suspension

chatlow

Okay, so I have just been on a gruelling/pathetic 15 mile bike ride. Gruelling not because it was long (quite the opposite), but because of the roads. I am not sure how good a road bike should be at absorbing bumps/broken road but I had to slow down quite a few times to avoid my chin falling off and teeth getting smashed by my jaw.

I can literally feel every bit of the road and it's doing my head in! I have a 2011 Claud Butler san remo. Tyres are pumped to 110. Although I am on thinking about upgrading to a carbon,is there anything I can adjust or buy that will help me in the mean time?

Thanks

KevChallis

210??? or 120psi? it's bumpy, I wear gloves with gel pads, seems to cut some out

danowat

chatlow wrote:

is there anything I can adjust or buy that will help me in the mean time?

Yes, reduce your tyre pressures FFS!!!!!

chatlow

haha whoops that would be 110 not 210! doubt even popeye could have pumped up to that pressure

16mm

try 80-90 psi, and if you can wider tyres.

Ride hard

Like others have said, use a lower tyre pressure.

The difference in comfort of 110psi on my old steed to 85 - 90psi on my new baby is huge - even with a change of 25mm to 23mm.

TheHound

I think you'll always feel it due to the nature of road bikes.

From what I've read carbon won't soften out the larger bumps but cuts down on road buzz. I think the best you can do is use wider tyres (25mm<) at lower pressure (100psi>).

DavidJB

When going over rough rode loosen your grip on the bars and take your arse slightly off the saddle.

imposter2.0

or find some smoother roads.

chatlow

thanks. wider tyres and lower pressure it is. Smoother roads might be difficult without doubling my commute time. Already cheating and taking a shortcut through the local park just for a tiny bit of new tarmac