Suspension Seat Post advice requested please

Nobby Sideways

When I sported a pair of legs I often used to stand up in the saddle over the bumpier bits to save my bum from a pounding. Now I'm down to one leg I can't stand in the saddle with any ease, so a friend recommended I start considering suspension seat posts.

He did mention that some of the cheaper ones can start to twist after not much riding, and its something worth spending a bit of cash on. I could potentially manufacture my own (I've seen the designs with the poly spring and the trapezium linkages, that wouldn't be too hard to knock up) but obviously the kit on the shelf has already had all the R&D done.

Can anyone recommend me a good suspension seat post to reduce the pain in the bum without transferring it to my wallet?

Cheers,

Nobby.

nicklouse

Nobby have a read and I will drop Rikk a PM as i think he will be the best to help out.

viewtopic.php?f=20013&t=12542560&p=14583023#p14583023

Nobby Sideways

Quite possibly, my amputation is a bit different as I am above knee, so I don't have my knee joint; the gentleman you mention is below knee so he can control the limb a bit better. I use a prosthetic knee so utilise an SPD on my false leg only to keep my foot on the pedal (the false leg is just a free swinging joint). Downside is I often fall off on that side as I can't catch myself!

The Cane Creek Thudbuster looks like it might suit my needs, and is actually a similar design to my knee joint!

Has anyone any experience of this? I don't know which brands are good/bad etc.

Thanks in advance for the help.

stubs

Thudbuster is a very good post. You can change the elastomers to suit your weight and they are fully rebuildable with all the parts available. Not cheap but should last a very long time.

Nobby Sideways

stubs wrote:

Thudbuster is a very good post. You can change the elastomers to suit your weight and they are fully rebuildable with all the parts available. Not cheap but should last a very long time.

Excellent, thanks for the advice. Typically doing research has just raised more questions: I do stop mid trail to drop the post for stuff I don't feel too confident on, but jack it right up for road sections. So should I be looking for a dropper? GAH! Too much choice!

Thanks for the advice gents.

stubs

Nobby Sideways wrote:

stubs wrote:

Thudbuster is a very good post. You can change the elastomers to suit your weight and they are fully rebuildable with all the parts available. Not cheap but should last a very long time.

Excellent, thanks for the advice. Typically doing research has just raised more questions: I do stop mid trail to drop the post for stuff I don't feel too confident on, but jack it right up for road sections. So should I be looking for a dropper? GAH! Too much choice!

Thanks for the advice gents.

Dropper posts are good but dont have any suspension. Its a choice you have to make comfort or convenience. Dont know what bike you have but if you go for the dropper post you could try fitting the fattest tyres you can squeeze in a 2.25 and bigger tyre makes a huge difference to the amount of trail buzz you will feel. For even more flex from the tyres you could go tubeless though I have tried tubeless and personally didnt like it but dont let that put you off its a personal choice.

Nobby Sideways

Good advice, thanks. For the record I'm riding (don't laugh) a Hardtail, a 2012 Specialized Hardrock Disc. Only mods are SPD on right pedal and a DMR V8 on the left, a few hope shiny things I had on an old bike (skewers, seat clamp, Head Doctor etc), a slightly longer stem and some DMR grips. I've heard bad things about the front fork on this bike (Suntour) but to be honest I don't think I do anything that really pushes it. I do trails but nothing really grotty, and I am very slow.

As for the comfort vs dropper post I think I might go comfort. I spend too long sat in the saddle. I perhaps should have gone full sus but it would have been massive overkill for my type of riding.

stubs

Nothing wrong with the bike or the fork there are better bikes but they all come with a bigger price tag.

Dont know what size tyre would fit but as long as you can get a finger between the tread and the frame you could try different types. Bigger volume tyres dont slow you down despite what a lot of people think, go for a folding kevlar bead tyre there lighter and nearly always more supple than wire bead ones.

Another thing that can help bum comfort is saddles you dont need to go for fat foam stuffed ones a thinner more flexible type can often be more comfortable. They have chassis that flex and its a bit like sitting on a hammock.

Get yourself some good padded undershorts and dont wear your undies they are supposed to be worn next to the skin. Also bum cream helps stop chafing you can just try some nappy cream from the chemist or spend a fortune for special stuff in fancy tubes which is just nappy cream in a fancy package.

Nobby Sideways

Really learning something today! I'll look into the tyres: sounds like a cheap option, I have to say the standard saddle that came with the bike is one of the best I have tried. I must have just the right size arse!

Chafing on the prosthetic limb has been a problem in the past but I must have the fit about right as it seems ok at the moment.

stubs

Saddles are totally specific to the bum. I use an On one Big Nose saddle bought because it was cheap (£10) and available but it turned out to be the most comfy saddle my fat backside has ever bounced on. The most uncomfy saddle I ever tried was the most expensive I felt like I would have been more comfy sitting on a hot barbecue.

Roostoids

A buddy of mine rides a hardtail and has a thudbuster seatpost.

