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Anyone Use A Suspension Seatpost?

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Anyone Use A Suspension Seatpost?

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Old 12-16-18, 04:10 PM
  #1  
radroad
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Anyone Use A Suspension Seatpost?

This definitely seems to be one of the better designs: the redshift suspension seat post. There are plenty of other designs out there: body float, sun tour, and the old thud buster designs. I was not happy with the LT thud buster btw.

The redshift is a 500 gram design with 35 mm of travel. The design looks excellent but of course, I'm concerned that it will sap power like the thud buster. I wonder what applications it could be used for: gravel? Light trail? Even fast road rides?

Does anyone use a suspension seat post either for road rides or even as a substitute for rear suspension for off road riding?


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Old 12-16-18, 04:11 PM
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I kickstart-ordered one of these at Sea Otter. They originally were supposed to be available in November, but they've had to do some re-designing.

I am going to use it on a steel rigid 2.8" tire bike.
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Old 12-16-18, 04:20 PM
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Cane Creek Thudbuster. I've got a LT on my hardtail and a ST on the rear of a tandem. Neither seem to impact power delivery.
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Old 12-16-18, 08:24 PM
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I just put a eeSilk post from Cane Creek on my Langster (that is close to being finished) t and also have a Kinect post from Body Float/Cirrus Cycles which is excellent. I am surprised that one wouldn't like the Thudbuster it is an excellent post. Granted all these posts aren't going to substitute for a full sus but for adding comfort on road and off road they are all great choices and for the weight weenies the eeSilk is not very heavy at all.
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Old 12-16-18, 10:45 PM
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I have a Thudbuster en route for my eBike conversion project. The bumps get nastier the faster you go, so help is appreciated
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Old 12-17-18, 11:54 AM
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I use clones of the Ergon CF3 on all my bikes. Clones are very inexpensive on Ebay.

I have a RedShift ShockStop on order, however, I believe that it will be heavier than the Ergon without better functionality.
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Old 12-17-18, 12:03 PM
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2 Thudbusters on 2 bikes LT came on the Pocket Llama, I bought a ST Replacing an Airwings the Original build used ..

Cane Creek has set back, the German one is a Zero setback design, telescope internal with Splines to not rotate in separate portions..
I wanted setback, the function was fine otherwise..

Now the company has a 3rd offering lighter Ti hardware, for the high end gravel bike buyers ..
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Old 12-17-18, 12:43 PM
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I've used the Specialized COBL GOBL-R (cobble gobbler) for ~11,000 miles. It smooths out the road buzz (especially chip and seal) without feeling at all squishy underneath you.
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Old 12-17-18, 01:37 PM
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I use a Thudbuster ST on my HT MTB.
It takes the edge of whenever I miss to go light over a bump.
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Old 12-17-18, 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by radroad
This definitely seems to be one of the better designs: the redshift suspension seat post. There are plenty of other designs out there: body float, sun tour, and the old thud buster designs. I was not happy with the LT thud buster btw.

The redshift is a 500 gram design with 35 mm of travel. The design looks excellent but of course, I'm concerned that it will sap power like the thud buster. I wonder what applications it could be used for: gravel? Light trail? Even fast road rides?

Does anyone use a suspension seat post either for road rides or even as a substitute for rear suspension for off road riding?
The new suspension seat posts hitting the market are getting better each year. There was really only the Thudbuster and then everyone else. Now we have options! Traditionalist like me like the Brooks Champion Flyer.
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Old 12-18-18, 02:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
The new suspension seat posts hitting the market are getting better each year. There was really only the Thudbuster and then everyone else. Now we have options! Traditionalist like me like the Brooks Champion Flyer.
The redshift does look like the best design yet. Looks to be the quality of the body float at a significantly lower price.

The thud buster LT was just a bummer. Saps power like crazy. I HATE the sensation of the seat moving back and down in an arc at the same time. I was happy to get ride of it at a big loss.
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Old 12-19-18, 04:40 PM
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I just installed the Thudbuster LT on my Specialized Hardrock Sport and went for a test ride. Showed up with the #5 elastomers in place. Not very squishy and I weigh over 200#. Problem is that with a 29" inseam, it was too much "mechanism" between the top of the seat tube and the seat rails. I was barely able to reach the pedals. So it'll be up for sale ...

I might try the ST model as that will fit much better. Still pricey though ... I don't want a spring post - to much weight. So still investigating ...
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Old 12-19-18, 10:19 PM
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I love my Thudbuster ST on my rigid Trek 1120, a 29x3 plus bike. I removed the drop seatpost to install the Thudbuster, mostly because I ride forest service roads more than singletrack. Also, I think I'm a Luddite regarding dropper posts.

There is also a Thudbuster LT on the stoker position of the Fandango mtb hardtail tandem.

The new suspension seat posts? I dunno. What I have now is working.
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Old 12-20-18, 07:21 AM
  #14  
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Consider a Satori seat post. I needed something to take the sting out of my lower back on my rigid gravel bike over potholed pavement and rough gravel roads. Works great and only $30 or so. Even put one on my Trek DS as well. Just couldn't bring myself to shell out $100-$200 on a seat post.
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Old 12-20-18, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg
Consider a Satori seat post. I needed something to take the sting out of my lower back on my rigid gravel bike over potholed pavement and rough gravel roads. Works great and only $30 or so. Even put one on my Trek DS as well. Just couldn't bring myself to shell out $100-$200 on a seat post.
How well does the satori work for (fast) road riding? I want something efficient and don't ride gravel much.

