Hi! I am a newbie to cycling. I need a bike on which I can do a daily commute for 4-5 miles. I have been doing some research online and LBS and have narrowed it down to

Specialized Crossroad Sport
Trek 7200 .... Both have front suspensions

But recently I found some comments from users that Front suspensions are a waist on such bikes. Could some body please shed some lights on advantages or disadvantages of paying extra money for front suspension in a Hybrid bike.

Thanks
Viki

People seem to like them. And if you like how they feel and it encourages you to get out on the bike then, by all means get a bike with suspension. Take a test ride, 30-60 minutes on your prospective bikes. You will get a pretty good idea of what you like and don't like.

I think the bad parts of suspension is that they can be cheaply and poorly done sometimes. The more recent good quality comfort bikes seem to have good setup but others more familiar with suspension would have to chime in on that.

Pros:
Makes for a plusher ride

Cons:
Weight
Expense
Maintenance

The cons can be far outweighed if the suspension gets you on the bike. The expense is a one time thing, maintenance needs to be done anyways, it will just cost a little more at times. The weight will become a non-issue unless you desire to do much faster, longer or more technical riding.

Suspension doesn't really seem to be necessary if you're mainly riding on roads. If you do offroad a lot, you may appreciate it.

I am looking at similar bikes, and read somewhere that front suspension absorbs some of your effort when climbing hills. Is this true, because I have a LOT of hills in my neighborhood (the area I will be biking most). Also, on a hybrid, do I want more or less travel in the suspension?

Depending on how you set them, not only for compression but also for rebound. They can absorb energy, the softer they ride the more energy they will absorb. How you set them will be up to you and how adjustable the suspension is.

I prefer slightly less travel to keep the feel in the steering. Others prefer it softer. That part of the setup will be a personal choice. The good part is that you should be able to easily adjust it to what suits you.

When taking fast corners on rough pavement, my suspension bike would allow the front wheel to dribble up and down like a basketball... dangerous. I got rid of that, went to a solid fork. Best thing I ever did for that bike.

Thanks for all your responses.

Can anybody tell me Suspensions on less $400 hybrid bikes fall into what category ?
As more I learn about cheap suspensions I want o stay away from them ... But I am not able to get any answers regaridng Trek 7200 / Trek 7300 or Crossroads Sports....

My Lbs was pushing for Trek 7300 with adjustabel suspensions... even though i told him I would use it for commute on roads .. not sure i trust him for advice...

Thanks
Viki

Look at the Trek "7.something FX" bikes, all solid forks. www.trekbikes.com


the 7.2 FX lists for $420, you could probably get it for less than $400

Search this forum for 7.3 and also for 7300. Alot of people seem to be buying them and are happy with them. They sound like they are solid bikes. I don't think you could go wrong with the components on those bikes. The other side of that coin is that it is their opinions. The one that matters most will be yours.

A front suspension on a hybrid in that price range means that the manufacturer is cutting the quality of the other components, which are already marginal at that price point. It can be no other way because suspension forks cost more to make than non-susp. Things like the wheels, hubs, deraiileurs are usually a grade or two lower than the same bike without front suspension. For example, compare the components on the Trek FX series with the non-FX, which has front suspension.

In addition, the suspension adds 2-3 pounds of weight, sucks up some pedaling energy, and will not handle as well, except on bumpy terrain where it may have an advantage. A suspension fork simply is not needed on a road bike for comfort unless you ride over potholes. One caveat: try to get a bike with a fork that is either cro-moly or carbon. Both will provide an excellent ride. Some hybrids use an aluminum fork which tends to ride stiffer. However, tires of a sufficient size (28-35) will usuall dampen out most road "buzz". I had a 7500fx and it was a great all around bike, with a fair turn of speed.

OK, sounds like I don't really need suspension. Does anyone know of a good non-suspension hybrid under $400 that still has nice components? I live near a city, so between several LBSs, I have access to just about every brand you guys have mentioned on here.

