So as an entry into the Cruzbike world I'm trying to decide whether to convert an older decent quality mountain bike or buy a Sofrider. As with most things there are a multitude of pros and cons but at the end of the day what would be the difference in the riding experience? I look forward to all thoughts, insights and opinions!
Sofrider or Conversion?
- Thread starter dr o
- Start date
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Hi,
I've got both a Sofrider
Hi,
I've got both a Sofrider and a conversion (The folding Cruzigami Mantis). After owning the Sofrider for a year, I jumped on the Mantis and actually had a hard time telling them apart by feel. I'm actually faster on my folder conversion than my Sofrider.
If you find the right frame, you can build up a bike with nicer components for the money with a conversion. You can also build up a much cheaper bike (particularly if you are lucky enough to find a used conversion kit like I did) to just play with the idea and see if you like it. The Cruzbike V2k Frame isn't a bad deal either (although you can often find a used one cheaper).
There's nothing wrong with the Sofrider (except for being geared too high - but that's easy to fix) and if you don't like messing about, it's a great choice. If you want to play, want to be more selective in your components, (or, err, want to be cheap), a conversion kit is a great way to go (I recommend conversion kits to people who are interested in any of the Cruzbikes but don't know whether they'll like it or not).
Cheers,
Charles
I've got both a Sofrider
Hi,
I've got both a Sofrider and a conversion (The folding Cruzigami Mantis). After owning the Sofrider for a year, I jumped on the Mantis and actually had a hard time telling them apart by feel. I'm actually faster on my folder conversion than my Sofrider.
If you find the right frame, you can build up a bike with nicer components for the money with a conversion. You can also build up a much cheaper bike (particularly if you are lucky enough to find a used conversion kit like I did) to just play with the idea and see if you like it. The Cruzbike V2k Frame isn't a bad deal either (although you can often find a used one cheaper).
There's nothing wrong with the Sofrider (except for being geared too high - but that's easy to fix) and if you don't like messing about, it's a great choice. If you want to play, want to be more selective in your components, (or, err, want to be cheap), a conversion kit is a great way to go (I recommend conversion kits to people who are interested in any of the Cruzbikes but don't know whether they'll like it or not).
Cheers,
Charles
Thanks Charles for your
Thanks Charles for your input. I like the idea of building a conversion bike but not sure if i have the time. The simple and quick strategy would be to pick up a Sofrider but if I am not going to sacrifice ride, handling, and performance I am tempted to go with a cannondale, trek, or specialized conversion which will give me higher end components and good gearing. I think my wife is hoping I can't decide so I hold off doing anything!
Thanks Charles for your input. I like the idea of building a conversion bike but not sure if i have the time. The simple and quick strategy would be to pick up a Sofrider but if I am not going to sacrifice ride, handling, and performance I am tempted to go with a cannondale, trek, or specialized conversion which will give me higher end components and good gearing. I think my wife is hoping I can't decide so I hold off doing anything!
hamishbarker
Well-Known Member
I did a "cheap" conversion,
I did a "cheap" conversion, using a donor which I bought second hand for $100 (new zealand) - and at that it was even overpriced. But I used nice (very old shimano XTR) components and wheels from an unused mountain bike i had sitting around.
Although the conversion kit is cheap, you do still need to buy a few things and muck around to get things sorted. For example, you will need to buy a couple of bits of brake and gear cable housing, and it you're starting with a higher end frame, most likely it has an integrated seatpost / seat clamp (i.e. the clamp on top of the seatpost is integrated with the post, as opposed to "old style" where it's a straight post with a bit of a taper at the top and a separate clamp assembly.) The cruzbike conversion requires a plain seatpost - the second of those two alternatives I just described. My donor frame post didn't suit. Bike manufacturers come up with a zillion different seatpost sizes. My donor frame was a fairly large size - and plain posts were not available for it, so I had to buy a shim as well.
I found those sort of components, as well as some great and cheap mirrors, on an ebay store called "sky ride". Really cheap and free postage (or ridiculously cheap if not free). So the extra bits were not expensive, just more mucking around.
When factoing price difference of a softrider and a conversion kit, keep in mind that the freight on a conversion kit might not be a whole lot less than a softrider. To ship my conversion kit to New Zealand was annoyingly expensive.
The conversion requires rebuilding the old front wheel with a longer axle and new cones and spacers so that it will fit in the rear dropouts of the donor frame. (front fork dropouts on mtb are 100mm, rear dropouts are 135mm). So no quick release on the rear wheel (it must be bolted). I hate having to carry a spanner just to cover the risk of a flat tire. The softrider is however, properly sized front and rear so that you can use any set of (rim brake, I'm not sure if there are or are not disc brake mounts on a softrider - . Anyone??) 26" wheels without modification. I really wish I could have quick release on the rear (old front wheel) and disc brakes on my conversion. It's not so much the stopping power but rather the convenience of adjustment and not wearing out rims that I like for disc brakes.
