Suspension seat posts

[monkeyspanner]

This topic has probably been covered before but i want to look at peoples preferences regarding suspension seat posts and why and what made them choose the particular post as well as the terrain ridden on.

[Cugel]

This topic has probably been covered before but i want to look at peoples preferences regarding suspension seat posts and why and what made them choose the particular post as well as the terrain ridden on.

Suspension in seat posts and stems can and does make a difference, especially to long distance rides and to rides over rough surfaces. There are many options.

My own experience is that a long carbon seat post helps but that those with some additional built-in "compliance" gubbins can work better. I've used a Specialized COBL_GOBL seatpost and the ladywife uses a Redshift spring-loaded seatpost.

The former has noticeable effects but nowhere near as good as those from the Redshift - although the Redshift needs tuning to your weight whilst the COBL_GOBL is a single setting built-in.

I also use a Redshift suspension stem on most bikes and these too make a significant difference to the comfort of the mits over long and especially scabby-gravel roads. Both seatposts and stems work on roughish gravel roads - not the sort of suspension provided on MTBs but rather just muters of the jarring otherwise transmitted through the frame, seat and bars by rough surfaces.

None of them beat big fat tyres at low pressure, though.

*******
This website has a lot of info.

https://www.cyclingabout.com/category/comfort-lab/

It isn't entirely clear how much manufacturer sponsorship is behind the scenes but the articles seem well written and the benefits argued for rather than just extolled.

PS I've also discovered that carbon handlebars can make a significant improvement to the comfort of the front end. I've only tried two bars of carbon fibre but both saw immediate and obvious improvements over the alloy bars they replaced. One was a Planet X Italian brand bought a decade ago and the others are: Deda Gera DCR Carbon Gravel Handlebars (currently 54% off at Merlin but still stupidly expensive at £150).

[531colin]

This topic has probably been covered before but i want to look at peoples preferences regarding suspension seat posts and why and what made them choose the particular post as well as the terrain ridden on.

Set your riding position properly and you don't need suspension seatposts and stems.

[pq]

You don't say what sort of riding you do. On road if your bike is particularly unforgiving that can be a problem but the best solution is rather bike specific. My preference is to fit bigger tyres but of course that's not always possible. I have bikes with quite compliant carbon seatpins, but those only make a difference if you have a lot of seatpin showing. You can buy seatpins designed to flex - google it, and you'll find a bunch of lab tests. I wouldn't use actual suspension on road though. Off road and the case for suspension is much stronger, but that also depends what sort of riding you do. I'm thinking about getting a red shift stem because where I live a lot of trails are on bedrock which can be quite uncomfortable. But I'm only considering that having already fitted 50mm tyres. I may get a more compliant seatpin, but don't feel like I need actual suspension. Without more info it's not really possible to say more than that.

[Cugel]

This topic has probably been covered before but i want to look at peoples preferences regarding suspension seat posts and why and what made them choose the particular post as well as the terrain ridden on.

Set your riding position properly and you don't need suspension seatposts and stems.

You might not but you are not a universal model of all cyclists.

[Manc33]

Don't get a telescopic (cheap) one. I got the Suntour SP12 NCX. Not cheap but makes a huge difference. Has 50mm travel and never bottoms out. Why I got it - potholes. My bike is 60lbs and I am 180lbs so going over a pothole at the rear is quite the bump.

[roubaixtuesday]

Mrs Tuesday swears by the parallelogram design thudbuster for the back of the tandem. Far better than the previous vertical one apparently.

Reassuringly expensive new, but ours now for sale cheap as we had to replace the tandem and it didn't fit the new one.

Pm me if interested.

[PH]

I've put a short travel (ST) Thudbuster on my E-bike and it transformed it, I couldn't believe how so little travel could make such a big difference. Mostly urban riding, non cycling clothes, long days, sometimes working with a lot of on and off the bike. Was recommended this one and my only other experience was a cheap telescopic which came with a hybrid bike and was useless. I haven't tried any on my non assisted bikes, I'm comfortable on those without, but was getting uncomfortable on the E-bike.

[rogerzilla]

Saddle to BB height is critical. 5mm makes a noticeable difference to pedalling efficiency and comfort. Any type of suspension that varies it is a ridiculous concept, sorry.

[531colin]

Exactly!
Set the saddle position critically, that’s fore and aft as well as height. Once you have done that, ride for a bit, then if you still fancy trying a suspension post, give it a go.
It’s pointless trying to use a suspension post to overcome a poor riding position. I’m driven to alter my saddle height when I change shoes, the shoe soles may be 5mm different thickness, at a guess.
The back of a tandem is a different thing, a tandem moves differently and the stoker can’t see the road/track ahead.

[531colin]

This topic has probably been covered before but i want to look at peoples preferences regarding suspension seat posts and why and what made them choose the particular post as well as the terrain ridden on.

Set your riding position properly and you don't need suspension seatposts and stems.

You might not but you are not a universal model of all cyclists.

And you know a man who is?

[monkeyspanner]

Thank you for the replies.
I took my bike out for the first time in a few years last time was about 2018 / 2019 , i spent two months stripping it down and re building it .
What was to be a short jaunt up a small country lane for a test of about 500 mts turned into a track bash through a forest area and out onto another country lane. All of the lanes are not smooth, small pot holes stones and undulations. The last approx 500mts was down hill to a main road junction and if not braking would have easily gone beyond what i felt was a safe speed limit for me and the bike!.
On that section the vibrations at speed were really quite brutal, but no big pot holes just a rough surface. All in all about 2 KM of varied suspension abuse.
Hence my interest in a system that can hopefully take the brunt of the worst of it .

[gregoryoftours]

Set your riding position properly and you don't need suspension seatposts and stems.

You might not but you are not a universal model of all cyclists.

And you know a man who is?

"Set your riding position properly and you don't need suspension seatposts and stems"

This person, by the sounds of it.

[Cugel]

Set your riding position properly and you don't need suspension seatposts and stems.

You might not but you are not a universal model of all cyclists.

And you know a man who is?

There's no such creature. Different strokes for different folks are required. For example, you may have a nerve-depleted nether with added callous whilst mine is very sensitive and should not be bruised, pummeled, smacked or otherwise abused. I blame Mrs Biggs at the junior school, her and her gym slipper!

[Cugel]

Saddle to BB height is critical. 5mm makes a noticeable difference to pedalling efficiency and comfort. Any type of suspension that varies it is a ridiculous concept, sorry.

A suspension seat post generally keeps you at your required saddle height (after adjustment for its initial sink as you sit on it) and only varies the height momentarily when you hit a bump, pothole, large gravel scab or other ersekicker. You don't notice the momentary changed heights except as a lack of bumpunch.

Best to try a thing before dismissing it out of hand.