Hi

I'm looking for a fairly comfy bike that can suit my every day needs: Commuting, riding around time, and a longer trip every now and then. I've been searching for a light city bike/hybrid, and presently I'm considering buying a Giant Central Park with thinner wheels (32mm). However, I'm a bit worried about the suspension; will it get too annoying on longer trips, or can it be tightened enough for road use? It's a threadless Suntour suspension fork as far as I can tell.

Thanks in advance

Suspension on a general purpose road bike is a complete waste of money. You can get good quality steel forks which are quite comfortable, esp with a 32mm tyre. I use this setup for riding on roads, pot-holed lanes and off-road tracks, with and without luggage.
Kona do an very good steel fork, which can be found on the Dew commuter bike..

The hyrids from Giant are made of hard Alu which is why they have suspension. If the bike were made of a low level Chromoly, no suspension would be needed. Look for a steel bike and forget the suspension.

If you want suspension in a road bike, check out a SoftRide. The beam absorbs everything!

Thanks. The only problem is that more or less every bike I look for is sold out, and I'm getting desperate here. I can more or less get this one or sit back and wait for the new models. I doubt it'll be cheaper to have the dealer put in a fork without suspension than to use the original suspended fork, so I'm more worried about whether the suspended fork will be as enjoyable as an unsuspended one

Noooooooo! SoftRides are EVIL

Never tried one but Brooks makes a sprung saddle. I use a B-17N.

I think those Softrides look real cool. I would love to test ride one to see if that suspension creates an inefficient peddal stroke. I wonder if you can lock out the bob or minimalize it to a degree.

That's what I was thinking. A cheaper alternative would be a Brooks Champion flyer. But then again, I still would like to give that beam a try!

Keep the suspension fork, Alu rides hard, IMO the shocks keep the metal from fatiquing, and will really inprove comfort.

A bit dumb if your 'lightweight' Alu bike with seat sus and front fork suspension goes 30 lbs. This makes sense if it's a downhill fs mountainbike (40lbs) but road bikes? I'd much rather find an old steel Bianchi and forget the suspension.(20lbs).

>jef.

My understanding is that the suspension reveals the inefficient pedal stroke, not creates it. You minimalize the bob by improving your peadaling efficiency. I looked at Softride, but I know my pedal stroke is inefficient, so I decided not to go for it.

Softrides will bounce if you mash while you are seated. Just like anything, after about a week or even a few days, you will improve your stroke. I bounced a little when I first started riding it, and even sometimes still bounce, its just a reminder to turn the crank circular rather than push/pull. You don't bounce if your pedaling is correct.

The suspension improves riding by letting you stay seated and absorb the bumps in the bike. I don't think the bike is inefficient at all. You actually get a better aerodynamic advantage. Although, they are a little heavier. I think mine is 19lbs.



Why would you say that? I like mine. And, they are cool looking!