Arthritis in wrists -road bike w/ suspension?

Darcey13
Darcey13 Posts: 18
edited August 2012 in Workshop
I am a female with severe rheumatoid arthritis in both wrists. I currently ride a flat bar road bike. The slightest bump in the road causes unbearable pain and I've started to think about getting a bike with suspension. I really don't want to go off road and can't bear the thought of a mountain bike (all that weight). My ideal bike would be a carbon flat bar road bike with slightly thicker tyres for cushioning and a suspension fork. The Bike shops I've approached won't entertain putting a suspension fork on a road bike even though I am happy to accept full liability and the loss of warranty. Hybrids with suspension that i've looked at are not light enough as i really want a carbon frame. I wondered if anyone out there can help or advise. I have a budget of £2500.
Thanks

Comments

  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Carbon 29er hardtail MTB frame might work as a starting point. You should be able to build something pretty light from that.

    PS best not to post the same thread in different parts of the forum. :wink:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • metronome
    metronome Posts: 670
    How about a carbon xc MTB bike, with slicks?

    I have a Scale which weighs in at apx 19lbs. Okay not so light in road terms - but not bad. The geomatry is racey and with slicks it's pretty quick on the roads. Poplock easily controls fork lockout.
    tick - tick - tick
  • metronome
    metronome Posts: 670
    http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOCAR29RA ... race_frame
    WAS £799.99 NOW £567.99 SAVE 231.99
    Voucher code UK29OFF29
    tick - tick - tick
  • liquor box
    liquor box Posts: 184
    Darcey13 wrote:
    I am a female with severe rheumatoid arthritis in both wrists. I currently ride a flat bar road bike. The slightest bump in the road causes unbearable pain and I've started to think about getting a bike with suspension. I really don't want to go off road and can't bear the thought of a mountain bike (all that weight). My ideal bike would be a carbon flat bar road bike with slightly thicker tyres for cushioning and a suspension fork. The Bike shops I've approached won't entertain putting a suspension fork on a road bike even though I am happy to accept full liability and the loss of warranty. Hybrids with suspension that i've looked at are not light enough as i really want a carbon frame. I wondered if anyone out there can help or advise. I have a budget of £2500.
    Thanks
    Do you need a bike shop to do it? I would try to find someone who does bike work as a hobby and get them to build a bike with parts you supply.

    I think there was a Trek road bike with suspension, but I think it was only the rear wheel
  • yakk
    yakk Posts: 589
    http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-35648 ... encode=raw

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Bicycle- ... 0650853507

    Hi there, couldn't view the first one (at work and big brother won't let me), so not sure what is is, but if you can view it, it may be relevant. But did see a pic of the second one, which is a quill stem with a rubber grommet.
    A friend of mine has an A-head fitment mtb stem which actually has a pivot type suspension system built in to it, rather than just a grommet, but I couldn't find a pic on a brief google search. But these things do exist, so may be part of your solution.
    Best of luck with it.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    The problem is all road bike frames are not designed for the length of hybrid or 29er suspension fork. It will change the geoemtry of the frame completley and you may not like the result.

    A 29er MYB XC frameset is a good starting point and adpated it for the road but a steel framed road bike (custom build or a tourer) flexible and have good vibration damping properties. Combine with a steel fork (good one flex and asborb vibration well and have it built for large diameter tyres (at least 35c) or maybe use tubs. For the road suspion helps but vibration damping is also important.

    There can be a lot of play in the stem suspension stems. Also those carbon stems will not be full carbon. A quill stem can't be and most modern bars use a 31.8mm. 254.4 or 26.0mm carbon bars are few and far between.

    Depending on bad your artheritis is suspenion may not be your only solution.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.