Suspension seat post anyone?

[Madders]

I'm seriously considering gettIng one of these on my mtb after trying my mates hybrid which came with one fitted. I'm not planning on using the mtb off road too much as I'm commuting it up a bit with slicks et al. Does anyone have any views/opinions/experience of ssp's? I'm hoping it'll smooth out my ride to work a little.

Madders

 

[Blue Hills]

My Cannondale came with one. Eventually it seized and i couldn't fix it so I just replaced it with a normal one. Never missed the suspension. I'm a great believer in keeping things simple (hastened to this position by ownership of a Cannondale fast city bike with problematical front suspension and the collection of questionable innovation/continuous improvement which is the Dahon Speed Pro) so I think you are better off without to tell the truth. Concentrate on getting a good saddle, decent shorts, appropriate tyres (appropriately inflated) for the terrain.

 

[Andy_R]

My Cannondale came with one. Eventually it seized and i couldn't fix it so I just replaced it with a normal one. Never missed the suspension. I'm a great believer in keeping things simple (hastened to this position by ownership of a Cannondale fast city bike with problematical front suspension and the collection of questionable innovation/continuous improvement which is the Dahon Speed Pro) so I think you are better off without to tell the truth. Concentrate on getting a good saddle, decent shorts, appropriate tyres (appropriately inflated) for the terrain.

+1

I had one already fitted to my subway2 when I got it. It decided to fall apart on the northumberland coast about 2 miles north of Holy Island on the way to Berwick. Unfortunately, the start/finish point of my ride was 20 something miles south in Warkworth. Cue much swearing and bashing of seatpost with rocks to deform it to a point where the inner and outer tubes would hold together long enough to get me back. If you look carefully along the coastal track, you might find the springs.

 

[Madders]

Hmmm, decisions, decisions. I am in the process of doing other things to the bike and have the padded shorts but I still find the constant vibration painful to the point where I need to do something about it. I was thinking of the Cane Creek Thudbuster which seems to be the business.

Madders

 

[AndyRM]

My wife has one on her MTB and she seems to like it, but I cannot stand the thing. Moving around on your main contact point just doesn't feel right to me.

They are pricey, but the Fizik Arione Wing Flex saddles are like a hammock for your arse. Stylish too!

 

[Madders]

Just checked them out. I'm sure you're right but it looks like an instrument of torture to me

 

[AndyRM]

Most road saddles do, initially. I have a San Marco Ponza on my main bike which ruined me for a month. Now that we have come to a mutually beneficial agreement, I can spend hours on it quite comfortably.

Have just realised you are after a MTB saddle! Try your LBS. They may have a range of test saddles which you can try. A decent saddle is far better than a suspension post IMO.

 

[Madders]

What a good idea, try before you buy, I like it!

 

[Gasman]

I have a suspension seatpost on my all-purpose tourer. I think it's great.

 

[Madders]

What type is it and was it standard fitting?

 

[HLaB]

My mtb orientated hybrid and road bike orientated hybrid both had them; I took them off after a previous experience with one when I think my body went one way and my legs were going the other, it wasn't much but IMO it was enough to bulgar my knee over time.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Mine came with a sprung post, and it didn't really work, I guess it was just a cheap stock one. I bought a thudbuster ST and it works great, really takes the sting out of potholes. If you buy it from eBay US you can get it delivered here for about 98 quid which works out about 40 quid cheaper than any UK retailer

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I took the spring out of mine: much better imo.

 

[Blue Hills]

Hmmm, decisions, decisions. I am in the process of doing other things to the bike and have the padded shorts but I still find the constant vibration painful to the point where I need to do something about it.

If it's real pain you are talking about maybe you have the wrong saddle or have it fitted incorrectly.

As for Andy M being ruined by his saddle for a month, I wouldn't advocate letting a saddle cause pain as a way of tanning it. Strikes me as a somewhat old-fashioned, not to say dangerous approach.

I must say I never found that my suspension seatpost caused any pedalling problems, much as it seems odd to have your position moving however slightly, relative to the pedals.

But I still think they are superfluous for on-road/mild off road such as canal paths. I think if you are hitting potholes I think it's good practice to move with the bike/use your legs as suspension by standing slightly rather than using the seatpost to help.

 

[Crankarm]

OP - search is your friend. This topic was last covered on 28th May 2012. http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/suspension-seatposts.102956/#post-1882369

Btw this thread is in the wrong forum.