Rigid Fork vs Susp Fork on Road/Light Trail Bike
Likes For MikeDeason:
#77
Francophile
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Seattle and Reims
Posts: 3,566
Bikes: Peugeot: AO-8 1973, PA-10 1971, PR-10 1973, Sante 1988; Masi Gran Criterium 1975, Stevenson Tourer 1980, Stevenson Criterium 1981, Schwinn Paramount 1972, Rodriguez 2006, Gitane Federal ~1975, Holdsworth Pro, Follis 172 ~1973, Bianchi '62
Liked 674 Times
in
331 Posts
And there we have about the best explanation possible for this purchase.
__________________
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
#79
Just Pedaling
On the aesthetic question, I've always used flat bars (riser for mtb; narrow/flat with bar ends for road riding) and have never thought of them as ugly! Now that I think of it, I can also report that after 10s of thousands of kilometres my arms have yet to fall off; one would think they would have by now given some of the theorizing here on teh Biek Formz.
I think my bike is quite 'pretty' and well-suited to this old b_gg_r's riding ... but that's just me.
I think my bike is quite 'pretty' and well-suited to this old b_gg_r's riding ... but that's just me.
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,205
Bikes: Columbine, Paramount Track Bike, Colnago Super, Santana Tandems (1995 & 2007), Gary Fisher Piranha, Trek Wahoo, Bianchi Track Bike, a couple of Honda mountain bikes
Liked 432 Times
in
266 Posts
Yes. My current commuter has the Thudbuster ST. Huge difference in ride quality. I plan on getting the LT for this bike. Just thought the light susp fork might be worth the weight trade off to help
smooth out speed bumps and larger imperfections in the road but I believe I have been convinced otherwise.
smooth out speed bumps and larger imperfections in the road but I believe I have been convinced otherwise.
https://canecreek.com/product/eesilk-stem/
__________________
Cheers, Mike
-Stupid hurts....ride safe
Cheers, Mike
-Stupid hurts....ride safe
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 638
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Liked 418 Times
in
242 Posts
However, in the second scenario the bike commuter's top priority is minimizing the time spent in traffic, for which an ebike slices precious minutes of exposure 2X/day. Win-win. (With a boost type bike one can have the same workout, that much I've figured out.)
#82
Senior Member
A double suspension BSO from Walmart is going to motivate me to do more pumping.
Just think of the workout I'll get from fifty pounds and a Falcon derailleur.
Just think of the workout I'll get from fifty pounds and a Falcon derailleur.
#83
Whatever gets you riding. I may be totally off on a tangent but my impression is that e-bikes are simply a means to get from a to b with less effort than a mechanical bicycle. A car does that even better and I have a car.
While I may curse hitting a red light, relying on a battery to get going again defeats the objective of my commutes. Striving for the best possible mechanical experience however, does not. Just upgrading my crappy 25yr old hybrid has got me out on more recreational rides and more challenging commuting routes.
While I may curse hitting a red light, relying on a battery to get going again defeats the objective of my commutes. Striving for the best possible mechanical experience however, does not. Just upgrading my crappy 25yr old hybrid has got me out on more recreational rides and more challenging commuting routes.
Last edited by MikeDeason; 04-20-24 at 04:58 PM.
#85
Francophile
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Seattle and Reims
Posts: 3,566
Bikes: Peugeot: AO-8 1973, PA-10 1971, PR-10 1973, Sante 1988; Masi Gran Criterium 1975, Stevenson Tourer 1980, Stevenson Criterium 1981, Schwinn Paramount 1972, Rodriguez 2006, Gitane Federal ~1975, Holdsworth Pro, Follis 172 ~1973, Bianchi '62
Liked 674 Times
in
331 Posts
MikeDeason , read what Jan Heine has to say about modern bikes and suspension. https://www.renehersecycles.com/pari...or-everything/
As I've said before, really all you need are good fat tires. Suspension is unnecessary unless you're humping roots and rocks.
As I've said before, really all you need are good fat tires. Suspension is unnecessary unless you're humping roots and rocks.
__________________
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,929
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,053 Posts
Suspension is unnecessary ... but then, bikes in general are not necessary.
As for e-assist---the point is not to lessen effort all the time, but to lessen effort or increase speed when one chooses.
I did a group ride today with a guy on one of those Dutch (? Certainly European) cargo bikes with a box in front of the rider and a tiny 20" (as opposed to a normal 20"??) wheel way out front. (I guess he had lived in a lot of European countries where using bikes for almost all transport was possible and even sensible.)
