Suspension seat post = sore feet?

OzCableguy said:

I use a Giant comfort MTB as my "road" bike. Geometry is pretty much
identical to the off road bike (another Giant) with the exception of the
handlebars being a bit higher and the suspension seat post. Same SPD pedals
etc.
No problems whatsover on the off road bike but every time lately that I get
on the road bike I get cramps in my feet and aching hammies after about 20
mins. I believe those complaints would normally come up if the seat was set
too high so I'm wondering if the suspension seat post might be artifically
lifting me up as I spin under load or something like that. Worth trying a
non-suspension post or could it be something else?

It's not as though it'll be an expensive experiment!

BTH

BT Humble said:

OzCableguy said:

I use a Giant comfort MTB as my "road" bike. Geometry is pretty much
identical to the off road bike (another Giant) with the exception of the
handlebars being a bit higher and the suspension seat post. Same SPD pedals
etc.
No problems whatsover on the off road bike but every time lately that I get
on the road bike I get cramps in my feet and aching hammies after about 20
mins. I believe those complaints would normally come up if the seat was set
too high so I'm wondering if the suspension seat post might be artifically
lifting me up as I spin under load or something like that. Worth trying a
non-suspension post or could it be something else?

It's not as though it'll be an expensive experiment!

BTH

True, you could try changing it with a normal seatpost or you could
argue the pros and cons for a few weeks on rec.bikes.tech group.

Dorf

"BT Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It's not as though it'll be an expensive experiment!

Indeed. Done deal. We shall see how it goes.
I was thinking a narrower saddle might also be a good idea. The current
saddle is extra cushy and super comfortable but I find I either have to sit
forward on it or I'm forced to pedal a bit bow legged... some rigid forks
wouldn't go astray either... hmmm....
Ahh stuff it. Time to build up a fixie methinks. :-)

--
www.ozcableguy.com
www.oztechnologies.com

"BT Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It's not as though it'll be an expensive experiment!

Appears to have done the trick. Just some minor aching leftover from the
previous rides but that should pass in a day or 3.

Conclusion: Suspension seat posts are good for lazy cruises along bike paths
or fat blokes getting back into excercise but not really ideal for anything
approaching a performance type cadence.

--
www.ozcableguy.com
www.oztechnologies.com

OzCableguy said:

Conclusion: Suspension seat posts are good for lazy cruises along bike paths
or fat blokes getting back into excercise but not really ideal for anything
approaching a performance type cadence.

There is one, I suspect expensive, that maintains the effective seat
height. It has an articulated parrallelogram with an internal shock
strut. I've seen a few Vets race bikes with them so they appear to
work.

Aeek said:

Quoted message said:

Conclusion: Suspension seat posts are good for lazy cruises along
bike paths or fat blokes getting back into excercise but not really
ideal for anything approaching a performance type cadence.

There is one, I suspect expensive, that maintains the effective seat
height. It has an articulated parrallelogram with an internal shock
strut. I've seen a few Vets race bikes with them so they appear to
work.

Thudbuster - They are good stuff.

--

"Blue Heeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There is one, I suspect expensive, that maintains the effective seat
height. It has an articulated parrallelogram with an internal shock
strut. I've seen a few Vets race bikes with them so they appear to
work.

Thudbuster - They are good stuff.

Interesting.

http://www.thudbuster.com/faq.html

"Will the seatpost interfere with pedaling the bicycle?
NO.
The U.S. Patented design uses a downward/rearward motion to isolate the
suspension movement from the drivetrain of the bicycle. The seatpost is
actively absorbing bumps regardless of whether you are coasting along or
really cranking on the pedals."

However, it still appears to vary the distance from the pedals from what I
can see.
What I suspect was happening in my situation was there was a certain amount
of sag just from sitting on it and the seat would actually rise when I
cranked hard with a reasonably fast cadence. (The movement of the seatpost
is fairly sticky rather than fluid). Wouldn't the thudbuster have similar
characteristics?

