from Rookie’s keyboard,
Hello, friends
I am about to say something that could annoy some seasoned riders, but my site is focused on the rookies out there.
A while back a customer told me that he was thinking about getting a full suspension bike. When I asked why, he said – “For comfort.”
Then I offered him another much cheaper path to that full suspension feeling – a suspended seat post.
I am not joking. And the guy was actually quite interested in my proposal.
Here’s why:
- Ultra-convenience
Suspension seat posts (SSPs) don’t require a bike replacement.
The one you get has to meet only two requirements:
a. Sufficient length (the seat post should be capable of elevating the saddle as much as the rider needs)
b. Proper diameter – the diameter of the seat post should be slightly smaller or equal to that of the default seat post.
If the seat post has a smaller diameter than required, a shim will be needed for a secure fit.
- Cheaper
SSPs are 5x cheaper than upgrading to a full-suspension (FS) bike and thus make a lot of sense for commuters.
- Almost Full Compatibility With Commuting Accessories Designed for Rigid Bikes
An SSP moves independently of the frame. As a result, the bike remains compatible with fenders and rear racks designed for rigid frames.
FS bikes are not compatible with the vast majority of rear fenders and rear racks because the rear triangle of the bike is not stiff.
You can install such accessories on FS bikes, but the choice is limited, and the prices are high.
- Works With All Bikes
99% of full-suspension models are MTBs. By choosing this route, you will be stuck with a single bike type.
Meanwhile, a suspension seat post can be added to all kinds of bikes – road, gravel, commuting bicycles, single-speed models, folding bicycles…etc.
- Lighter
FS bikes are among the heaviest bicycles out there.
To enjoy the luxury of rear suspension, you will have to carry a pretty hefty beast everywhere you go.
A suspension seat post is much heavier than a rigid one, but it doesn’t add that many grams to the overall weight of the bike.
If the bike is light, a suspension seat post will not make it heavy.
- “An Undo Button”
If you don’t like the effect of a SSP, you can remove it and install a rigid one in a couple of minutes. Then, you can return or re-sell the product. In other words, the commitment isn’t that high.
And now the downsides…
- Limited
A SSP does not provide nearly as much cushioning as a rear shock.
The travel is small and involves only the seat post. In the case of FS bikes, the entire rear-end of the bicycle is suspended.
- The Rear Wheel Traction Remains The Same
One of the reasons for the existence of bicycle suspension is not comfort but safety and speed.
When the rear tire meets an obstacle, the shock compresses. Consequently, the tire remains planted on the ground and thus the traction of the bicycle is preserved.
If there’s no suspension, the tire bounces and loses all traction. This is one of the reasons why rigid bikes are so slow on modern trails – it’s too dangerous to ride them fast due to the lack of traction.
A SSP does not provide that benefit because it has no effect on the tire. Comfort rather than traction is the goal of this product.
- “Floating Geometry”
Each compression of the seat post changes the effective height of the seat. Some people don’t like that feeling.
This doesn’t happen with full-suspension bikes because the compression of the shock does not change the distance between the pedals and the seat.
- Doesn’t Work With Saddlebags (due to the moving mechanism)
The Ideal Candidate For a Suspension Seat Post
SSPs are recommended to cyclists with the following characteristics:
- A need to add minimal and yet noticeable shock absorption to the rear of the bike without buying a new bicycle.
- A preference for bicycles that cover gravel and light XC terrain
- Little or no love for saddlebags
- Desires to preserve the original efficiency of a commuting bicycle while also making it more comfortable.
- Constrained by a limited budget
If that’s not you, the other two options to increase the rear comfort of the bike are:
- A wider tire at the back operating at a low air pressure (clearance might be an issue here)
- A dual-suspension MTB
The cons of FS MTBs are:
- Expensive
MTBs cost as much as low-end dirt bikes. Hence they’re used primarily by dedicated mountain bikers and rarely if ever serve as commuters because locking them outside is just too risky.
- Inefficiency on Paved Roads
The qualities that make FS bikes good off-road machines make them a poor choice for paved roads.
- Non-compatible With Many Commuting Accessories
As already mentioned, most rear racks and fenders aren’t designed for full suspension bikes.
Until next time,
Rookie
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