A non sus bike is probably a better choice for general purpose riding. It is hard to find qood quality sus forks with fender eyelets.
In the $400 range, look for forks made from chromoly steel rather than the cheaper Hi tensile steel.
Do you need 700c weels or 26" (MTB). This is mainly down to your size.
Over 5'4" you can fit a 700c bike.
Below 5'1" you are better off with smaller MTb wheels.
In between is depends on the particular frame but people ride both.
The Specialized Sirrus style of fast, light hybrid (called a flat-bar road bike) is popular and efficient. Most other brands do similar models.

I am 6'1" and still growing (I'm 15), so I guess 700c wheels would be fine ;) . The Sirrus is about $150 outside my pricerange, and it seems like most companies' flat bar road bikes are too.
If its fender eyelets you're worried about, I was looking at this one, which also has front suspension: http://fujibikes.com/2006/bikes.asp?id=183
Heck, it even comes with fenders. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

I don't really care about the maintenence or weight of front sus. If I can find a good bike for a good price that has sus, I'd get it. But if I could trade front sus for better components in a bike under $400, preferably around 350-370, I would.

I went with the Trek 7700FX for light weight and speed, but still with the better visibility and handling of a flat bar. I love benefits and have not had a day when I wished for front suspension. I take it off-road and on unpaved trails all the time. Over the road though it is fast and nimble, which for me has made my commute a lot more enjoyable.

In Montreal the roads in the spring are worse than the dirt trails, because the effects of freeze thaw cycles. Suspension pays off in these circumstanes, but not if you have big hills to climb.

Also consider buying a used mountain bike from the early 90's (steel, rigid fork) that has low usage and good components. Many of these can be purchased for around $100 off Craigslist and they are versatile and comfortable. Models like Trek 850, 930, 970, Specialized Stumpjumper and Rockhopper, Gary Fisher, Marin, etc. A tune up, some new slicks and brake pads, and off you go for around $200 total investment. Less worry about scratches, dings or theft, too.

Thanks for all your responses.

Can anybody tell me Suspensions on less $400 hybrid bikes fall into what category ?
As more I learn about cheap suspensions I want o stay away from them ... But I am not able to get any answers regaridng Trek 7200 / Trek 7300 or Crossroads Sports....

My Lbs was pushing for Trek 7300 with adjustabel suspensions... even though i told him I would use it for commute on roads .. not sure i trust him for advice...

Thanks
Viki

My wife had the Trek 7100 with an unadjustable front suspension. We rode on pavement and dirt roads. She liked the bike but didn't feel the need for the suspension. Since it wasn't adjustable, it couldn't be locked out and so it was just extra weight. I got her a Trek 7.5FX WSD and she loves it. My stepdaughter got the 7100. It replaced her Wal-mart bike.

Ride the 7300, adjust the suspension. Then ask to ride something without a front suspension.

I don't like it, others do. There's no right answer.

When I started commuting, I was using an mtb. After a while, I changed out the suspension fork for a rigid. I can definitely feel the difference in my hands after a ride, but I don't really miss it. (dropped 2 lb. from the bike by swapping it out. definitely helped on the hill climbing) Instead, I just learned to unweight my hands (and butt) a little during the rough sections of pavement.

My wife has weak wrists and ankles, so anything less than a comfort bike, which puts her in a totally upright position, is not good for her. However, I do not suffer the same problems that she does and therefore find the suspension to be quite anoying. Sure, it may slow my wife down, but since we are into utility-family cycling (not racing), it does not matter.

In the long run you may find a rigid fork to be more agile in commuting conditions. If you do go for a suspension fork, then realize that it is not necessary, you should be able to pick up a rigid fork pretty cheap. The LBS will probably install it for free if you bought the bike there also.

IMO, you don't need a front suspension for commutes. A rigid front fork is a good choice for commutes even over broken or choppy pavement. If you need a cushier ride, you can always use a wider tire. For a commute bike, something from the Trek FX series or comparable models from other manufacturers will do fine.

