edzo

I dug around and found a locked thread from way back with a lot of crap about susp seat posts and whatnot, and the Thudbuster ST...

I wanna know what ya'll think about the Thudbuster ST. ??

I now have two of them and I like them. I used a USE post on my litespeed tellico and it finally snapped after 12,600 miles (just the bolts). I have a Thudbuster ST on my 29" Monkey and it has >5100 miles on it, so I figured get an ST for the Tellico. So far..so good.

Anyhow, I was reading this and that about efficiency and a thudbuster won't make you faster...blahblahblah..why not just get a fully? ....anyhow here is my review and what I know...please discuss if you wish:

1) Thudbuster ST is a sight cooler looking than the LT. they are all basically ugly anyway, but the ST is more tolerable looks-wise

2) I find the parallelogram motion is better than the USE up and down...more consistent action

3) I do hammer and like to go kinda long...like 50-70 milers. The Thudbuster makes me faster over this distance because of the comfort of less hard whaps to the ass-saddle interface. especially over 50 miles I am getting tired of always standing for every sharp hit...and/or those mistakes when I take a hit I didn't see
or I was too busy picking my nose to get up for a root.

4) Thudbuster does help me climb but I think only when seated and only because it helps absorb those roots and babyheads I don't want to stand up for, so I can focus on maintaining distance to the bars and my cadence and power stroke. does it increase traction ?, 99% maybe not but it does let me sit through some crap I'd rather not stand up for

5) does it do the job of rear suspension ? hell no ! but I don't like rear suspension and won't ride them.

6) Does the minor 1 or 2 inch up and down rob efficiency ?

I set my saddle so my leg extension is optimized on flat surface. pedaling any cadence does make it bob a tiny bit, but compared to my road bike with a solid post, does it rob my energy or make my stroke less efficient ? I say, nope. the bobbing actually assists my leg by distributing the power a little bit between the optimal TT height and optimal long-distance height and optimal high-cadence...I do not find it robs me of speed or power overall one bit. if anything it adds enough comfort which makes me apply more constant power without complaint, making me faster overall, especially on long grinders.

I also use some wicked high cadence to give my legs a break all the time on the trail, I do not find a problem with the saddle or thudbuster at all. In fact I don't even think about or feel the dang thing, which is the point...it works and doesn't make a big stink about it doing it's job of softening the babyheads.
by wicked high I mean I'll snap into 130-140 for a while now and then to air out the suds, or get up a grunt...or just be annoying, then back to 80 after a few minutes

7) would I race one ? yes if I am just racing for fun. no if I was racing 30 miles and wanted to kick arse, I would go back to a solid post...because I can handle a little discomfort for a short 30 mile race. if race was more than 30 miles then I'd use it.

8) put it on the cross bike ? nope. fredly. just the MTB

9) road bike. hell no. way too fredly

anyhow....overall I find the thudbuster ST does make me a faster rider in all east coast rocky and rooty conditions. comfort is what it gives... it is below the level of a fully, you still know you are on a hardtail (hardtails forever!!) but allows me a longer desire to put out the pain

I don't jump, I just go as fast as possible, while planted, as long as possible. only jump when the terrain forces me to...so I likely will never go with a fully.

anyhow, anyone wanna chime in on what they think about the Thudbuster ST ?

mx_599

i have one, but have not had the chance to use it yet. i am looking forward to it though!