Soul Cycles is small enough you’ve probably never heard of them, but their philosophy, like their products, is big. They believe in affordable, high quality, versatile products. For example, the two frames they currently offer, the Hero dirtjump frame and Dillinger 29er frame, come with features such as: both singlespeed and derailleur hanger dropouts, conventional EBBs with titanium set screws, sliding rear dropouts, IS disc mounts, Easton 7005 Ultralight tubing, etc. and sell for under $450.
Soul Cycles also offers some pretty ways to add a little color to your existing ride with their variously colored eccentric bottom brackets, seat clamps and more. Ride through the break for details on their full array of products.
I’ve been riding their Dillinger 29er frame for about four years now and I can attest that they put their money where their mouth is. Customer service has been impeccable with fast, direct responses from Chad or Chris at every inquiry.
The frame is a very efficient pedaler thanks to big caterpillar welds and Easton Ultralight 7005 tubing, yet it’s compliant enough to be ridden for the long haul (I’ve completed a few 100 milers on mine). The rear end is possibly the stiffest I’ve ever been on thanks to oversized wishbone stays and it has plenty of tire clearance. I’ve run mine both geared and single speed with no complaints.
The earlier generations aren’t the most nimble on the market, but far from the most sluggish and they’ve tightened that up a bit for the 5th generation frames with shorter chainstays and two top tube length options on the 18 inch frame. Further changes include new graphics, 74mm rear post brake mounts and a tapered head tube to match their forthcoming carbon fork.
The Hero is Soul Cycles’ slick looking dirt jump frame. Just like the mullet you wish you were rockin’ on the dirt track, this thing is versatile: business up front, party in the back. Let’s start with the party.
Not only does it include single speed and geared dropouts like its big brother the Dillinger, and sliding rear dropouts with titanium set screws, the Hero also can also be used with a 10mm axle or a 12mm maxle (see below). The Hero boasts a flex free rear thanks to “straight gauge extra thick chain and seat stays anchored to a custom CNC machined yoke.” And moving up towards the business side of things, it has an 05 standard ISCG mount. The front triangle is made from Easton FS 7005 aluminum and ties into a 1.5 headtube that Soul Cycles claims “allow[s] for the use of every fork steer tube specification on the market along with options for zero stack or traditional height headsets.”
Here are the aforementioned Maxle inserts in a variety of colors for the party side of your Hero.
Next up we have the suspension corrected, 1 1/8″ 4130 CrMo, Dillinger 29er fork. With clearance for 2.5″ tires, 74 mm post brake mounts and a svelt $99 price tag (even less for blems) it’s not a bad way to try out a rigid front end. Soul Cycles is also currently working on a tappered head tube carbon version.
Looking for an aftermarket EBB? These pretty little pieces of hardware weigh in at 159 grams, are forged from a single piece of 6061 aluminum, are anodized in ever changing colors and “can be used on any frame that features a 54.5mm inner diameter frame shell with a 68mm width.” Unfortunately, they don’t ship with the snazzy titanium set screws found on Soul Cycles frames.
They also offer annodized seat clamps (size 34.9 only) — annodized in four colors at a mere seven bucks, simple. Ride Soul.