If you decide to go with a bike that has 700C wheels, pay particular attention to the clearance between the frame and the tire as you are shopping. Many of the hybrids on the market right now come stock with 35-38C tires, but would have minimal clearance if you choose to switch to 42C widths for a little extra cush. Lack of clearance is really bad if you get into sticky mud or fresh tar (I have horror stories!) In the respect of clearance, MTB's are usually more forgiving. In the respect of rolling over average bumpy stuff, the vote goes to 700C--bigger tires roll over bumpy things better, generally speaking.
FWIW, I just bought a hybrid that has front suspension (Gary Fisher Utopia). When I was shopping I was dead set against front suspension, but I test rode this against a Trek 7.3 because I liked the other features of the bike. Needless to say, after comparing them I brought the Fisher home, and have actually enjoyed having the suspension. The only thing I don't like about it is the way it always wants to compress when I stand to pedal out of the saddle-no lockout. I'm still fiddling to find the "perfect" setting on the suspension.
My wife's Specialized Expedition was a very good value at $450, but it may be a little more upright than you are looking for. Good components for the price point though!

I went against suspension, decided I wanted a solid ride and better components.

Thank you all for wealth of information. Based on that and my budget I am thinking of buying Trek 7000 the only one without suspension. But it has steel fork instead of Cromoly

Can you help educate how much diffrent these two type are.

Also if any body out there has this kind [hybrid with High Tensile Steel Fork] of bike please share your experience.

Thanks
Viki

Thank you all for wealth of information. Based on that and my budget I am thinking of buying Trek 7000 the only one without suspension. But it has steel fork instead of Cromoly

Can you help educate how much diffrent these two type are.

Also if any body out there has this kind [hybrid with High Tensile Steel Fork] of bike please share your experience.

Thanks
Viki
for the type of riding you are talking about, it is a non-issue.

I agree with most here that suspension is not necessary for you.

The other part of this not mentioned (other issues being more important anyway) is that suspension just adds more moving parts. More to fix, more to oil, more to...

Keep your bike simple for the riding you are talking about. If you fall in love with the sport, sell this one and trade up to a road/mtn bike.

My first "real" bike was a hybrid with front suspension (Marin San Anselmo). It sure was comfy. The road surface even in cities can be awful for pretty long stretches, and the suspension helped to smooth out my ride considerably. It also felt more stable than rigid-fork bikes (but less agile, of course).

I would've probably just stuck with it had I only had a 5-mile daily commute. However I was riding more like 20 miles a day, at least, and doing long-distance multiday tours, so the suspension with all the extra weight and eating up energy on hills, started to become a nuisance. So it all depends on your own style and demands.

I think you should try a suspension and a rigid-fork bike and feel the difference. Some people really swear by their suspension, so you never know. However, if you're just not sure and the test ride makes you more confused, I say just go for a rigid fork. :)

I am looking at similar bikes, and read somewhere that front suspension absorbs some of your effort when climbing hills. Is this true, because I have a LOT of hills in my neighborhood (the area I will be biking most). Yes, it's true. In general, the more rigid the frame and fork, the more energy goes into pedalling (and hence propelling you forward). Suspension definitely makes it harder to climb hills.

After going to 5 or 6 lbs, I purchased a Trek 7000 for my daughter. Price was not the primary issue. We looked at various brands with and w/o front suspension. Most lbs wanted to sell a 26" mtb to her because only adults want hybrids.

To my daughter's credit, she stuck to her guns and wanted a bike so that we could ride together primarily on paved roads. We came to the conclusion that the front suspension on these bikes are for folks who want comfort first. If you plan to more than occasional rides, the suspension is probably a waste.

The 7000 is a great bike. We have ridden several hundred miles in the last month without incident. I will probably buy a second one for my other daughter when she is ready.

yup agreed. Ridden my mates mtb with full sus... with my 280lb's of weight on the thing if I'm trying to power up a hill it turns into a wobbly jelly with every push. :( Crested.. but my god I was knackered after doing it. :D lol.

I went for a hybrid with HI-Ten steel frame and forks. The steel has enough of a forgiving ride, and I can climb that hill with 3 or 4 pumps of my legs, as opposed to crawling up it with my mates MTB :).

btw.. 280lbs = that saddle hits me with some force! :D So if I can stand going over bumps and gravel and unpaved trails on a non-sus bike, im pretty sure you'll manage it ;)

Follow up question if you please.

