Thinking of changing my hybrid commute bike to a suspension bike

[PBB]

Using a Tesco Hybrid at the moment with narrow 70psi tyres, but the roads are so bad around here, I am thinking of squandering/investing any Christmas cash in a full suspension bike instead.

I have a bad back and really feel the constant crashing around.

This is £85 and has both front and rear suspension:

http://www.sportsdirect.com/cycling/silver-fox-vault-26-inch-mountain-bike-mens-932174

Question is - at that price point is it likely to be rubbish? Unuseable?

Most posters are directed from a MB to a Hybrid, am I mad to think the other way round?

Another disadvantage - I guess I cannot fit my rack to a full suspension bike!

 

[Drago]

It wouldn't even make a good boat anchor.

 

[Peteaud]

If you have limited funds, and dont we all, go ebay / 2nd hand route.

Cheap "full susser" is a waste of time and just boing about alot.

Please, do not buy that bike.

 

[Sara_H]

I live in Sheffield which also has terrible roads and use a front suspension mountain bile. I also use it as a tourer so the suspension makes it a bit more flexible.

Have to say though, at £85 I can't see the bike being much good.
I'd suggest doing a bit of research about suitable bikes and then picking something up second hand in the new year.

 

[HovR]

If you have limited funds and want a bike with suspension, I'd other go the second hand route, or one of Decathlon's hardtail Rockriders. You don't get anything in the way of half decent rear suspension until you're spending the higher end of multiple hundred pounds (at least that I've seen).

Cheap front suspension tends to be heavy and often a bit on the soft side, but still serviceable. How wide are your tires? You may find you get some of the increased ride comfort you want just from lowering your tire pressures a bit.

 

[beanzontoast]

I actually went the other direction on this. I've commuted before now on a front sus mtb (as well as on decent drop bar bikes). The roads are pretty rubbish around here too but I would not go back to using the mountain bike. It was an energy-sapping experience. I now use a Subway from Halfords after doing a good deal of research into finding something that wasn't too expensive but kept going.

 

[AndyPeace]

If there's clearance for it, then perphaps fatter tires would ease your comfort? IMO Fatter tires will take more out of the road than cheap suspension.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

85 quid for a bike?

My front wheel costs double that (and that's cheap).

Not meant in a bad or showoff way but that bike is a piece of junk.

 

[AndyRM]

No. Just no.

Full suspension on the road is a form of torture.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Reasonable question and it deserves an answer.

Most people would tell you not to do that. Some of the replies may sound slightly 'price-snobbish', but there is a reason underlying that veneer.

Of course, you do not need £150 front wheels, but there is a quality 'floor' and your proposed purchase probably dwells below it. Up to a point, you are asking on a Porsche Owners Forum about the wisdom of buying a Kia hatchback... It's not that there's anything wrong with buying a Kia, but Porsche owners might think so.

Nonetheless, in 99% (or more) of cases an £85 full-susser will not please you to ride or to own.

Do you really want suspension? I doubt it. Each to their own, but suspension saps at your energy, particularly rear suspension. Cheap rear suspension will make the gentlest ride seem like pedalling through half-set custard.

The road will have to be very badly scarred to make 70pse tyres feel harsh. Try (where safe) going round potholes.

I'm with those who advocate looking secondhand - and unless you want to do some serious offroad downhilling, I'd forget about full suspension.

Good luck with your choice. It's OK to get it wrong, but there is a reason most people with experience would avoid full-suspension on the road (or any suspension at all). There's also a good reason why a bike that's £85 new may quickly disappoint.

 

[PBB]

Thanks all for your replies, appreciate your advice.

I will certainly avoid that bike now, I like the sound of exploring different tyres instead.

Thanks,

 

[cyberknight]

Have you looked at your bike fit with regards to saddle height and reach to the bars etc or do you have a bad back to start with ?

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

At least you have a better chance of getting a bike that wont let you down or getting your bike sorted to how you want it set up.

 

[HovR]

Thanks all for your replies, appreciate your advice.

I will certainly avoid that bike now, I like the sound of exploring different tyres instead.

Thanks,

You'll find that wider, lower pressure tires will give you a softer ride. If you don't know how wide tires your frame has clearances for, take the bike to a good bike shop (in most cases, not Halfords) and tell them you want wider tires for comfort and they should sort it out for you.

 

[MrJamie]

Do you know the tyre size on your Tesco bike, or a link to the bike online? Just wondering how narrow they are, or if just a bit narrow compared to big MTB tyres Tyre pressure makes a huge difference to road vibrations, if youve pumped it up too hard it wont be able to deform to absorb the bumps as well.

I suffer from a bad lower back quite frequently, vibration up through the saddle seems the main culprit. Slightly softer tyres help as did a gel saddle. For me riding harder helps as im taking more weight in my legs compared to putting my weight over the saddle.

Having the bike adjusted to fit you can help a lot too, there are some good guides people have linked before. Sometimes its unintuitive, like bending your back more (like on a road bike), makes your spine more able to flex to take bumps rather than compress if you're sat bolt upright and also more weight taken in the hands.