well i cant exactly tell you how, but i have a long carbon post on my rigid off-road ride and it does help soak up the trail chatter better than i ever expected it would. i originally bought the post just cause it was cheap, long enough, and the diameter was right for what i needed; but i tell you i am nothing short of amazed at how much it sucks up the roots and smaller hits that kind of add up at the end of a long day in the saddle.

i am still not sold on carbon however and am still a little scared of getting a splintered carbon post up the @ss if it ever snaps so for my new ride i am looking into a ti-post. i think that would be the best.

front suspension will make you faster on the downhills but it will sap your power on the climbs. IMHO singlespeeds are meant to be ridden rigid, it makes you better! plus these bikes are about simplicity to me and suspension just isn't simple. if i want a cushy ride, i'll hop on my freeride bike.