Soulcraft 1999 Groundskeeper

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Prairie Sunrise Trail

Bike Setup:
SetUp:
Full Ultegra 10sp
Mavic CXP33s w/DT Swiss 240s
King and Thomson of course
Cane Creek brakes
Brooks Ti Saddle
Kelly Steel Fork

Summary:

Have about 10000 miles on it and all good. Best bike I've ever owned and we have become one together. Keeps up to any road bike out there, climbs like a goat, smoooooooooooth ride as steel is real. Welds are perfect. Take it on the trail sparingly but it rocks there too.

Strengths:
Smooooooth ride
Perfect custom fit

Weaknesses:
None that I've seen in the 5 years I've owned it.

Similar Products Used:
Dean Colonel-still have
Litespeed-soulcraft blows my old Solano away

Price Paid:  $0.00 at soulcraft

Favorite Ride:
anywhere

Bike Setup:
dura-ace groupo
mavic open-pro wheel set
puals brakes
thompson post and steam
salsa cross bar
egg beaters

Summary:
ive been riding my soulcraft cross bike as my daily commuter to work, as well as every trail in my neck of the woods. In fact the only other bike i ride is my soulcraft 29er single speed!
This bike absolutly kicks ass on the trail and on the road. I even rode this bike the last two years in the 109 mile El Tour de Tucson.

Strengths:
This bikes strengths are its ability to excel in any environment. It climbs so fast on any cross country trail, and stays true in any turn i throw myself it into.

Weaknesses:
N/A
this bike is pure beauty and ability all in one.

Similar Products Used:
surly
trek
kona

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at Straight from the gu

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere

Bike Setup:
Ultegra shifters
Ultegra/XTR derailluers
FSA compact crank
Ritchey bar and stem
Ultegra open pro wheels w/ Michelin Jets or Conti road tires.
Thomspon seatpost and Flite gel saddle.

Summary:
This bike does it all, and does it all great. 45 mile commute to work; fast, comfortable and stable. Off road it handles like a dream, stable on high speed descents but still nimble on tight single track. Also gets great traction and climbs fast too. The fit and handling are so good that I've been throwing road tires on it and riding it on fast club/team and 75+ mile road rides as well. The guys at Soulcraft build a great bike and get the fit down to perfection. I've never ridden a bike that rode or fit so well.

Strengths:
Awesome custom fit, great paint job and finish. It's the only bike I've ridden that seems ride well in all conditions.

Weaknesses:
Only the rider.

Similar Products Used:
Jamis nova cross bike - doesn't even compare.
Bianchi XL Boron road bike
Ritchey NiTi MTB

Favorite Ride:
West Sonoma County

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace w/ Ritchey WCS Wheels and custom SOULCRAFT Stem

Summary:
This bike is sweet handling and forgiving when riding my local off-road trails. There is nowhere that I will not ride this bike, it just gives me confidence. I have not ridden my mountain bike since I received this bike! I have raced it and it does all I want it to when I wind it up for more speed or cooking into a corner. The powdercoat paint job is beautiful and the bike is a looker with the matching fork. I recommend this to anyone who plans on spending time on their cross bike, it's worth the extra dollars for the great ride.

Strengths:
Beautiful Steel Frame
Details, Details!
Great looking, and riding steel fork
Perfect ride and handling

Weaknesses:
I just don't know!

Similar Products Used:
Salsa La Cruz, Ibis Hakkalugi(sp)

Price Paid:  $2400.00 at the source

Favorite Ride:
the earth

Bike Setup:
shimano105/ paul neo-retro brakes/ritchey pedals, speedmax tires/mavic open pro wheels/ soulcraft custom stem/salsa poco drops/chris king headset.

Summary:
you need this bike. but get your own.
this bike does it all.

can you tell I love my bike?

Strengths:
1. the 2 guys who make it happen
2. the kindest -friendliest fork- it eats up the bumps
3. old school attention to detail aka QUALITY design.
4. freaky perfet frame-micheangelo of welders
5. all the details that make this a "tool not as toy"
6. "steel is real" feel

Weaknesses:
huh? if you get this bike you won't be weak anymore?

Similar Products Used:
tested-wazoo, gunner crosshairs, guerchotti, surly, ibis hakalugi...... cannot compare in any category