Last edited by radroad; 12-20-18 at 04:47 PM.
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Old 12-20-18, 04:54 PM
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Bodyfloat seatpost is another .... https://cirruscycles.com/
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Old 12-20-18, 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by radroad
The redshift does look like the best design yet. Looks to be the quality of the body float at a significantly lower price.

The thud buster LT was just a bummer. Saps power like crazy. I HATE the sensation of the seat moving back and down in an arc at the same time. I was happy to get ride of it at a big loss.

Did You Put a stiffer eastomers in it? and tighten down the pre load screw running through the 2 elastomer .. ??

you can stiffen them more adjustably , than the ST allows
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Old 12-20-18, 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Did You Put a stiffer eastomers in it? and tighten down the pre load screw running through the 2 elastomer .. ??

you can stiffen them more adjustably , than the ST allows
Yeah, I put in 1 class higher (stiffer) elastomers than recommended for my weight and nearly maxed out preload. The saddle tilts and arcs backward; that's what bothered me. It felt like I was constantly sliding off the back of the saddle. It's a very unnatural feeling and very inefficient for pedaling.
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Old 12-20-18, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by radroad
How well does the satori work for (fast) road riding? I want something efficient and don't ride gravel much.
Nobody is likely to use "fast" as an adjective in describing my riding.. unless it's downhill. Speaking of which, there is a section of N. Maple Rd. here that descends to the river and isn't the best pavement, pretty rough. Seat post works great into the upper 20's at which point I start tapping the brakes like the old pansy that I am.
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Old 12-20-18, 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by radroad
Yeah, I put in 1 class higher (stiffer) elastomers than recommended for my weight and nearly maxed out preload. The saddle tilts and arcs backward; that's what bothered me. It felt like I was constantly sliding off the back of the saddle. It's a very unnatural feeling and very inefficient for pedaling.

I never noticed it I removed a Plunger style Zero Offset Seat post a German Airwings Tour I can Sell (It was in an oversize seat tube frame ).


You Doing Big Drop Mountain bike downhills? I Dont..








.....

Last edited by fietsbob; 12-21-18 at 11:48 AM.
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Old 12-21-18, 03:13 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by radroad
How well does the satori work for (fast) road riding? I want something efficient and don't ride gravel much.
I tried a Satori LT2 earlier this year. I did two mixed 40 miles rides and took it off. It moves up and down too much for my liking on fast smooth road. I'm roughly 190#. First ride I adjusted it a few times and eventually maxxed it out. I took it apart, added some spacers and still couldn't get it to stop moving or to the point it had so much preload it's effectivness on bumps was not worth it. Eyeballing while riding it looked to be moving 1/16 to 3/16 on each stroke with decent power but overall I felt like I was bouncing. Maybe if I was cruising around at 10-12 mph @ ≤ 70 rpm or maybe if I was doing a really long non road trip but not at ≥ 80 on the road... I do long road and off road on the same bike. It is a solid well built unit, it's just not for me. Chances are many wouldn't notice or care about that but I do. Perfect world for me would be a simple design spring post like the Satori but with a selectable hard lockout, even if I had to unsaddle and it took a minute or so.

Last edited by u235; 12-21-18 at 08:23 AM.
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Old 12-21-18, 05:15 AM
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I've used a handful of telescopic ones, and i only liked one of them - it was the only one without a nylon guide bush. Being all-metal it did need to be kept greased (had a corrugated boot), but it was slick and smooth with no play - quite the opposite of the common nylon-bushed ones, which always felt sticky (even when greased) and never rigid enough.

I don't understand what's so difficult about making an all-metal one with a proper oil seal at both ends of the carriage. Makes me inclined to make my own.
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Old 12-21-18, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by u235
I tried a Satori LT2 earlier this year. I did two mixed 40 miles rides and took it off. It moves up and down too much for my liking on fast smooth road. I'm roughly 190#. First ride I adjusted it a few times and eventually maxxed it out. I took it apart, added some spacers and still couldn't get it to stop moving or to the point it had so much preload it's effectivness on bumps was not worth it. Eyeballing while riding it looked to be moving 1/16 to 3/16 on each stroke with decent power but overall I felt like I was bouncing. Maybe if I was cruising around at 10-12 mph @ ≤ 70 rpm or maybe if I was doing a really long non road trip but not at ≥ 80 on the road... I do long road and off road on the same bike. It is a solid well built unit, it's just not for me. Chances are many wouldn't notice or care about that but I do. Perfect world for me would be a simple design spring post like the Satori but with a selectable hard lockout, even if I had to unsaddle and it took a minute or so.
Off my list it goes. :-)

Redshift (500 grams, 35 mm travel) and Ergon knockoff (half pound? 20 mm flex) are still in play.
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Old 12-22-18, 12:30 PM
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I've had one on my old Fuji for years. Bought from Nashbar in the '80s. It uses a 1" diameter elastomer puck about 1" long sandwiched inside of a knee-like joint.








It doesn't 'give' a bunch like a true suspension seatpost, but it does take the 'buzz' out of riding on rougher paved surfaces.

This seatpost is on my '75 Fuji S-10S with well over 50k miles, and that is still the bike's original Fujita Belt saddle, so please excuse the patina on the seat rails


,


.

Last edited by Cougrrcj; 12-26-18 at 08:21 AM. Reason: add'l info
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Old 12-22-18, 12:40 PM
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New Cane Creek for the Gravel crowd , the even less travel light weight Ti hardware, 27.2 only the eeSilk



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