New Scott SUB 45
#1
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New Scott SUB 45
Last year I decided to start riding for recreation and fitness so I bought a Trek Navigator 3.0 thinking my 49 year old body needed the suspension and comfort. This summer, I've been riding more and more on pavement and after talking with the LBS, I decided to get an entry level comuter with thiner tires, no suspension but disc brakes. I got the Scott SUB 45. I like it a lot but my now 50 year old body really needs some comfort. After the first ride on the SUB 45 (7 miles), I replaced the seat with a Bontrager Nebula Plus. Second ride was a bit better (10 miles) but I realized the need for Ergon GC2-L grips. Third ride this morning was a little better (11.2 miles) but my butt and back miss the suspension seat post. I'm keeping the Navigator for gravel roads and mild trails but I want to be able to do more time and distance riding the SUB solely on pavement. (I know someone is going to suggest I buy another bike but I don't want three bikes in my life)
I think a suspension seatpost may be the comfort I need for my back. Any suggestions for 31.6mm seatposts for an old dude who just wants to stay on the sadle longer and farther?
I think a suspension seatpost may be the comfort I need for my back. Any suggestions for 31.6mm seatposts for an old dude who just wants to stay on the sadle longer and farther?
#2
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IME suspension seatposts rob me of power and cause unnecessary swaying of my hips. If I absolutely HAD to have one, I would choose a Thudbuster. As someone with back problems (compression fracture of T12 in 2006) I'm all for comfort, but I find "comfort" bicycle accessories to be anything but. An all-aluminum bike like yours is going to be inherently stiff, so you may want to keep the tires on the low end of the pressure range (providing that you're not too heavy, that is). A more comfortable saddle may be in order, as well. Saddles like the venerated Brooks B17 or Selle An-Atomica are designed to flex and move underneath you in response to the road and may be worth a look. That said, saddles are a very personal choice and what many claim to be comfortable may feel like a piece of lumber to others.
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Three rides is certainly not enough for your body to be conditioned to the new set up. Keep riding, get your bike fitted by a pro, get good bike shorts like Izumi Pearl Attacks, and after a couple hundred miles see if you still think you need changes.
#4
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Having rode a Scott SUB 20, I can say that the bike rides very rough. My guess is that the SUB45 will be the same way. The fork is rigid aluminum so that could be part of the problem. On similar bikes I've looked at, rigid aluminum, they usually use steel or carbon forks rather than aluminum possibly for better ride.
Last edited by jsdavis; 08-07-11 at 08:52 PM.
#5
born again cyclist
i have a Scott SUB 10 (it's the IGH version in the "SUB" line), and it does ride towards the rougher/harsher end of the spectrum. to agree with the previous poster, i do think the rigid aluminum fork that is beefed-up for disc brake strength is where the problem lies. i've made my life happier on the bike with a different saddle and some ergon grips. if i were to want more comfort on the bike, i would start exploring carbon or steel fork options before considering seat-post suspension. i am not a fan of mechanical suspension systems for bikes ridden on pavement; they're too much of an energy suck.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 08-08-11 at 11:35 AM.
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