Suspension seat post on a roadie (SCR 2)

chronyx
chronyx Posts: 455
edited April 2011 in Workshop
I am considering getting a suspension seatpost for my SCR, to soften the road bumps that are common round here now.

Is something like a Thudbuster suitable? The reviews on Chain Reaction Cycles mention 'hardtails' which has to mean MTB's.

Any experiences/comments welcome. :)
2007 Giant SCR2 - 'BFG'

Gone but not forgotten!:
2005 Specialized Hardrock Sport - 'Red Rocket'

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Try fitting the fattest tyres you can and drop the pressure. Whilst suspension posts help with the big hits IME, they don't really help with the 'buzz'. I had one fitted to a bike a few years ago but eventually sold it.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • chronyx
    chronyx Posts: 455
    Thanks Monty Dog. What would you say the lowest safe PSI is for Gatorskinz? The max is 120.
    2007 Giant SCR2 - 'BFG'

    Gone but not forgotten!:
    2005 Specialized Hardrock Sport - 'Red Rocket'
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Depends on your weight, I weigh 55kg and run 80psi quite often with no problems.
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • chronyx
    chronyx Posts: 455
    82KG - so around 100? :)
    2007 Giant SCR2 - 'BFG'

    Gone but not forgotten!:
    2005 Specialized Hardrock Sport - 'Red Rocket'
  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Depends, if you are plowing though potholes then at lower pressures you may risk pinch flats or dinging your rim, but if you pick a line around the worst ones you should get away with 90psi or so, especially if you get some 28c or bigger tyres. Not sure how fat you can go on an SCR.
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • chronyx
    chronyx Posts: 455
    Thanks l33ter!
    2007 Giant SCR2 - 'BFG'

    Gone but not forgotten!:
    2005 Specialized Hardrock Sport - 'Red Rocket'
  • pete.whelan
    pete.whelan Posts: 788
    you could always get one of those Specialized seatposts with the Zertz inserts. My wifes loves it on her road bike, takes the little shocks away and no weight penalty
    Recipe: shave legs sparingly, rub in embrocation and drizzle with freshly squeezed baby oil.
  • winel0rd
    winel0rd Posts: 9
    I've got the same bike as you. chronyx.
    I'm 83 kg and run my tyres at 100psi- much more comfortable than 120psi.
  • chronyx
    chronyx Posts: 455
    Brilliant, well I'll start with the free fix and hopefully that'll do the trick. :D

    Thanks again! :)
    2007 Giant SCR2 - 'BFG'

    Gone but not forgotten!:
    2005 Specialized Hardrock Sport - 'Red Rocket'
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    Thudbusters can be used, but they use a fair bit of height so they are no good if your saddle is too low.
    Suspension seatposts are quite common on the back of tandems - the stoker is more above the rear wheel than on a solo, and also can't see the potholes coming to unweight the saddle.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    I've got a suspension seat post on my road commuter. It does help soften the ride for a delicate back like mine.

    Not sure what make it is, I nicked it off the wife's mountain bike that she doesn't use any more. Like Andrew_S says there is a fair amount of gubbins at the top of the post which means there is a limit to how low you can have it. This is not a problem on an MTB as you tend to need a long seat post but on a traditional flat top tube road bike like mean I have it as low as it will go.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    You can soften your seatpost or harden your bum... personally after having ridden belgian and french cobbles, I don't see the point of having more padding/suspension... the parts of your body that bear the consequences of rough roads are mostly arms and shoulders... never had a problem with my bum
    left the forum March 2023

Categories