Soul Cycles Hero

Soul Cycles new dirt jumper has the potential to make everyone a "Hero" at an affordable price.

When Chad at approached me with the idea of producing a DJ frame, my first response was “It'll have to be something special if it's going to have a chance in the market.” since in the DJ world, 99% of the bikes are very very similar, a half degree here, a half degree there and very minut adjustments in geometry make all the difference whether or not the bike is spot on, or extremely awkward. With some input from local riders and Chads relentless attention to detail, Soul Cycles new “Hero” DJ/4x/Urban bike shines above the rest with the quality and features of much more expensive framesets.

Starting with a foundation of “what works” with other DJ frames, Soul Cycles was able to create a bike which is light, flickable and insanely fast. While most other DJ manufacturers use 4130 or 750 Chromoly steel for their framesets, Soul Cycles chose to go with alloy, Easton FS RAD 7005 tubing to be exact, the same tubing used to manufacture high end DH bikes such as the Cove Shocker. Other design features include a 69 degree, 1.5 headtube, allowing for use of Cane Creeks Angle Set to adjust and tweak the head angle to your liking, anywhere from 67.5 to 70.5 degrees, ISCG 05 tabs and Soul Cycles own “One” drop out system which allows for 10mm, 12mm and Maxle axle options in both single speed and geared configurations.

The “One” dropout system is unique in that it allows for vertical drop outs to be used while chain tension is maintained by sliding the entire assembly forward and back. Additionally, the axle “slugs” bolt directly into the dropout plates to allow for the different axle options and the whole assembly is then bolted to the frame with 6 Ti bolts. The advantage of this setup is that it eliminates the chance for the axle to slip under load in more traditionally used horizontal drop outs. A full half inch of adjustability in the drop out assemble means that chainstay lengths ranging from 15.4 inches to 15.9 inches are possible to suit a variety of uses from short and nimble for DJ'ing and pump tracks to longer and more stable for 4x racing. Throughout the 10 months of testing the Hero, my configuration never left the fully slammed 15.4 inch setting since that at that length, you can run a 32/16 gear ratio with perfect chain tension with no need for tensioning the drop outs back.

The Hero is an amazing ride, plain and simple. Built up with a decent parts spec, my built turned in at 25.5lbs with an Argyle 409 running at 100mm up front making for a bike light enough to man handle around all while inspiring confidence in how naturally balanced the bike feels. Over the past 10 months it has become the official bike of the “Fish Bowl” pump track here in Phoenix AZ with 5 other Fish Bowl regulars having purchased Hero frames after spending time on mine, ever week the bike rack is packed with Heros. The ultra stiff Easton aluminum frame makes for a bike that accelerates like a bat out of hell through rollers and berms and has proven to be durable even with it being used and abused by many of the AZFReeride crew every week at the pump track. All this, while coming in at less than half what some other high end DJ frames retail for (Frameset MSRP $349)

As for geometry and sizing, the Hero comes in 2 sizes, short (20.9 inches actual TT, 21.5 inches effective TT) and regular (22 inches actual TT, 22.6 inches effective). Both sizes feature a 72.5 degree, 13.5 inch seat tube making for a 28.4 inch standover height on both. Both sizes also feature a 12.4 inch bottom bracket height. All these numbers combine to make for an incredible bike from a local Arizona company.

Build Specs:

Soul Cycles Hero Frame
t;Rock Shox Argyle 409 Fork
Race Face Atlas AM 170mm Crankset
e.thirteen 32t Chainring
Black-Ops Torqlite UL Pedals
Chris King 1.5 Devolution Headset
DMR Revolver SS Rear Hub0
Atomlab Pimp 20mm Front Hub
Spank Tweet Tweet Rims
Halo Aura White Spokes
Multi Colored Nipples
Clarks Skeletal 185mm Brake - Front
Clarks Skeletal 185mm Brake - Rear
Clarks Green Hydro Line
Spank Tweet Tweet 50mm Handlebars
Twenty6 GasCap Bar Ends
ODI Ruffian Lock On Grips
Anchor Freeride Hold Fast Stem
Thomson Elite 31.6 Seatpost
Snafu Love Seat
Geax Booze Light Prototype Tires

For more information check out Soul Cycles on the web at www.ridesoul.com

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