Thudbuster Seatpost

[jnbrown]

Anybody here using a Thudbuster for the stoker seat post? I'm considering the ST model.
I have been using a Rockshox for years but stoker is complaining it does not work anymore.
Looked at the Tamer Pivot Plus but I did not like the design and weight, also my Santana originally came with a telescoping Tamer that I tossed in short order.

Thanks - Joel

[Fenlason]

I have not used the thudbuster but since you brought up the tamer.. we have the carbon pivot plus and love it.

glenn

[zonatandem]

Have test ridden the Thudbuster when they first came out a few years back for an article we were doing.
Have also ridden other suspension seatposts, and this was by far the best, in our estimation. The only other suspension we liked better (test ridden over 100 miles) was the Allsop Softride beam, which is no longer being made. If stoker wants a change, the Thudbuster would be a great choice.
However, on our tandem(s) we do not utilize a shock seatpost for stoker . .
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[jnbrown]

Rudy / Kay,

Do you remember if the Thudbuster you tested was the mountain (LT) or road (ST) version? Pics below.

Thanks - Joel

[zonatandem]

Joel:
At that time they only had a road model. A parallelogram with choice of 2 densities blue shock inserts, looking like your #2 thumbnail. Since then, the original company was bought out by another outfit but design seems to be only minimally changed.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[thalver]

We have been using the basic thudbuster (not the ST) on our current tandem. My wife found it a bit too bouncy, so we ended up using the "heavier" elastomers. She loves it set that way, and is happy to tolerate the more minor bumps. It has eliminated my need to call our every bump.

Given that she wanted to minimize the bounce, we certainly aren't using the travel of the seatpost to its complete potential. I see no reason to believe the ST wouldn't be adequate for our use.

We do plan to use an ST model on the new tandem, when away from home and in unfamiliar territory. YMMV

[stapfam]

We have been using the basic thudbuster (not the ST) on our current tandem. My wife found it a bit too bouncy, so we ended up using the "heavier" elastomers. She loves it set that way, and is happy to tolerate the more minor bumps. It has eliminated my need to call our every bump.

Given that she wanted to minimize the bounce, we certainly aren't using the travel of the seatpost to its complete potential. I see no reason to believe the ST wouldn't be adequate for our use.

We do plan to use an ST model on the new tandem, when away from home and in unfamiliar territory. YMMV

I use the 3" long travel version offroad and it has made a world of difference to the butt. Found I had to go up an elastomer strength to stop bouncing too much and also to stop pedalling bounce. For pure road use then the ST would be OK but Thanks to my pilot enjoying potholes- have not found the LT to have too much travel on the road.

[Retro Grouch]

We've been using a Thudbuster ST for a year. I chose it because our telescoping Tamer had become real "notchy", and because we have tandeming friends who have had problems with the pivots of parallogram Tamers. The Thudbuster pivots look significantly more robust.

After a year momma's still happy so I'm happy.

[Thigh Master]

We had the ST for a few months now and the stoker LOVES it. Amazing how much it improves the ride - definitely surpassed my expectation. Make sure you fit the correct elastomer with the stoker's weight...

[bikeriderdave]

We went from a telescoping post to a Thudbuster ST and my stoker is MUCH happier. It's heavy and rattles when unweighted, but the benefits eclipse those minor complaints. After all, a happy stoker makes for a happy team.

[Thigh Master]

We went from a telescoping post to a Thudbuster ST and my stoker is MUCH happier. It's heavy and rattles when unweighted, but the benefits eclipse those minor complaints. After all, a happy stoker makes for a happy team.
Ah ha, so the rattling is just part of the game - I have been trying to adjust that out but gave up. I agree, it is minor and the stoker doesn't notice when riding.

[jnbrown]

Thanks for all the feedback, greatly appreciated.
I ordered the Thudbuster ST, will report back after we try it out.

Joel

[lopsided]

Stokers' vote for the LT. We have around 1950 miles logged so far and the stoker wouldn't do without it.

[DBC Steve]

ST came as an option on our CoMo Speedster, and we demo'd it before purchase. Stoker loves it, although I am getting tired of hearing "What bump?" after announcing "Bump" for an upcoming. I think we've seen Young Frankenstein too many times....

[EricD]

My wife loves the Thudbuster ST. It soaks up the bumps when I forget to call out the big ones. Mine does not rattle though. Mine is tight and quiet.

[ricardo kuhn]

We have one and we love it, specially riding on trails and bumps.
http://patineto.smugmug.com/photos/178836997-L-2.jpg

You do need to remenber you need at least 5 inches of clearance from the frame clamp to the rails of the seat, since the parallelogram is about that high.

In my case if I go riding with a smaller person (5.4" or smaller) I need to install a rigid post do to seat height restrictions.

