First step to making ride less harsh?
 

So i have two aluminum frame bikes that are okay but harsh on rides. Can feel every bump.
I was wondering what should i replace first to make it more comfortable.
Would getting new wheels or fork help?
Everything is stock.
Please don't say sell it cus thats not an option.

Lower air pressure, wider tires/tubes;
what kind of bike/tires, size-pressure?

if the Al bikes don't have a stell or carbon fork then that's a good way to start along with thicker tires, 700x28 is very nice.

Of course you can feel every bump....you a riding a rigid bike. Bigger tires and lower air pressure will help but thats about all you can do. A sprung saddle will help. But don't expect a new fork or wheels to make much of a difference. Go around the bumps or get a full suspension mountain bike.

I suggest you go all crabon: fork, stem, seatpost, seat, handlebar. It will soften the ride. Though I suggest you buy all new parts because used carbon fibre could cause some problems. I hope this helps. Good luck with your aliminum bicycle!

I'd simply switch tyres to the widest ones you can fit into the frame/onto the rim. These can be run at a lower pressure for the same load, giving you a slightly smoother ride. A sprung saddle will also help. You've most likely already got a steel fork.

What bikes are you riding? I would think the geometry, tubing, etc. of the frame would also factor into ride quality.

suspension seatpost, sprung saddle, carbon fork, and probably number 1: the fattest tires you can fit.

i guess the easy way to gauge this is check what size tires you are currently running, and see how much space you have between the tire and the top and sides of the fork, and between the tire and seat tube. all tires, although supposedly being 700 x 23 or 25 or whatever, all vary. but if you are running 25s and it looks like you have a ton of room, you could maybe pull off 32s.

+1 this, before you spend big bucks on forks.

0) take frame that can fit wide tires.
1) apply wide tires.

Get big randos. I ride 25c and I've ridden a friend's bike with 32c randos, on a Leader 725. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes, even on an aluminum frame.

25c randos are probably 23mm actual.

This is a bit off topic: but how did you end up with 2 aluminum bicycles? You are obviously having problems riding on aluminum and yet you have two rides made of the same type of material. You don't like riding them, but selling is not an option - Whuh?!? Maybe you just like the way they look or maybe you're a weight weenie? Just curious.

Anyway, I hope our suggestions above like help to smooth the ride out (a bit)

I wouldn't doubt it. I touched on the subject in my diatribe that I posted in that tire thread.

OP, seriously, check that thread out. You should also read up on your Sheldon Brown. That man was a cycling genius, in my eyes.

broakland, good point. OP should buy an NJS frame asap, as to preserve street cred while also improving ride quality.

sheldon brown, you say? ill look him up.

Steel is real

Oh you. I was directing that towards OP.

loool

/thread

thanks for all the suggestion. I currently have gatorskin 25 on both bikes, but idk if 28 can fit.
I'm fine with the harshness and i know its not comfy but i was just wondering if i can make it comfier.
Would thicker wheels like the b43 help at all?

well my first bike is a fuji feather. Now i got a fuji track pro for cheap so i'm gonna build it up.
I just wanted to know if its possible to make it smoother, since i'm giving away my fuji feather to my gf. I want to make it softer for her.

off topic but i have a feeling you use ******, and imgur :thumb:

No, I don't see any way in which rims like the B43s would improve ride comfort.

I agree with 1nterceptor - get the widest, most supple, tires that'll fit and run them at the lowest pressure that still avoids pinch flats. Note that different tires vary in width from their nominal values - i.e. not all 25mm tires are actually 25mm wide. If there's any significant clearance with your current tires then you should be able to find some slightly wider ones that'll still fit. A few extra mm of width won't make any noticeable difference in your speed (unless you're missing a podium appearance by a couple seconds), but will make a difference in ride harshness. And the extra Kevlar belt in the Gatorskins is good for flat resistance but makes for a slightly harsher riding tire.

B43s are going to make it worse most likely. Deep dish rims are meant for stiffness, strength, aerodynamics, and hipness. Usually you give up comfort for those characteristics