Suspension Seat Post Anyone?
 

Just wondering if any of you use a suspension seat post for road riding. I never have, but I'm curious what the pros/cons would be if I did use one.

Pros: It's like riding a pogo stick. If you are into that sort of thing.

Cons: It's like riding a pogo stick. It robs you of efficiency. It changes your riding position relative to your pedals, hundreds of times per ride. They are heavy.

I had a thudbuster on my mountain bike hardtail. I didn't like it. I like a regular ol post much better.

I hate 'em. Never felt one that made the slightest bit of improvement. They're a gimmick to sell comfort bikes.

The Tamer Tricky Dick is outstanding. The saddle keeps a perfectly straight direction and you get a cushoning when you need it.

http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking...PSPSUSP/ST5572

I've been riding a suspension post on one of my bikes for nearly 4 years. So far, its all cons and no pros and its the next thing thats getting replaced on that bike. The more I ride the more sensitive I get about seatpost height, and the suspension post just annoys me more and more. I've never noticed it making the ride significantly softer..it doesn't absorb vibrations any better than a mildly padded seat, and when you go over things like pot holes you tend to take your weight off the seat anyway...so really whats the point? The worst part about my particular suspension post is that when you spin at a really high cadence, it exagerates the bouncing, sort of like a trampoline, and if you spin really fast, your fanny will bounce right off the seat.

I've been riding on one for the past 8 years. I think I'm going to change it out for a regular one at some point. I don't feel like it adds a lot to the ride.

I can't understand the need for one on a roadbike at all. Like i said, i put one on my mountain bike. I ride mainly on unpaved, harsh, gravel roads and dirt. I've got nearly 15,000 miles on said roads. Oddly enough, the bike seems more comfortable without the suspension seatpost.

Sure it gave but it just proved to me that i wasn't uncomfortable before. The tires are the best place to gain suspension on a hardtail MTB. Lowering them down to 30 lbs on 2.0 tires makes the ride quite plush. Granted you are asking about a roadbike but just wanted to make an illustration. Also it might be worth noting that a standard seatpost can flex more than you might think if you have a lot of it extended.

Never used one. Why don't you just stand up during the rough parts?

One came on my bike. I don't think it actually does anything. I can push it down and see it move but I really doubt it makes any difference. I suppose I could put a hose clamp on the slide at some point to lock it up and see if I can tell the difference.

Thanks folks, all worthy replies. I think I'll stick to what I know!

I rented a Hybrid while I was in New Orleans on business awhile back and it had a suspension seatpost on it. It was kind of funky and I didn't care for it. To me, roadbikes should be solid.

I can't speak for top-of-the-line ones, but the cheap ones SUCK. You're soooooo much better off with a sprung saddle. I hated my suspension seatpost, so I replaced it with a normal one. A couple weeks ago I got a sprung Brooks to replace my unsprung Brooks and WOW it's like riding with a 20 psi tire. The bumps just get soaked right up. I seriously checked my tire pressure after I put it on :). It is way more effective and less flimsy-feeling than the seatpost.

If you are looking for a suspension for your butt, I would far sooner recommend a sprung saddle than a suspension seatpost.

I have one that came on my Trek 1200c. To be honest, I don't see a problem with it.

I used a Cane Creek ThudBuster on my daily wheeler for 4 years. Loved it!!
Even had a big fat seat for my big fat a#s.
The local insurgents were in awe.

I recently bought a Schwinn Comfort Bike with the suspension seat post and it was a nightmare from day one. The lateral movement gives u the feeling that ur lower body is shifting to one side while ur upper body is steering to the other side...a rather insecure feeling for me. I understand that this lateral movement is a typical characteristic of a suspension seat post. I do not like it. I am looking to change it to a regular type.

I hate any type of suspension on a bike. They all feel mushy.

i've got one on my commuter but I actually only bought it because it was on sale for 14.99 minus the nashbar coupons :D. I was still building the bike at the time and I actually don't have an extra rigid seatpost. Its not that bouncy as long as you set the rebound/preload to almost the most stiffest setting. My bike is an old 80s Scott mtb based off the Muddy Fox and Rockhopper frames, which were basically small touring frames. I would never put one on my road machine as they are probably 3-4x heavier than a normal post and high cadences tend to make your arse bounce off the saddle.

Sprung saddles have the same intent and do the job better. A decent suspension seatpost is better than nothing, but not as good as a sprung saddle. A cheap one is worse than nothing. I've only ridden one once. It didn't appear to do very much at all. The bike was reasonably comfortable, but it was a clunker.

I got a 1000c for a starter road bike. It came with a suspension post. First problem is not necessarily the post but me ... I'm heavy and the post is "preloaded" almost all the way when I sit on it. Secondly, I think after a while of riding, it compresses even more ... almost to the point it's bottomed out anyway. This compression changes the seat to pedal distance slightly I'm sure.

So ... either I need to loose about 40 lbs or get rid of the suspension post ... or both.

Good Luck,
d.tipton

I commute on a comfort/hybrid bike which came with a suspension seat post (that's the spring thingy in the seat post; correct?) so I've never known anything different. I think it makes the ride slightly more comfortable; it probably is slightly less efficient as well. But I don't care that much. I do occassionaly ride on gravel roads, so it probably smooths out some of the bumps.

I dunno ... mine is compressed down all the way when I put my 205 pound hiney there ...

I have one on my bike, but I don't think it does anything. I'll gladly trade for a solid post.

I don't have a road bike, but I love my suspsension seat. I have it on a tight setting and it only really goes down when I the road is real rough. I weigh 170. For my normal peddling, I can't feel it doing anything.

I find it much more comfortable than my other bike's fixed seat.

Again, I don't know if I'd still prefer it for longer road rides.

My Trek 7100FX came with a suspension seat post. The seat and post was stolen and I replaced it with a rigid pole on advice from the LBS. I chained the new seat to the frame so next time my entire bike was stolen. My replacement bike had another suspension post so I've been from suspension -> rigid -> suspension.

Initially after transitioning from suspension to rigid I could feel it. Prolonged rough terrain became uncomfortable much quicker (though my wrists give in much sooner than any other body part these days).
It wasn't too long before I stopped noticing (or perhaps just remebering what it used to be like).

I haven't really noticed much, transitioning from rigid to suspension, excpet it squeaks annoyingly as I go over bumps.

I don't think there is too much in it - I'm not bothering to replace my current post but I probably would buy a suspension post either.

Don't know about road, but I loved it on my mtb. My hardtail was fine in Boise, but when I moved to Phoenix I was riding REALLY rough trails on every single trip out and was being robbed of momentum trying to get over the rocks seated. The RockShox mountain post allowed me to remain seated in the rough stuff (everywhere in South Mountain) and really did make me faster and more comfortable. That thing really did it's job in Phoenix.

I have thought about it for my road bike but really can't see much need.