I have a hybrid with suspension fork (Marin San Rafael), but the fork doesn't seem to want to lock out 100%. Any good adjustable forks at a reasonable price? I ride all sorts of surfaces so i don't want to give on suspension just yet, but I would like to lock it out for commutes, etc.

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread a bit here......

If you don't get an answer here, try the MTB forum.

I'm looking at $400-$500 hybrids and am finding it almost impossible to find one without front suspension. And most of these use a Suntour fork that is not well thought of by the MTB community. Few allow a complete 100% lockup, but they are adjustable from soft to firm. I did find a Raleigh Passage bike that was available with a rigid fork, but wasn't that wild about the overall bike.

I test rode the Marin San Rafael and indeed, it did not lock out. But I was impressed by how well it absorbed shocks even with relatively thin hybrid tires. I rode it back and forth over a railroad intersection and I could barely tell when it hit the gaps over the tracks. There was a rough bump of asphalt there too, about an inch high, and I hit it on purpose. Barely made a ripple.

When talking to the long-time owner of my LBS, he said the vast majority of hybrid owners liked having suspensions. They cite the positives of riding over the rough side edges of roads where the pavement has breaks, hitting potholes, bouncing over rough edges where paths intersect roads, etc. So he has pretty much quit carrying non-suspension hybrids.

I'm not convinced I will need a suspension, and would gladly save $20 & not get one. But I guess I'll end up with one and plan to use it at the maximum firmness setting. Perhaps I will learn to love and cherish it.

Tom,
Check out the Specialized Globe series. Saw a base model at my LBS today. $410 list. Nice looking bike. Rigid fork. Good looking tires. Handlebars with a fair amount of sweep (a big plus!). There's a Sport model listing at $500 with slightly upgraded components.
Looks to me like a pretty decent bike.
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22059
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/GLB_GLB_Mt_Silver_us.jpg

Follow up question if you please.

I have a hybrid with suspension fork (Marin San Rafael), but the fork doesn't seem to want to lock out 100%. Any good adjustable forks at a reasonable price? I ride all sorts of surfaces so i don't want to give on suspension just yet, but I would like to lock it out for commutes, etc.

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread a bit here......

You might want to ask your bike shop about this. They can locate the cheaper forks that come with lockout. The after market stuff that I see is all much higher end than you want. Marin probably has bike models with steel forks that could be used on your bike.

I don't think it would be a good idea to ride around on a fully locked out suspension fork. That feature is for climbing hills without pogoing and then unlocking. I've always heard you would damage a fork by continuing to ride it locked out.

I went through some of the same deliberations as you. I thought I wanted a comfort bike with front suspension and seat susepnsion. After long discussions with friends who are more experienced than I, I settled on a Giant FCR3, a flat handlebar road bike without suspension. I have been commuting to work for 6 months on it, 18 miles round trip. So far I have no regrets.

I began riding on a hybrid with a front suspension (Cannondale head shok) and I learned to hate it. It's amazing how much energy it absorbs, not only going up hills, which are much harder, but even on flat ground in a headwind or when you are trying to pick up the pace.

That being said, I sometimes accompany Boy Scouts on rides on gravel roads, and then the suspension is great.

It costs quite a bit more, but a carbon fiber bike will soak up the road vibration without stealing energy with every spin of the pedals. When you are ready to spend the money carbon is the way to go.

As more of a recreational rider than a serious / high mileage cyclist, I must say that after owning a nice hybrid with a front suspension (Trek 7600) for 6 weeks now that I like the suspension. The weight makes little difference in the way that I ride and the suspension does smooth out the bumps through potholes, over bumps along bike trails and going over railroad tracks. I keep it wound as tight as it can get although that doesn't make a big difference.

And as much as I like the front suspension, I like the suspension seat post even more. Aah!! A little squeeglie now and then but overall it's a wonderful invention. I would still consider buying a bike with a rigid fork, but I'd want to put a suspension post on it.

I never really push my speed that hard, so I haven't realized any noticable effects from it absorbing energy from my pedaling. That said, I wouldn't recommend it for a real stoker.