He had an e-assist, because his bike weighed a cubic ton compared to most, and was designed to carry his two kids, or a week's groceries, or whatever .... it didn't make him ride less, but it made the worst part of his rides a little better.
Nothing wrong with e-assist, or with not wanting e-assist, but no sense is forming a mistaken impression of what it is or what it does.
I spent a very long time car-free, and there were certainly days when a little help would have been appreciated---and that was when I was in fantastic shape ... sure, you Can just nail the throttle and drain the battery ... you can also use it for a little boost on a hill start or on a day when the legs are hurting.
I can see that if I ride long enough, I might need e-assist to keep up with some groups, or to help if I hit really big hills. If e-assist keeps me riding another several years late in life,, bring it on.
As for e-assist---the point is not to lessen effort all the time, but to lessen effort or increase speed when one chooses.
I did a group ride today with a guy on one of those Dutch (? Certainly European) cargo bikes with a box in front of the rider and a tiny 20" (as opposed to a normal 20"??) wheel way out front. (I guess he had lived in a lot of European countries where using bikes for almost all transport was possible and even sensible.)
He had an e-assist, because his bike weighed a cubic ton compared to most, and was designed to carry his two kids, or a week's groceries, or whatever .... it didn't make him ride less, but it made the worst part of his rides a little better.
Nothing wrong with e-assist, or with not wanting e-assist, but no sense is forming a mistaken impression of what it is or what it does.
I spent a very long time car-free, and there were certainly days when a little help would have been appreciated---and that was when I was in fantastic shape ... sure, you Can just nail the throttle and drain the battery ... you can also use it for a little boost on a hill start or on a day when the legs are hurting.
I can see that if I ride long enough, I might need e-assist to keep up with some groups, or to help if I hit really big hills. If e-assist keeps me riding another several years late in life,, bring it on.
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,886
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Liked 555 Times
in
381 Posts
Everyone has a different definition of "commuting" so the only thing I'll contribute is that back in the day I rode a front suspension hardtail mountain bike on the streets of San Francisco (lots of rough pavement) and it was a lot of fun. The other folks on the ride had road bikes with skinny tires (these were the 23mm tire days) and they were sketched out by the potholes and train tracks whereas I was super confident and hitting everything without needing to scrub speed. On paper the front shocks are overkill but I just remember it being super plush hopping curbs, rolling over potholes, etc. RS SIDs 100mm on 26x2.0 tires, IIRC.
Likes For tFUnK:
#88
I think this bike will work pretty well for commuting and certainly for light trail riding. But to end up with a $9k XC race bike just to get SRAM AXS and a flat bar is absolutely nuts! But at least it will be a very nice bike.
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 638
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Liked 418 Times
in
242 Posts
Everyone has a different definition of "commuting" so the only thing I'll contribute is that back in the day I rode a front suspension hardtail mountain bike on the streets of San Francisco (lots of rough pavement) and it was a lot of fun. The other folks on the ride had road bikes with skinny tires (these were the 23mm tire days) and they were sketched out by the potholes and train tracks whereas I was super confident and hitting everything without needing to scrub speed. On paper the front shocks are overkill but I just remember it being super plush hopping curbs, rolling over potholes, etc. RS SIDs 100mm on 26x2.0 tires, IIRC.
Funny how, presuming a relatively short commute of a few miles, one learns every pavement quirk on the route, plus those intersections where folks tend to blow though the stop. Whee!
#90
Commuter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: SE Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 742
Bikes: Main Bikes: 2023 Trek Domane AL3, 2022 Aventon Level.2 eBike, 1972 Schwinn Varsity, 2024 Priority Apollo 11
Liked 519 Times
in
278 Posts
- Get people with bad knees riding again. For them, the choice is no biking or eBiking.
- Arriving at the destination not sweaty in the summer
- For a lot of local trips, people take a car because they don't want the effort riding. For example, a lunchtime errand, light grocery run, commuting. We bicycle commuters are a special breed of course, but regular people would be more likely to ride if it wasn't so much effort. (esp. uphill or into headwinds) It can take a lot of the pain out of cycling, while leaving all the pleasant parts.
- My riding today is a prime example:
- I took the eBike to work today. I rode in unpowered this morning for a bit of exercise. (2 easy miles, but not as easy as you might think, since the bike weighs 70 lbs!)
- I have a lunchtime appointment across town 5 miles away. It's uphill most of the way there. For this, I will use Level 1 electric assistance, so as not to take too much time or get sweaty; I still have to work the rest of the day. My pulse will still be 130-140, so not letting the motor do all the work even here, while going 15-20 mph going uphill. Lunchtime is too limited to go 8-10 mph for this trip. I may go unpowered on the way back to work.