He really likes it and it does take the jolt out of bumpy stuf without flicking him off the saddle.

He reported that the trajectory of the elastomer moves you further from the handlebars but not masively so. he very quickly adjusted to it.

He has a regular seatpost but prefers the thudbuster and reccomends it.

rikk

Hi there, Nick sent me a PM to look in

You should have no problem standing up on the pedals although it may involve getting the strength back in the glutes on the amp side. You will not be able to pedal while standing up mind unless you invested some serious cash in a bartlett tendon http://leftsideinc.com/
But you really NEED to get working on those muscles to allow you to stand up, best way is tin leg forward, good leg back. Otherwise every tiny trail detail will be a show stopper and going any speed and hitting an obstacle will have you off.

I know it's a large step but I'd swap the hardtail for a full sus, you need the bike to take out as much of the trail as possible and the hardtail will make things VERY difficult. Get a decent chunk of travel and run it soft.

A dropper post is really the way to go as you can drop it on the fly when getting to dodgy stuff, but mainly you'll use it for getting started, you've probably already found it's a little hard to stop and get going as you need to lean the bike over a lot, on rough terrain it can be all but impossible. Drop the post to come to a stop and the bikes almost upright, once your moving pop it up for full power, it really is a necessity for MTB, road not so much as you don't stop much.

Big tyres are also good, as they'll give another layer of suspension and also you can run them soft so they will conform to roots, bumps etc and make getting over them MUCH easier.

Not sure what knee you have but it would be worth getting a neoprene shock protector and wrapping it around the knee when out and about, it will stop water, grit, dirt getting into it which the limb centre will start to get VERY uppity about after a few times.

Any questions fire away

..........Rikk

Nobby Sideways

Cheers gents. Still undecided: might hold fire for a bit and see what annoys me more: thumps in the bum or getting off to change my seat height!

I should clarify I can stand on the pedals, what I can't do is pedal whilst standing. I'm told that its bad practice anyway (don't know how much truth there is in that) so maybe its for the best!

The neoprene sleeve around the knee is a good call: I frequently pop dampers so it wouldn't hurt to get some protection to keep the crud out.

rikk

AHA, that makes more sense
In that case def go for the dropper as you should be standing going over anything rough anyway and the suspension seat post won't change that, as I mentioned also get the biggest tyres you can and run them about 20psi, it will take out a lot of the bumps and make getting over obstacles and through mud/slippery stuff MUCH easier as you can't stand and pedal. You can use slime tubes or go for tubeless to save getting flats as well.

Yep the only way you'll be able to pedal standing is with a tendon or if there still available anywhere a RotoR crank.

Nobby Sideways

Brilliant, thanks Rikk. I will start saving for the dropper. I have been offered the loan of one so I'll see if I get on with it.

I've done my usual trick of buying a budget bike then spending lots of money on it...

rikk

Next time you change the bike go for a full sus, it will make a huge difference to your comfort and ability to handle obstacles

If you need anything just pm me on here or pop me an email rikk@golum.co.uk as I don't read the forums very often.

If your on face look up the group Facebook Amputees, good group of people and Glen who runs it has a bartlett tendon and posts lots of videos.

Nobby Sideways

What put me off the full sus is the lost motion, but I suppose I could always lock it out. Cheers chaps.

rikk

The only time you lose energy with a full sus is when you stand and pedal as some of the energy goes into pushing the whole bike up and down, but with modern shocks it's really not an issue especially as you can't stand and pedal anyway
To be honest even if it did sap energy you'll get MUCH more benefit from it in exchange for that small amount of lost energy.

The Rookie

Can I just say that the attitude you guys have is very humbiling and very inspiring at the same time.

I don't want to give unqualified advice but what Rikk says from a 'physics' standpoint all sounds spot on, best of luck to you both.

Tyre wise, some manufacturers give decent details, if you hit the width limit you may find a taller tyre the same actual (rather than nominal) width giving you more 'give', My Michelins seem quite tall for the width, be worth running slimed tubes if your at anywhere near 20psi though!

Nobby Sideways

I know its usually poor form to bring up an old post but I thought I would bring it up to date!

I ended up buying a Suntour SP12NCX seat post and it did improve things a little but not much. I'll be honest I ended up just putting the bike away for a while. Fast forward to a few months ago and a friend was selling his old Giant Anthem X1. I tried it and couldn't resist. Suddenly I'm doing the riding I've always lusted after; I can now do the trails through the forest (albeit slowly) and my confidence and skills grow a little every day. I don't know why this bike gives me more confidence, I've had it suggested that its got superior geometry to my last bike, but I know I'm back in love. Even better my girlfriend tried my old bike and now we hit the trails together. Slowly wobbling around the place with massive smiles.

If I ever see you out and about I'll do my best to move over and get out of your way! I'm no ball of fire but I'm so much more advanced than I was when I last updated this post.

cooldad

Stupid thread resurrections are stupid.

But this is a good one. Excellent news, even better that your gf has joined in. Enjoy and ride on.