General Cycling Discussion - Thudbuster?

I'm sure there's a thread deep down in this site somewhere but I couldn't find it.

I bought one yesterday and tried it out today on my Mamba 29er. I felt like I was on a pogo stick. The harder I landed the worse it was.

I have the long travel version. I didn't know the one on the Fargo 3 I was looking at was the short-travel design when I was ordering through my LBS, but figured I'd give it a try to see.

I changed the elastomers from blue/blue to blue/black after feeling like I was going to break it. That helped, but still the same issue of the pogo stick feeling. Once you hit the ground, you bounced up hard and back down hard but more because of travel.

I haven't tried the black/black combination but after 2 miles of riding and some riding through the gravel, I can hardly walk.

It was worse when I had the front suspension on because I felt like I was on one of those springy animal toys at a park. Works great for a toy, but the rocking back and forth wasn't fun.

Is there a trick to this? Or should I see if I can exchange it for the short travel one? The last thing I want to do is ride it on a trail right now.

Thanks!

I'm sure there's a thread deep down in this site somewhere but I couldn't find it.

I bought one yesterday and tried it out today on my Mamba 29er. I felt like I was on a pogo stick. The harder I landed the worse it was.

I have the long travel version. I didn't know the one on the Fargo 3 I was looking at was the short-travel design when I was ordering through my LBS, but figured I'd give it a try to see.

I changed the elastomers from blue/blue to blue/black after feeling like I was going to break it. That helped, but still the same issue of the pogo stick feeling. Once you hit the ground, you bounced up hard and back down hard but more because of travel.

I haven't tried the black/black combination but after 2 miles of riding and some riding through the gravel, I can hardly walk.

It was worse when I had the front suspension on because I felt like I was on one of those springy animal toys at a park. Works great for a toy, but the rocking back and forth wasn't fun.





Is there a trick to this? Or should I see if I can exchange it for the short travel one? The last thing I want to do is ride it on a trail right now.

Thanks!

My Answer: Ditch the pogostick for a rigid seat post then pick up a Brooks flyer..

I thought the thudbuster had a shock absorber deal in there that was supposed to control the pogo sticking. On the Brooks, I have tried the Champion Flyer which is a B-17 with springs, a straight up B-17, and a Terry Cite Y. The Terry came in best so far as normal road bumps are concerned. If you look over the Terry stuff, the women's version will be the Cite X.

I looked at the thudbuster online, and on my Randonee, there just isn't enough space between the seat tube and saddle for all the machinery.

I have one on a 15 year old Cannondale I rarely ride anymore. For its time (suspension was for rich sissies) it was fine; took the buzz out of the desert roads. I improved its performance by fiddling with springs and pre-load, but I imagine it would be pretty crude compared to modern bikes. Can you still get parts for them? I'd assumed they weren't made anymore.

You may either want to swap the elastomers or exchange with the short travel version. Sounds like you obviously hate the bouncy effect and just want simple dampening. If that's the case, then the ST version is probably your best bet. Suspension seatposts are only good at providing dampening while seated and pedaling on rough terrain so if you've got your bum on the saddle during a "landing" you've got it all wrong. I'm assuming the Mamba is a HT. Ride it like a HT and not like a FS.

VD - yes, Thudbuster suspension seatposts are still being produced. By Cane Creek and MRP also does the similar Tamer sus seatposts.

I have short travel Thudbuster as my seatpost on the tandem, and I love it. It made quite a difference in comfort for both of us.


However, I would not use a Thudbuster on my single bicycles. My Brooks saddles and a solid seatpost are just fine.

However, I would not use a Thudbuster on my single bicycles. My Brooks saddles and a solid seatpost are just fine.
+1

Do you have the rider weight appropriate elastomers in the seat post..
I have a LT thudbuster as I'm 200# I have their elastomers for my weight in it,
And experience no Pogo ( Black /Black, next denser is Purple)

(except observing the continuing unfolding realization of the Walt Kelly Maxim.
"We have met the Enemy , And it is Us".)