Softride Inc. 2000 RoadWing

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Friend

Favorite Ride:
2000 softride roadwing

Bike Setup:
shifters, brakes, and cranks are 2008 ultegra SL, pedals and cassette 2008 durace, riding on Mavic Ksyrium Elite wrapped in Pro race 3

Summary:
Great bike super comfortable yet stiff enough for sprints.

Strengths:
comfortable, very aero, light

Weaknesses:
a 1 inch head tube

Similar Products Used:
none out there

Price Paid:  $500.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Softride

Bike Setup:
Modolo Shifters
Ultegra brakes, cranks, deraillers
Aerospoke wheels
Conti 4000 tires
puncture resistent tubes
crank brothers egg beater pedals
IRD blackbird winged drop bar
Selle Italia seat

Summary:
Most comfortable road frame on the market.

Feels like a full suspension mountain bike in terms of absorbing the bumps.

My ride buddies that have Giant and Felt Carbon Fiber frames still have to get outta the seat when they go over some bad cracks and bumps in the road.

I have the luxury of remaining seated knowing that hardly any of the impact will be transmitted to my spine.

Strengths:
Superb shock/impact absorbing seat beam.
Aerodynamics
Sleek looks (sorta like a concept bike)

Weaknesses:
Little on the heavy side for the weight weenies.

Similar Products Used:
peugeot cor-moly frame

Price Paid:  $600.00 at neighbor

Favorite Ride:
roadwing

Bike Setup:
Full ultegra and whatever says up in the specs
syntace c2
performance titans. working on getting some 3 spoke rims

Summary:
not a bad bike. not a bad bike at all. the suspension really does work wonders especially at the craters present in LA roads.

Strengths:
Comfort
aerodynamics
cheap price i got it for
oohs and aaahs from people in your bike club

Weaknesses:
extra maintainance for the suspension stem
heavy. fully loaded, my roadwing weighs at 22 lbs
not sure about the pdal power getting lost but i really dont feel it.

Similar Products Used:
cannondale r700

Price Paid:  $1449.00 at Pro-Bike

Favorite Ride:
1999 Softride Roadwing

Summary:
I have the Ultegra groupo (triple). Came with Vredestein Fortezza tires and Profile handlebar and Profile BRC carbon fork. Mavic Open Pro Sup wheels. I love the way this accelerates off the line and climbs hills. Most of the time I don't even get out of the saddle to climb moderate hills. I do mostly recreational riding on the weekends with the local club, but I have done a few 50-60 milers and have never had a problem with a sore back or posterior after these rides. Next to my Trek recumbent, this is the most comfy bike I have owned.

Strengths:
comfort would have to be #1. A good accelerator off the line and a good hill climber. I have a beam bag and it holds everything I would need to make repairs

Weaknesses:
lack of a second set of water bottle cage mounts. I know I can buy a dual cage that will mount to the back of the seat, but that is so inconvenient. Actually what I ended up doing was using a spare hex bolt in the deraileur tube and attached a fabricated water bottle cage bracket. It seems to be working just fine.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $3400.00 at www.tippcyclery.com

Favorite Ride:
The fast, curvy downhill sections of Orgonia, OH...

Bike Setup:
12-27 rear - 39/53 front - Ultegra throughout. Velocity deep dish rims on Continental GP 3000 700x23 tires.

Summary:
No, I'm not a softride employee. I'm a softride rider. I've ridden as little as 20 miles on other bike's only to have my back and rear sore. I've ridden 100 miles without even stopping and gotten off and had no problems. You do not lose any power in the beam flex, if anything, you actually gain some. This bike will also make you a more efficient "spinner". Park your bike at a rest area along your favorite bike trail and you instantly have 5 people coming up asking questions. Sometimes that get's annoying but for the most part that's ok too. I didn't buy the bike for looks, I bought it for comfort, consider the looks something free from softride. :) You shouldn't buy this bike if your one of those people who are deadset on "losing power" from the beam flex (or rear suspension if you will UIC). And if your a hill climber excess ~10-15 degree slope for any kind of distance, opt for the 3 chain ring in the front. You'll thank me later. I wish I would have taken my own advice because it's going to cost upwards of $700 for the ultegra triple and the parts associated with it.

Strengths:
Comfort. Feels lighter than it actually is. Pass your competition in the corner while your coasting and they are peddling. Pick up 3-5 mph on a straightaway section without even trying.

Weaknesses:
Wallet is the biggest hit, but quality doesn't come cheap. Too many adjustments in the seat/beam height. For this $ Softride should have included some sort of "guide" as to how forward/far back you should have your seat in relation to the beam height. Add Syntace Aerobars and your in for a all day adjusting only to find you can't be comfortable in both positions, well at least I couldn't. I am 6'1 and 220. After 4 1/2 hours it was either be comfortable on the bars, or be comfortable on the aerobars, I couldn't find the happy medium for "both".

Similar Products Used:
Giant TCR-1 / Bianchi something or other. Some Cannondale that about broke my back.