RISKDR1

Since rando bikes are made more for comfortable sustained riding rather than road race speed I designed my VO Passhunter accordingly. I am using 32mm tires with flexible sidewals and running them at around 80 psi in rear and 65 in front. I like the ride and the Compass Pass Stampede Pass 700 x 32 Tires roll nicely over rough pave. I also have a Body Float seat post and I like it very much. It is for me an adaptation for my back where I have two herniated disks and narrowing of nerve channels at L5/S1. It makes a huge difference in my comfort and does not seem to have a down side other than it's weight. I do notice that I still get some shock in my hands and arms and was thinking that a stem with a small amount of sprung travel kind of like the Body Float would be good on this type of bike and would probably reduce fatigue in the hands, arms and shoulders. I guess I have used a lot of words to ask if anyone still makes such a stem. It would have to be for a threadless system. BTW, I have trekking bars well padded and also have aero bars set higher than usual to give me another relaxing position. They are set on a separate stem and would not be suspended.

niknak

Have you tried lower tire pressures than what you're currently running? I've worn through the same set of tires running around 60psi in the rear and 50psi in the front. I'm about 155lbs and use a rando-style handlebar bag. The Compass tires seem to perform best at pressures just above the point where the tires feel squirmy when cornering.

ThermionicScott 

Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm concerned that putting suspension parts everywhere would be a Band-Aid fix, when the fit is the real problem. There should be very little weight on the hands -- if you're not riding hard enough to keep the hand pressure light, then perhaps the bars should come up a little more. And make sure that you are not in the habit of locking your elbows while riding: that's a sure way to end up with sore shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands, because your arms are not able to absorb shock. Keep those elbows bent and loose, do the "wing flapping" motion often while riding to check. In my experience, well-padded bars and gloves aren't enough to compensate for poor riding habits.

Hope this helps.

TobinH

TranzX Revives the Suspension Stem with new AntiShock Technology

TranzX: Stems

These guys invented kind of a new take on the concept. I don't know if it has enough movement for you, but worth a look perhaps. No idea where or if you can actually buy one though.

RISKDR1

I am still tweeking tire pressure.I do weigh 200 lbs though so probably need a bit more pressure than you. Thank you for your input.

RISKDR1

I don't take it the wrong way. I appreciate your answer and will take your advise. I think I am too rigid and straight arming a bit. Thank you.

RR3

I am about your weight with chronic pain in the thoracic spine due to a cycling injury a long time ago.

I run the Compass 32mm extra legere tires at 75-80 psi and Jan confirmed that this sounded about right to him. The EL version needs a bit higher pressure. I have also run them as low as 60 psi with no snake bike flats.

To maximize comfort, this is what I did

1. Good leather saddle sch as Brooks B17 or Berthoud Aravis (m favorite)
2. Proper fit
3. Latex tubes
4. Carbon bars (but not stem...)
5. Specialized Cobble Getter seatpost
6. Lizard skins bar wrap
7. Magnesium frame by Zinn. Mg vibration dampening is unmatched by any other metal

I considered a recumbent or a Velomobile but that just is too far outside the norm in terms of endrance cycling for my tastes, maybe someday.

I also use a real racing bike with 25mm Vittoria CX Evo tires and it is not as comfortable as the above bike but I can deal with it. Where my Zinn shines is on chip seal.....maybe 50% less buzz.....it is still there but muted.

thebulls

Peter White's Guide to Fitting Bicycles is an excellent place to start:
How to Fit a Bicycle

Key intuition: With the saddle set correctly in terms of height and setback, and a stem that is the right length for your body (and top-tube length, etc), you should be perfectly balanced so that there is no tendency to rock forward and down when you take your hands off the handlebars. If letting go of the handlebars means that your torso drops, then that is a measure of the amount of weight that you're putting on your hands.

Nick

RR3

I forgot to mention to the OP that using aero bars tends to make my back issue worse but YMMV. A strong core is most helpful in reducing back pain......I am sure someone must have mentioned this.