- For my commute home, I'll probably use Level 1 power again, as it's overall uphill and I will be joining the faster club road ride of the week tonight and want to save my legs for that. (~ 27 miles)
A car does that even better and I have a car.
While I may curse hitting a red light, relying on a battery to get going again defeats the objective of my commutes. Striving for the best possible mechanical experience however, does not. Just upgrading my crappy 25yr old hybrid has got me out on more recreational rides and more challenging commuting routes.
#91
Just Pedaling
I don't have a problem with E-bikes. I know they serve a purpose. It's all the uneducated salmon riding them. Most people on them have never ridden a bike and have no clue what cycling etiquette is. Everyone should know you don't ride motorized vehicles on the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians into the road. Or young kids doing spin-outs in the wet grass in front of a memorial, turning it into mud. I could go on, but why? Okay, got that out of my system. what a beautiful day. Think I'll go for a ride
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 6,006
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Liked 2,277 Times
in
1,393 Posts
Besides the Thudbuster line, CaneCreek makes an eeSilk handlebar stem that works wonders on our San Diego "roads".
https://canecreek.com/product/eesilk-stem/
https://canecreek.com/product/eesilk-stem/
The lockout is a nice feature for smooth surfaces.
John
#93
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 638
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Liked 418 Times
in
242 Posts
Our rental bike fleet (think Jump Bike, Lime) have vanished, leaving a cloud of rental e-scooters behind. I suspect the common perception of an e-bike is one of those, ridden by tourists and Friday night bar hoppers.
Newer on the scene are privately owned Big Boy throttle bikes that I suspect mostly fall under the DMV moped category, and not Cat 1, 2 or 3 ebikes. Yet are operated as bikes in bike-specific places. Fad? Too soon to know but an 80-pound thing blasting along at 30 is a different sort of "fun" to contend with. Sound system pondered separately.
Newer on the scene are privately owned Big Boy throttle bikes that I suspect mostly fall under the DMV moped category, and not Cat 1, 2 or 3 ebikes. Yet are operated as bikes in bike-specific places. Fad? Too soon to know but an 80-pound thing blasting along at 30 is a different sort of "fun" to contend with. Sound system pondered separately.
Likes For Rick_D:
Likes For bboy314:
#95
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,929
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,053 Posts
Bad road users abound, on foot, scooter, skateboard, bike, e-bike, moped, motorcycle, car, truck .... anything I forgot? The idiot is an idiot on any conveyance.
Who prefers an idiot in a car to an idiot on an e-bike?
Who prefers an idiot in a car to an idiot on an e-bike?
Likes For Maelochs:
#97
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 638
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Liked 418 Times
in
242 Posts
Now that it's spring, the vast majority of cyclists are folks who are not enthusiasts, having extracted their bikes from the back of the garage for the first time since September and finally locating the pump. Unless you live in Netherlands or somesuch. Just how things are.
#98
Banned
What's the ETA for the new bike?
#99
Steel is real
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Not far from Paris
Posts: 2,432
Bikes: 1992Giant Tourer,1992MeridaAlbon,1996Scapin,1998KonaKilaueua,1993Peugeot Prestige,1991RaleighTeamZ(to be upgraded),1998 Jamis Dragon,1992CTWallis(to be built),1998VettaTeam,1995Coppi(to be built),1993Grandis(to be built)
Liked 1,256 Times
in
834 Posts
I am using this 32 years old 1992 Giant Tourer Hybrid with Schwalbe Marathon 700*35 tires, Mavic,A 719 rims and XT 780T transmission and it has its rigid fork which is more than plentyful for any gravelly and bumpy road even cracked pavement
Likes For georges1:
#100
Very long and involved story but I ended up not getting the Orbea. The short version is that two friends staged an intervention and steered me to an entirely different bike. Fortunately, the Orbea build had not gone to the point of no return and the money was refunded. My new bike is promised within 7-10 days and is fully paid for and non-refundable at this point.
Pics when it comes.
The shop will be replacing the stock tires with 700x38 Marathon Plus, a choice which elicited consternation from my salesman. I have also discovered that I cannot put a kickstand on a carbon fiber bike, it's just not done. There are no mounting holes and one cannot clamp things to carbon fiber. This fact does not exactly instill confidence in the durability of carbon fiber
Pics when it comes.
The shop will be replacing the stock tires with 700x38 Marathon Plus, a choice which elicited consternation from my salesman. I have also discovered that I cannot put a kickstand on a carbon fiber bike, it's just not done. There are no mounting holes and one cannot clamp things to carbon fiber. This fact does not exactly instill confidence in the durability of carbon fiber