So the pluses for softrider are
- nice paintjob
- no bodgy-looking (and actually a little heavy) brackets on the front fork and reversed front fork
- perhaps disc brakes are possible on the front, since I guess it shares the front fork with the quest?
- minimal setup and extra part sourcing
- possibly lighter since no heavy steel front-fork conversion brackets required
- can use any mountain bike wheels with quick release, without axle rebuild
Pluses for conversion (I have a conversion not a softrider)
- cheaper, especially if you have nice components and/or donor bike looking for use
- satisfaction (if you like working on bikes).
My conversion has carried me for a little over 2000km in the last 3 months. I commute 23 km each way daily, flat but about 15 stops (bike path with various stupid chicanes, tight footbridges, nasty loose gravel etc), It weighs a LOT (the donor bike was heavy). A lighter bike would save me some time every day, so it's on my mind!
cheers,
Hamish
I did a "cheap" conversion, using a donor which I bought second hand for $100 (new zealand) - and at that it was even overpriced. But I used nice (very old shimano XTR) components and wheels from an unused mountain bike i had sitting around.
Although the conversion kit is cheap, you do still need to buy a few things and muck around to get things sorted. For example, you will need to buy a couple of bits of brake and gear cable housing, and it you're starting with a higher end frame, most likely it has an integrated seatpost / seat clamp (i.e. the clamp on top of the seatpost is integrated with the post, as opposed to "old style" where it's a straight post with a bit of a taper at the top and a separate clamp assembly.) The cruzbike conversion requires a plain seatpost - the second of those two alternatives I just described. My donor frame post didn't suit. Bike manufacturers come up with a zillion different seatpost sizes. My donor frame was a fairly large size - and plain posts were not available for it, so I had to buy a shim as well.
I found those sort of components, as well as some great and cheap mirrors, on an ebay store called "sky ride". Really cheap and free postage (or ridiculously cheap if not free). So the extra bits were not expensive, just more mucking around.
When factoing price difference of a softrider and a conversion kit, keep in mind that the freight on a conversion kit might not be a whole lot less than a softrider. To ship my conversion kit to New Zealand was annoyingly expensive.
The conversion requires rebuilding the old front wheel with a longer axle and new cones and spacers so that it will fit in the rear dropouts of the donor frame. (front fork dropouts on mtb are 100mm, rear dropouts are 135mm). So no quick release on the rear wheel (it must be bolted). I hate having to carry a spanner just to cover the risk of a flat tire. The softrider is however, properly sized front and rear so that you can use any set of (rim brake, I'm not sure if there are or are not disc brake mounts on a softrider - . Anyone??) 26" wheels without modification. I really wish I could have quick release on the rear (old front wheel) and disc brakes on my conversion. It's not so much the stopping power but rather the convenience of adjustment and not wearing out rims that I like for disc brakes.
So the pluses for softrider are
- nice paintjob
- no bodgy-looking (and actually a little heavy) brackets on the front fork and reversed front fork
- perhaps disc brakes are possible on the front, since I guess it shares the front fork with the quest?
- minimal setup and extra part sourcing
- possibly lighter since no heavy steel front-fork conversion brackets required
- can use any mountain bike wheels with quick release, without axle rebuild
Pluses for conversion (I have a conversion not a softrider)
- cheaper, especially if you have nice components and/or donor bike looking for use
- satisfaction (if you like working on bikes).
My conversion has carried me for a little over 2000km in the last 3 months. I commute 23 km each way daily, flat but about 15 stops (bike path with various stupid chicanes, tight footbridges, nasty loose gravel etc), It weighs a LOT (the donor bike was heavy). A lighter bike would save me some time every day, so it's on my mind!
cheers,
Hamish
Conversion story
I'd second Hamish's experience. I have a conversion that I've completed by utilising a ladies hard tail MTB I found in the hard waste pile of a neighbour. The bike is a little heavy (budget!!!!) and I've had to modify several things to get it to fit. To get the kit to Australia cost more than it should have which would have been easier to deal with if I had bought the Sofrider or spoken to Kim Tolhurst first. Looking back, I should have gone with the Sofrider, but because I'm on a budget and I like to tinker I've had fun dealing with the conversion and all of the nuances associated with it. I'm keeping my eye out for a kerb-side Cr-Mo framed MTB to get the weight down and a bmx layback seatpost. Meanwhile I'm enjoying cruzing bent and blasting the other MTB riders off the road on my daily commute.
Either way, what you don't really get prepared for is all of the looks, comments and questions related to riding bent. The best comment I've had is "you looked like you owned the road as you were riding along".
Here's to owning the road!
BTW, with a child seat on the back, my son thinks that it's the best thing around because he can see over my shoulders.
I'd second Hamish's experience. I have a conversion that I've completed by utilising a ladies hard tail MTB I found in the hard waste pile of a neighbour. The bike is a little heavy (budget!!!!) and I've had to modify several things to get it to fit. To get the kit to Australia cost more than it should have which would have been easier to deal with if I had bought the Sofrider or spoken to Kim Tolhurst first. Looking back, I should have gone with the Sofrider, but because I'm on a budget and I like to tinker I've had fun dealing with the conversion and all of the nuances associated with it. I'm keeping my eye out for a kerb-side Cr-Mo framed MTB to get the weight down and a bmx layback seatpost. Meanwhile I'm enjoying cruzing bent and blasting the other MTB riders off the road on my daily commute.
