Arthritis in Wrists- road bike w/ suspension?

Darcey13

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

ugo.santalucia

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

I've looked at that in the past... there were a few problems I seem to recall, but in theory it is possible. As a first move I would start by fitting 28 mm or bigger tyres and run them at 60 PSI. Then try to plan for routes around roads with decent surface

wittetulp

wouldn't those armrests they seem to use in time trials work for you? they'd take the pressure of the wrists. or are elbows affected as well.

Crankbrother

Cannondale Quick with a Headshock? Flatbar same as you have and can take slick(ish) tyres ...

My gf rides a 'dale Badboy with 28mm tyres and can do 60+ mile rides at around 16-17mph ... and she doesn't ride a whole lot ...

TheEnglishman

I'm sure you've thought about this but how about a recumbent? I'm not sure front suspension is going to be that much more comfortable.

willbevan

I crushed my right wrist joint in a crash a few years ago and in a few more years are probably going to have to get it fused.

What I've done to avoid pain is carbon wing style bars with carbon stem, double wrapped and also with gel inserts underneath.

Really damped the road and made it bearable.

samsbike

back in the retrodays they used to do a quill stem, girvin I think, that had some sort of suspension in it. You may want to see if something is still available, retrobike.co.uk, is a good site and then do the change

Monty Dog

There were two suspension stems back-in-the-day - Girvin Flexstem or Softride. Neither no longer made so retrobike would be a good place to look.

jessand

I've sent you a PM