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The Softride Has Left The Building

Today I bid adieu to my first triathlon bike – a Softride Rocket TT named Sally. (“Ride, Sally, Ride...”) While technically still mine until the ebay auction ends tomorrow, she has been dropped off at the bike store for clean up and packing. We’ll ship her off to the new owner this weekend and that will be the end of my beam bike era.

A Softride is considered old school in the triathlon world and is mocked mercilessly by roadies. Sally has a carbon beam, no down tube and 650 wheels – basically the low-rider Cadillac of bikes. While it doesn’t have a stiff suspension or a brag-worthy weight, it has one thing – comfort. This is something I desperately needed when training for my first Ironman.

Sally raced at Kona in 2001 and Wisconsin in 2003. She was dependable and attention-getting. Like riding a motorcycle, Softride enthusiasts also offered the casual hand wave when you encountered another one on the road. However, there are fewer out there these days. The Softride company went out of business and the focus on comfort has been replaced with obsessions of positioning, speed, and weight.

That’s all fine and good. I, too, succumbed to the lure of a new bike. I love my Felt B2 (named Axl) with a passion. He is a gorgeous, fast, light machine. But I still felt that pull of nostalgia as Boyfriend drove Sally away. A decade ago she was on the Queen K. Now she’s a triathlon relic. I hope her new owner knows he's getting a tiny piece of triathlon history and treats her accordingly.

I tip a bottle of Gatorade to you, Sally. Cheers.

Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 21, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    Hi, I'm surfing in the internet looking for someone which have a softride rocket and I found your text! lovely! I'm from old school...end now I'm just buy my cadllac!
    I still do not name it yet
    best regards

    Diego

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 3athletejenAugust 25, 2012 at 3:29 PM

      I just saw your comment. Hope you're enjoying the Softride. She holds a special place in my heart. Cheers.

      Jennifer

      Delete

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