Suspension commuter?
11-22-15 | 07:19 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 64
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bikes: 1989 Cannondale SM2000 with drop bars and Nitto technomic stem; 194? CCM Step Through; ???? Stumpjumper (currently frame)
Suspension commuter?
Hey everyone. saw an image of a really cool road/hybrid bike that had a suspension fork, but not some lousy urban suntour thing, a real rockshox fork. I was wondering if putting a nice legit suspension fork with a sweet hydraulic disc brake for the front would be sick! It's a 2014 or 2013 trek 7.1 so it's a 3x9 with v brakes and wide risers. I've been told maybe putting cantilever brakes would be cheaper, more fun upgrade but sounds like a lot more hassle than good ol' v brakes.
thanks!
thanks!
11-22-15 | 11:10 PM
#2
Pro Paper Plane Pilot
Joined: May 2009
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Some people commute on a unicycle too. Anything goes dude. Hey if you want to ride on a sweet Kona Supreme Operator... that's cool too. Should make short work of the Mount Royal steps!
Lots of folks ride hardtail to work. You use what you got. Then the addiction kicks in and you end up with something more balanced to your riding condition. Most folks' commute on paved roads or packed trails. So riding efficiency is a consideration.
Lots of folks ride hardtail to work. You use what you got. Then the addiction kicks in and you end up with something more balanced to your riding condition. Most folks' commute on paved roads or packed trails. So riding efficiency is a consideration.
11-23-15 | 04:09 PM
#6
That bike was never intended to have front suspension,so adding a sprung fork will mess with your geometry. You may not like the way it handles after the mod.
Not a fan of suspension personally. Lots of weight,sucks up power when climbing,and you get fork dive when braking. We've been building some fat bikes at the shop lately;I'd go with a bike with fat tires over suspension. Built a Med Surly Krampus Ops that weighed 30lbs 1oz with pedals,that's the same as my Safari. Pretty good for a monster like that.
Not a fan of suspension personally. Lots of weight,sucks up power when climbing,and you get fork dive when braking. We've been building some fat bikes at the shop lately;I'd go with a bike with fat tires over suspension. Built a Med Surly Krampus Ops that weighed 30lbs 1oz with pedals,that's the same as my Safari. Pretty good for a monster like that.
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11-23-15 | 04:12 PM
#7
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Upper Michigan USA
Bikes with suspension forks are designed to handle the extra height of the fork. Retrofitting a suspension fork to a bike designed with a rigid fork ends up with the head tube too high and alters the bike's geometry and handling, and is not recommended because of it.
Replacing V brakes with cantilevers sounds like a wasted effort to me.
Replacing V brakes with cantilevers sounds like a wasted effort to me.
11-23-15 | 04:21 PM
#8
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
How about a Moulton bike ? MOULTON Bicycle Company fast and dually suspended .. can be bought separable to go in car boots.
11-23-15 | 04:38 PM
#9
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
We’ve tested a couple of different travels. It’s less [travel] than an enduro bike, and more than zero,” Johnson teased.“It’s not cross-country travel, but it doesn’t need to be. The geometry still needs to stay functional for what it is. It’s a ’cross bike, and it needs to turn. You get stability with the suspension. You don’t need the bike to be splayed out.
11-23-15 | 04:49 PM
#10
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From: Washington DC Metro Area
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Somebody brought up Moulton on another forum. They sure look nice, for those who can afford them. That sweet looking New Series Double Pylon is only &13,000.
11-23-15 | 05:43 PM
#11
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Hey everyone. saw an image of a really cool road/hybrid bike that had a suspension fork, but not some lousy urban suntour thing, a real rockshox fork. I was wondering if putting a nice legit suspension fork with a sweet hydraulic disc brake for the front would be sick! It's a 2014 or 2013 trek 7.1 so it's a 3x9 with v brakes and wide risers. I've been told maybe putting cantilever brakes would be cheaper, more fun upgrade but sounds like a lot more hassle than good ol' v brakes.
thanks!
thanks!
I love the suspension fork on my MTB, can't see the need on a dirt road though. The Cannondale Slate's Lefty has 30mm travel, what the hell is the point of that on a bike with 42mm tires? Slate 105 retails for $2980, even though their aluminum MTB with XT and a Lefty (F-Si 1) is $2340 and a CAADX 105 Disc is $1570. Maybe that's the point.
Cannondale also had some bikes about 10-15 years ago (XS800 cyclocross & Silk Road touring) that had Head Shok forks.
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Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
11-23-15 | 05:56 PM
#12
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
11-24-15 | 10:02 AM
#13
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From: Denver, CO
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That bike was never intended to have front suspension,so adding a sprung fork will mess with your geometry. You may not like the way it handles after the mod.
Not a fan of suspension personally. Lots of weight,sucks up power when climbing,and you get fork dive when braking. We've been building some fat bikes at the shop lately;I'd go with a bike with fat tires over suspension. Built a Med Surly Krampus Ops that weighed 30lbs 1oz with pedals,that's the same as my Safari. Pretty good for a monster like that.
Not a fan of suspension personally. Lots of weight,sucks up power when climbing,and you get fork dive when braking. We've been building some fat bikes at the shop lately;I'd go with a bike with fat tires over suspension. Built a Med Surly Krampus Ops that weighed 30lbs 1oz with pedals,that's the same as my Safari. Pretty good for a monster like that.
A good fork that can be locked out doesn't suck power on climbs and is useful is some situations. But a "good" fork is going to cost a fair chunk of change.
In my experience with a Reba fork, the "lock out" is more a suggestion than a reality. Mine traveled a whole lot more than 30mm when "locked out". More like 90mm for a 100 mm fork. I've found that Fox and Manitou forks have a much more positive lockout than any of the Rock Shox forks I have experience with. The Manitou's lockout has less travel than the Fox but the Fox is a much better fork.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-24-15 | 10:08 AM
#14
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
I'm happy though, if I stand and climb without lockout, I'm bouncing all over the place. If I stand and climb with "lockout", I can see by watching the stanchions that I'm moving, but I don't feel like I'm going all up and down. So it makes a difference.
11-24-15 | 10:23 AM
#15
Disco Infiltrator
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,332
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Cannondale Silk Road 500, steel fork with a pretty bend and Head Shok suspension.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
