Suspension seat post on road bike?
Ian.B
Posts: 732
I was wondering if anyone uses a suspension seatpost on their road bike? Would it be a good idea for a dodgy back, or what would be the disadvantages? Any recommendations? Or would I be as well off with something like this, which has some sort of dampeners?
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure/ProductDetails.aspx?FamilyID=749
Ian
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/secure/ProductDetails.aspx?FamilyID=749
Ian
0
Posts
My initial reaction would be that if cycling is making it worse there are far more effective things to do than get a suspension seatpost - get the bike fully fitted being one.
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
The principle is relevant to back probs though - the original carbon rear-triangles on bikes were developed for a pro with back problems. I think the idea is that the sharp shocks through a stiff frame can cause muscles to spasm, blah. Hence, damp them out a little.
Cane Creek do a full on suspension post. The brand "Use" do some good ones too. The down side is that the tube-in-tube ones are supposed to have some initial resistance, which kind of defeats the purpose for you. The Cane Creek one changes the effective setback of teh post slightly as it moves. They all change the saddle height, obviously.
LiT is right that bike position is worth looking at first, although even a lot of pros use stock frame sizes, so custom isn't necessarly.... um.... necessary. I'm sure you know this, but there are also stretches/strengthening excersises that can help the body get used to the horror that is a cycling position.
Erm yes, sorry, wasn't really expressing myself very clearly there! What I meant was take yourself and your bike to a decent bike shop and get them to fit it to you - adjusting stem height, bar angle, seat height, that sort of thing, even swapping out a stem for instance. A good fit should leave you with a set of measurements to take away and hopefully help with your back problems.
There are various places that do that - where are you based?
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
Ian, I've researched this issue a number of times, many people buy suss posts because of dodgy backs, the majority of people that have bought them swear by them.
The posts take the knocks instead of your spine.
BUT , there are a lot of censored ones out there that will seize or fall to bits within a year, you will have to spend a bit of money ( £50-£120) to get a decent one.
I googled ,"Cycle/bike suspension seat posts reviews" , I read all the reviews and I narrowed my choice down to 2 .... this was last year, I didn't bother .... and I've forgotten which ones I picked
Never mind, something to keep you busy
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If it's larger bumps causing you problems, then a suspension post may well help. It would be easier and cheaper to learn to stand up on the bike and use your legs to absorb the bumps though...
This has not been my experience. Do you actually have a suspension seat post? They are very effective indeed. They are adjustable to match your weight and the comfort you desire. They not only cushion you against being battered by larger bumps AND smaller vibration but they also reduce problems down under in the nether regions as well meaning you can ride for longer and further without discomfort. If I go out on my road training bike without putting the suspension seat post on after 70 miles I'm walking like a crab on hot stones, whereas 75-80 miles with it fitted is a breeze. I currently have a KF silver finish one but need another as I have several bikes. I'm looking at USE as they seem to get the best write ups and hype.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
tbh if you're having problems then it's down to poor set up and/or the wrong saddle. When I first got my weekend bike, I doggedly stuck with the saddle it came with and it killed me on a 100 mile ride. I had numb plumbs for nearly two days :shock: Now I've swapped to the saddle on my commuter I can do 100 miles plus with no problems at all, in fact this weekend I spent over 7 hours in the saddle and came away without any soreness at all.
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It ain't a full on roadie but it's moreso than a standard hybrid.
ANYWAY there are still the odd unavoidable bits of nasty road which are just plain rough, or with potholes / badly-filled cabling-troughs right across the road. Sometimes I forget and end up flying over them with bum still on saddle.
Two things I got to make myself more comfortable:
- a couple of strong sports bras!
- a seat post with some suspension (stolen from my old sit-up-and-beg)
It's taken me a while to get the seat-post adjustment right, but I think I've /just/ hit it. The rough bits are no longer so vibratey, and the surprise potholes no longer leave me with a black eye..!
Will try one final adjustment in the softer direction just to give it a go, but I suspect too much further and the seat post will start to squish as I sit on it, or bounce me up and down too much.
Rich158 I don't know who you are specifically directing your post/rant at but I don't have problems. Too much info regarding your plums though.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
Alot of it, as said above, is about posistion on the bike. If you get properly fitted and adjusted, then you'll maximise comfort (and performance too!!!).
Sick to the power of rad
Fix it 'till it's broke
Ian
I'm not quite sure I'd call it a rant. I was merely making the point that a suspension seatpost is not a quick fix for a poorly set up bike and the wrong saddle. Get the bike set up correctly, and the right saddle for you, and then if you're still having problems by all means consider a suspension seatpost for a bit of extra comfort, but using it to mask problems rather than solving them could actually do you more damage in the long term.
Believe me I could have gone into far more detail about the state of my nether regions after 100 miles on that saddle, but modesty forbids
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I wouldn't have thought it offers the came cushioning as a decent suspension seat post. It might be the next piece of must have pro kit but not for me I'm afraid an everyday plodder.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
The thing I find is that after a bit of practice I now automatically transfer my weight to my feet and away from my bum when I see bumps coming, or the very second the front wheel hits something lumpy.
Whether a suspension seatpost would be just as effective as doing that I don't know, but in the meantime I'm going to stay in the 'get the bike correctly fitted' camp.
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
+1
Learning to adapt your body position to take into account road surface etc is all part of learning to ride a bike, and ultimately you'll be a better, safer rider for it.
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Clearly when I see them coming, I also adjust my position.
Also the very rough patches of road (old tarmac where all the hard large stones have remained and the rest eroded down) are much much smoother with a little bit of suspension.
I know... that's why I said
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
In my experience there are very few surprise lumps and bumps, although they do exist. That's where the ability to ride 'softly' comes in, if you're ready to adjust your body position at a moments notice you can generally soak up any bump as LiT says.
I do agree however that they'll take the sting out of a really rough road surface, after all that's what they were designed for, albeit for mountain bikes rather than road use.
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My point:
I have a suspended seat post, which I find very useful, not being the absolute perfect cyclist.
Maybe one day I'll decide I don't need it any more, but for now it offers me more comfort when occasionally I am a tiny wee bit surprised by something lumpy under my wheels.
Surely this is allowed? And I am entirely sure my bike fits me, after myriad adjustments.
Those with lower back problem will often have difficulty with muscle control, tensing leg muscles to cushion poor road surfaces can often lead to lower back muscle spasms.
Back problems are the biggest cause of absenteeism, many cyclists with the condition will often find the only thing they can do is turn the pedals, 'riding light' is often not an option.
Everyone (and it will affect most people at some stage) that has lower (or upper) back problems will appreciate the situation.
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i find i am more likely to crash though things on the big hybrid than when out for a spin on old red. thats more that it's a work horse so i don't treat it with kindness and sometimes i want to hold a line though traffic that on a roadie i'd probably go around than though. this said i've years as a muddy rocky MTB sort of folk so going light etc is wired in for me.
and yes your allowed much like the pants thingy.
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