materials in some applications, but
not optimal in others. Titanium and carbon fiber are inherently more
flexible materials than aluminum. When you are dependent upon your
frame material to dampen vibration you need more flexible materials.
This helps a little to dampen vibration, but also allows the frame to
naturally have increased flex. Aluminum, on the other hand, is not the
best at dampening vibration, but is exceptionally stiff and allows for
a variety of tube shapes and manufacturing processes to be used.
Because Softride uses suspension to dampen vibration, they are not
material dependent and can build the drivetrain out of the stiffest,
most responsive material currently available (aluminum) without
sacrificing comfort and damping. It allows you to get the best of both
worlds, an exceptionally stiff, responsive and aerodynamic frame that
is still comfortable.
Question: Which Beam design (Classic or FasTT/Rocket) should I get?
Answer:
Classic (Qualifier ALC, LE, Lite or it): The Classic beam is the best
example of all that beam suspension technology offers. It is designed
for those people who are open to understanding all the benefits beam
technology offers and who understand that the more comfortable they
are, the better their body will be able to perform. The Classic beam
maximizes the performance advantages of comfort, reduced rolling
resistance, cornering traction and adjustability, all the while still
offering a responsive and aerodynamic chassis.
FasTT/TT7 or
Rocket TT/TT7: The FasTT and Rocket beams are stiffer and lighter than
the Classic beam and thus help bridge the gap between traditional rigid
frames and suspension technology. The FasTT and Rocket are designed to
maximize the performance advantages of frame stiffness and aerodynamics
while still providing the rider with greater comfort, better handling
and less rolling resistance than a rigid frame at the same time. The
FasTT and Rocket provide a more "traditional" ride and don't take as
long to get used to as the Classic Beam. The FasTT and Rocket are
designed for riders 200lb and under. If you are over 200lb, please
consider a Classic beam frame.
Question: Will test riding a Softride bike help me understand the benefits of Beam Suspension?
Answer:
Yes. Most people are surprised by the performance and feel of a beam
suspension bike, it is truly different and can take some time to get
used to. Imagine riding in a car without suspension. For a fair test,
you should start first by riding a Softride for at least an hour. Then
immediately switch to another bicycle (rigid or other suspension
design). Both the performance and comfort aspects of beam suspension
technology will become very apparent. Find a dealer for a test ride or
click here and we'll arrange one, and see the surprising difference for
yourself.
Question: What does Softride mean by 'suspend the rider, not the bike?'
Answer:
Due to the fact that the Softride beam is mounted on top of the bicycle
frame (not within the drive train), the suspension can move much more
freely without inhibiting efficient power transfer. Unlike a drive
train suspension system, power is transferred directly down the
completely rigid drive train of the frame to the rear wheel. Unlike
traditional frame designs, Softride is not dependent upon the frame to
dampen vibration and provide comfort; we do not have to compromise the
rigidity of the frame material just to make the ride bearable. Beam
design thus allows Softride to use smaller and stiffer rear triangles
as well as a large cross section around the bottom bracket to enhance
drive train stiffness. With Softride, the rider can experience the best
of both worlds-an ultra stiff, responsive frameset combined with an
incredibly comfortable and efficient cockpit.
Question: My beam squeaks and creaks. Is this normal?
Answer:
No. If a creaking noise occurs on a Classic Beam, it is usually caused
by the strain between the faces of the height adjustment bracket and
aluminum end caps on the frame. Simply remove the beam, then clean both
faces and mildly lubricate and the squeaking will disappear. Creaking
can also be caused by the height adjustment bolt washers. Remove,
lubricate and reinsert. The other area where noise may occur is between
the seat clamp, where it meets with the carbon fiber beam. Again,
simply loosen or remove the seat bracket and apply lubricant or light
grease. On the FasTT/Rocket Beam, creaking can be caused by
contamination in the pivots and slider junction. Following the
instructions in the "owner's corner", take the lower pivot apart and
clean. Apply a light layer of grease on the flat sliding washer and the
smooth portion of the fixing bolt. Do not apply any grease to the bolt
threads (use Loctite instead) or to the taper and pin surface.
Reassemble. The upper pivot can also become contaminated and need
cleaning. Following the instructions in the owner's manual, take the
pivot assembly apart and reassemble the pivot. Lightly grease the pins
and tapers, clean the bolt and reassemble. As with the Classic Beam,
the seat clamp is another area to check if the pivots do not get rid of
the noise.
Question: What are the weight limits on the rocket and classic beams?
FasTT/Rocket Beam: Rocket Beams are designed for people 200lb or under.
Softride does not recommend the Rocket for people over 200lb.
Classic Beam: Classic Beams are recommended for people up to 240lb.
Question: I've heard that Softrides are illegal for racing?
Answer 1:
Road Racing - For road racing, Softrides are illegal for racing in UCI
(Union Cycliste Internationale) sanctioned events. There are under a
dozen UCI sanctioned races in the US and the rule only affects
pro/elite, category 1 and 2 racers. If you are not a category 1 or 2
racer, racing in a UCI event, you are totally unaffected by this rule.
Softrides are 100% legal for all USCF (United States Cycling
Federation) and USAC (USA Cycling) sanctioned events at all levels,
including pro/elite.
Answer 2: Triathlon - For
triathlon, Softrides are legal in all categories and distances with one
exception. Softrides are not legal for elite and juniors only in
"Standard Distance" (Olympic) races, unless prior approval is gained
from the promoter. Softrides are legal for all age group athletes in
all categories and all distances, including "Standard Distance"
(Olympic distance).
Question: What is the warranty on a Softride frame and beams?
Answer:
The frames are covered by a 5 year warranty. Suspension beams and
hardware, like any moving suspension component in the industry, are
covered by a 1 year warranty.
Question: What size of Softride do I need?
Answer:This
is a very difficult question to answer over the internet. Softride
recommends visiting a local dealer to find the perfect fit for your
specific body type and riding preference.
Question: What if I am a problem with my beam?
Answer:Our
customer service staff would be happy to help you with any issues
pertaining to your Softride Classic and Rocket beam(s). To make this
process easier we suggest that you take a digital photograph that can
be emailed to our service staff to help us better assist your
questions.
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