Either way, what you don't really get prepared for is all of the looks, comments and questions related to riding bent. The best comment I've had is "you looked like you owned the road as you were riding along".
Here's to owning the road!
BTW, with a child seat on the back, my son thinks that it's the best thing around because he can see over my shoulders.
Doug Burton
Zen MBB Master
Conversions can have rear quick releases, too...
... I list some parts for this here:
http://www.cruzbike.com/conversions-axles-hubs-quick-releases-and-adapter-brackets.
There's not much (other than front disc brakes) that you can't do with a conversion kit.
The Sofrider fork has tabs for front disc brakes, there is a pattern you can download from the Sofrider product page to make your own rear disc brake adapter tab.
Cheers,
Doug
... I list some parts for this here:
http://www.cruzbike.com/conversions-axles-hubs-quick-releases-and-adapter-brackets.
There's not much (other than front disc brakes) that you can't do with a conversion kit.
The Sofrider fork has tabs for front disc brakes, there is a pattern you can download from the Sofrider product page to make your own rear disc brake adapter tab.
Cheers,
Doug
Doug Burton
Zen MBB Master
Oops...
Let's try the right blog post:
http://www.cruzbike.com/putting-drive-wheel-front
Let's try the right blog post:
http://www.cruzbike.com/putting-drive-wheel-front
thanks hamish, ian, doug -
thanks hamish, ian, doug -
?i think i'm leaning towards the sofrider - time is a factor for me; i think i would sooner ride than muck! And then there is this weight issue - it seems like conversions are going to be 5 - 10 lbs heavier which seems like a significant drawback. the one issue with the sofrider is gearing which i would probably have to modify. thanks again.
thanks hamish, ian, doug -
?i think i'm leaning towards the sofrider - time is a factor for me; i think i would sooner ride than muck! And then there is this weight issue - it seems like conversions are going to be 5 - 10 lbs heavier which seems like a significant drawback. the one issue with the sofrider is gearing which i would probably have to modify. thanks again.
hamishbarker
Well-Known Member
Given that the only component
Given that the only component differences for a softrider to a conversion really are that the rear (old front) axle is usually solid not quick release, and that the front fork of a softrider doesn't use the steel brackets and hoseclamps (I guess perhaps at most 500 grams difference). I don't know exactly how the softrider seat is secured to the top tube - probably couple of M6 bolts rather than the long hoseclamps of the conversion.
I would think that the weight of a conversion of equal frame, wheel and component spec shouldn't be more than 500-1000 grams heavier than a softrider. The main reason my conversion is so heavy is that it started with a very low quality aluminium full suspension frame. I did weigh it but can't remember now how much it was as a bare frame! I think the donor bike as I picked it up might have been 16kg. With the windrap front fairing and full fenders and 1.75" tires (I have a coupl of km gravel/mud section on my daily commute) my conversion is 19kg (42 lbs). It would be nice to start with a lighter frame but I'll chug on with this one.
Given that the only component differences for a softrider to a conversion really are that the rear (old front) axle is usually solid not quick release, and that the front fork of a softrider doesn't use the steel brackets and hoseclamps (I guess perhaps at most 500 grams difference). I don't know exactly how the softrider seat is secured to the top tube - probably couple of M6 bolts rather than the long hoseclamps of the conversion.
I would think that the weight of a conversion of equal frame, wheel and component spec shouldn't be more than 500-1000 grams heavier than a softrider. The main reason my conversion is so heavy is that it started with a very low quality aluminium full suspension frame. I did weigh it but can't remember now how much it was as a bare frame! I think the donor bike as I picked it up might have been 16kg. With the windrap front fairing and full fenders and 1.75" tires (I have a coupl of km gravel/mud section on my daily commute) my conversion is 19kg (42 lbs). It would be nice to start with a lighter frame but I'll chug on with this one.
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Hamish is right. If you
Hamish is right. If you start with a ligher frame, you can get a lighter conversion that a Sofrider.
A conversion doesn't take that much time to build. That being said, if you want a Sofrider, it's a fine choice. Of your two proposed options, you really can't go wrong.
Hamish is right. If you start with a ligher frame, you can get a lighter conversion that a Sofrider.
A conversion doesn't take that much time to build. That being said, if you want a Sofrider, it's a fine choice. Of your two proposed options, you really can't go wrong.
thanks guys - i see there are
thanks guys - i see there are a few sofrider & conversion possibilities on the buy / sell upgrade forum. maybe i'll see if i can snag something there to keep my initial investment low so i can go with the silvio downstream if my mind and body gives me the okay!
thanks guys - i see there are a few sofrider & conversion possibilities on the buy / sell upgrade forum. maybe i'll see if i can snag something there to keep my initial investment low so i can go with the silvio downstream if my mind and body gives me the okay!
