DLBroox

I've been riding my Dahon curve with a new Lt for about a week. Right around the 10 mile mark I get rather bad shoulder pain. I've tried stiffer elastomers to reduce travel. I don't bounce when I peddle either. And, I've taken a lot of care in placing my saddle.

I think I might have to give the thing up. Anyone else have a similar experience?

mlau

Pictures and Setup?

You might be having similar trouble to what I have in my thread.

SesameCrunch

I'm not getting something.... How are you establishing a link between your shoulder and the Thudbuster?!

DLBroox

It makes sense to me. The Thudbuster is the only change to my bike. And think about the action of the seat in regards to the rest of your body. As the seat goes back, your body is being pulled slightly back from the handlebars. It's slight, but the constant movement is enough to change the position of the arms and shoulders. You are basically tugging from your torso through your arms to your shoulders.

Mlau, where's your thread?

brakemeister

let me be blunt .....
I think the thudbuster makes your ride more compliant ( compliant : less fatigue, less pain in the butt, more speed, more distance, more agressive riding results out of that ) that you now find the next " weak" link .... your hand position/shoulders .......
get some ergo grips, change the seating position just a bit and maybe your butt wont hurt, your soulder are fine. but you will find the next " weak" spot ...lol

Thor

DLBroox

Let me be blunt. Is that what you tell your customers when an item is not a good fit for them? That they have a weakness?

I think this thing is designed really well, but not everything is for everyone. I might be the one in a million that finds the constant motion of the seat counter productive. But I'm willing to bet others have had a similar issue and never thought about the Thudbuster being the source of their discomfort. The one thing you read about bike fit is that once you find a good saddle position, do not change it, as it could have many consequences to the comfort of the ride. And this thing makes it so your saddle is always shifting down and away from the handlebars.

That said, I think the Thudbuster does exactly what it is meant to do. It smoothes out the bumps and in that regard makes for an extremely comfortable ride. It is also made extremely well. I think most folks are quite happy with it. But it's just not for me.

Anybody interested in a brand new one that fits a Dahon, you know who to pm.

kamtsa

DLBroox, I would think that if the pain is caused by the TB movement, changing the elastometers will increase/decrese the pain. Have you noticed any difference in the pain when you changed the elastometers?

Kam

rbrian

Which is exactly why I want to get rid of the suspension seatpost on my hybrid - it really makes it much less comfortable, and I find myself adjusting the seat height every few miles. After I've been riding for a while, my knees hurt because it's too low. So I raise it a bit, but now it's too high so my bum hurts, then it sinks so it's too low so my knees hurt...

Maybe this is just what happens with cheap suspension seat posts, a Thudbuster might be brilliant - but I'd rather go without.

DLBroox

I did try a stiffer elastomer. Didn't feel much different with the pain. Less bounce with the seat though, but still baffled the bumps. If I go any stiffer, I think it will be at the point where- why have it anyway then.

brakemeister

if you bought it from me I will gladly trade it for an ST model or even give you the money back after I have received the seatpost back ....
shipping is on you ...

That is the very first ever negative comment for the thudbuster I have heard about. No problem to make good and give your money back ( as long as I sold it and its in good sale able shape of course )

thor

14R 

I got my thudbuster from thor about 20 months ago, ride it regularly on my full size bike (Bad Boy Ultra). Don't have any issues.

Autoworker

I got a Thudbuster from Thor about a year ago for my Curve SL.

I can't really offer an opinion on the ride, because Mrs. Autoworker loves the bike so much, I never get to ride it!

Now if I could just figure out a way to put a Thudbuster on my Strida 5.......

paulimym

I have a thudbuster on my curve D3 too. On one ride I covered 120km in one day from Cameron Highlands to Gua Musang (West Malaysia) with 2 other friends also on folding bikes. Like the Thudbuster so much that I got one for my Trek mtb. Your problem could be the height /reach of handle bar and saddle.