[Big H]

We use the LT on our MTB tandem. We used it extensively in Mozambique while we were there. M loves it to bits. We also got the Crudcatcher ..... made by Lizardskins for Crane Creek, a Neoprene covering that protects it. Worth while to get.

[regomatic]

Thudbuster works for my stoker. We started with the white elastomer based on the wieght recommendation, but she found it too soft and it made her bounce at higher cadence. We tried the blue for a while without much noticable difference. We bumped it up to black and I haven't heard a complaint since.

[lhbernhardt]

Well folks, I just want you to know that your testimonials have convinced me to order a Thudbuster ST for the stoker (I checked out a number of sites and went with the official Ryan McFarland (the inventor) Thudbuster site (www.thudbuster.com). $129 (MSL is $149, and they throw in a Crudbuster for free and only charge $9.50 for USPS Priority shipping). There were lower prices, but they didn't have it in 25.4 (plus they have shims to take it to 26.4), plus eBay might have charged $99 for the product, but they'd likely charge $40 for "shipping," negating any savings...

I think the clincher was the description of the design parameters: the Thudbuster is designed to flex in line with the travel of the rear wheel. Assuming the rear wheel moves 90 degrees relative to the ground, the Thudbuster's travel is at 90 degrees to the ground. A telescoping suspension seatpost, on the other hand, is attached to a seat tube angled at 73 degrees, 17 degrees off center to the forces acting on it. It finally dawned on me; no wonder the stoker complains about the bumps even though I've checked the suspension post for proper travel. How can it respond efficiently to forces not directly in line - at least 17 degrees skewed - with its travel?

I've also heard rave reviews from another stoker in the Evergreen Tandem Club, and I think she put the bug in my stoker's ear to try the Thudbuster.

BTW, the ST stands for "short travel" and only requires about 100mm minimum distance betwen the seat rails and the top of the seat tube. So I guess LT would stand for "long travel." In the photos posted earlier, the ST is the one with the large elastomer "puck" inside the parallelogram. The LT has that cylinder. The ST only comes with three elastomer choices, and none are progressive. You either select small bump absorption and bounce all the time, or large bump absorption and feel the small bumps but at least you're not bouncing. That was the only downside I was able to turn up.

- L.

[rjberner]

After my stoker’s comfy but cheap saddle broke down around the cut-outs, I coupled a Thudbuster ST to a Brooks B17 S saddle, with the grey elastomer for her 130#. Although it’s her first experience with a harder, performance saddle, I immediately noticed more horsepower from the rear as she has gained more leverage on her pedals. On average, we popped a couple of mph on the computers. Maybe it was just the first-time excitement of new technology, but I don’t think so. Hope not. We’ll see. It’s good stuff and worth the extra grams.

[lhbernhardt]

Just a short report on the ST after the first two weeks:

Research on the web advised me to carefully read all the instructions before installing the post. This is unnecessary; the saddle attachment and adjustment is completely standard. The only area where the instructions are useful is in replacing the elastomer puck - you need to know about the 2.5mm bolts you must remove in order to get to the puck.

The Crudbuster is certainly overpriced. I would not have paid more than about five bucks for it. I'm currently using it to store the extra pucks. No instructions on how to install it, but if you just look at it and think about it, it will come to you. It's designed to stretch A LOT, especially that tiny hole in the bottom that the seatpost must go thru.

We started off with the default blue puck. Stoker weighs around 135 lbs, and she said she was still getting jarred by moderate bumps. After the first week, I switched to the softer grey puck. Now she is quite happy. She notices a definite difference over previous shock posts.

As mentioned previously, I have also noticed a bit more power coming from the stoker...

Previous seatposts: Tamer, pretty ineffective due to high "stiction." Replaced when it froze completely. Piece of crap, don't even think about it (if they even make it anymore). Replaced with Kally suspension post for <175 lbs. No stiction, but still ineffective (see my earlier post regarding force vectors; thinking further about it, the assumption is that the shock will come up thru the bottom bracket. Bad assumption.) However, I really like Kalloy products; very good value for the price.

- L.

[thebearnz]

Found the Thudbuster ST after looking for a way to stop my stokers complaining about "bobbing" on the suspension post.

After 4 months, it is the best $300 (NZ) we have spent on the tandem so far.

As L mentioned, I too have noticed a huge increase in power from the 2 rear cyclinders :)

My Wife is about 150lbs and we have stuck with the blue elastomer that comes installed. No complaints now even when I forget to call out the really big bumps (suprising what 1 1/2" of travel will soak up).

As for strength, no worries with this, it survived a high speed crash unscathed (unlike my poor wife who broke her clavical - thank goodness it was not my fault, rather a noob in the bunch who choose to brake at the wrong time)