Originally Posted by
The Chemist
I've got a 'head shock' on my bike with no lock out, but I don't find that it absorbs much of my effort at all as it's quite stiff and has a pretty low travel. It's very good at what it does - soaking up imperfections and bumps in paved roads - and I don't find it has any drawbacks at all.
I think the key here is using a shock with with a hydraulic damper and an adjustable preload . Most entry level bikes from the big brands, like Giant, Trek, and Specialized have them, I don't know about cheap Walmart bikes.
If we can adjust the preload to prevent the front from rising with normal pedal strokes, It seems like a good option for the recreational cyclist if you frequently encounter rough roads, MUP's and ride sidewalks on dangerous streets. I will likely look for a bike with a front shock next time. A lockout might be handy for climbing some hills where the increased torque in low gears might cause the front of the bike to Bob.