Road Cycling - Road Bike with Head Shock?

I live in Yakima, Wa and we seem to have rougher than normal pavement. I am riding about a 14 year old borrowed Trek Alum bike and find it very rough. I am going to be buying a new bike soon...I like the idea of alum. but don't like the ride...are the newer bikes smoother? What about bikes like the Cannondale Silk Road with the head shock....is that a gimmick or is that smoother...how does a steel bike compare to an alum. with a carbon fiber fork...? Hard to tell on a short ride around the block and the shops tend to frown on the long distance rides I feel I need to really tell the difference!

Thanks!

How are things going out in hops country?
I've been riding for about ten years on roads that are certainly not great. My experience tells me that you should not consider an aluminum bike unless you are a pretty stout (heavy) fellow. Let me rephrase that; I would not consider a Cannondale unless I was a pretty heavy person. Most of the oversized aluminum tubes are very unforgiving. Rough roads really vibrate through the aluminum tubes. Aluminum forks really amplify the rough roads as well. I have had a steel bike for most of my years and I just recently switched to a carbon fiber fork and it really made a huge difference in the "buzz" that transfers thhrough the handlebars. I would describe the new feel as "silky" and "smooth" as compared to the old. I used to have a Softride with 650 sized wheels and an aluminum fork. That fork was the pits on any long ride as it really tranferred the extra firm ride of those smaller wheels through your hands. I have a riding buddy who said that the happiest day of his life was when he got that new Cannondale and was exceeded only by the happiest day of his life when he traded it in for a titanium frame. He had no idea that a bike could ride that smooth (titanium). Another friend swapped out a steel handlebar for an aluminum one to save weight and he quickly changed back because of the "buzz". My picks for frames, in order, with price not a factor
1 titanium
2 steel
3(tie) carbon fiber and regular sized aluminum
FORKS
1 carbon fiber
2 steel
I wouldn't even consider aluminum
So much for my two cents worth, good luck and keep your feet out of the spokes.

check out the comments in "looking to purchase" a little bit down the board.

Sir,

Headsocks are a gimmick much like many items sold in the USA market. Stay away from them. When they were used on MTBs all those I knew that had the system hated it. It leaked air after a while and became a nightmare.

If you want shocks on a road bike, Rock Shox still has a few of the road shocks out. Those a regood but only work pon heavy bumps. Bumps you will feel anyways. RST also has a RS look alike. Another one out is a company called AeroSwing with the SUS21. Those may be the better ones. If you want more insight on road forks let me know.

As far as aluminum frames go. Buy quality. Many buy the mass produced bikes that are cheaply manufactured will give you a very rough ride as they use straight tubes.

The higher end frames will butt the frames and many times multi shaped them for a more flexible feeling. That paired up with a good carbon fork is a great ride.

What fork do you have?

Sorry for the late reply but Head Shock is a bad idea.

Sorry for the late reply but Head Shock is a bad idea.

The "late" reply?? 8 years?

Wow, the mother of all zombie threads.

Wow, the mother of all zombie threads.

I was going to say, "Man, where'd you find a road Headshok??"

;)

So, if the OP is still looking... hmm...