--
www.ozcableguy.com
www.oztechnologies.com

OzCableguy said:

"BT Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It's not as though it'll be an expensive experiment!

Indeed. Done deal. We shall see how it goes.
I was thinking a narrower saddle might also be a good idea. The current
saddle is extra cushy and super comfortable but I find I either have to sit
forward on it or I'm forced to pedal a bit bow legged... some rigid forks
wouldn't go astray either... hmmm....
Ahh stuff it. Time to build up a fixie methinks. :-)

--www.ozcableguy.comwww.oztechnologies.com

Hey Ozzie it's probably time in your riding career to ditch the
squishy saddle. Yes they feel nice superficially, hence they get the
inexperienced bum on a bike. However, people find minimally padded
seats to be more comfortable, once their bum gets used to it after a
few rides. The foam only compresses, so the squish is an illusion and
is prone to causing chafing. The trouble is finding a saddle that has
the shape to fit your bum. There are threads on this ng about 'which
saddle'. I personally love the SI Flite TransAm and have it on all my
bikes. Others like saddles that feel like an axe up my [censored].

It might also be time to start looking at your bike fit and set-up.

Donga

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:59:17 -0700

Donga said:

Hey Ozzie it's probably time in your riding career to ditch the
squishy saddle. Yes they feel nice superficially, hence they get the
inexperienced bum on a bike. However, people find minimally padded
seats to be more comfortable, once their bum gets used to it after a
few rides. The foam only compresses, so the squish is an illusion and

*snort* *giggle* *act insufferably smug*

Zebee
- who realises this post will make no sense to new readers

Zebee Johnstone said:

snort giggle *act insufferably smug*

Zebee
- who realises this post will make no sense to new readers

Zebee - curry enthusiast and bicycle seat sniffer.

alternatively - go and get bent........

-someone who had their first ride on a 'bent last week and discovered
that they are better than he dared hope and is now saving his pennies
for his very own.

--

In aus.bicycle on 18 Oct 2007 21:53:51 GMT

Blue Heeler said:

-someone who had their first ride on a 'bent last week and discovered
that they are better than he dared hope and is now saving his pennies
for his very own.

way to go!

Of course now you get to decide which kind! Once you decide on two
wheels instead of three you get to work out:

LWB vs SWB, high vs low, 20/20 vs 20/26 vs 26/26 vs 700c/700c, ASS vs
USS, suspended vs rigid, Alloy vs Steel vs carbon vs TI, sliding seat
vs sliding boom, monotube vs spaceframe, carbon seat vs mesh...

At least with trikes you just have to decide between tadpole and
delta!

Zebee
- 20/26 SWB steel monotube ASS rigid hiracer with sliding mesh seat.
But who would rather like a 20/26 or even 26/26 suspended USS

"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey Ozzie it's probably time in your riding career to ditch the
squishy saddle. Yes they feel nice superficially, hence they get the
inexperienced bum on a bike. However, people find minimally padded
seats to be more comfortable, once their bum gets used to it after a
few rides. The foam only compresses, so the squish is an illusion and
is prone to causing chafing. The trouble is finding a saddle that has
the shape to fit your bum. There are threads on this ng about 'which
saddle'. I personally love the SI Flite TransAm and have it on all my
bikes. Others like saddles that feel like an axe up my [censored].

My thoughts exactly. Yeah, I feel comfortable on just about anything these
days. The MTB has a fairly narrow & spartan SDG saddle and I feel fine on
that even after many hours.

Naturally now that I've got this fixie concept in my head I've got my eye on
a Brooks. ;-)
A mate of mine reckons he's got an old 70's track bike and also an old racer
frame with horizontal dropouts stashed in his shed somewhere too that I can
have if I can find them... Some old fears to get past first though. The last
time I rode a fixie I was about 13 yrs old and the frame was too big for me
so I could barely reach the pedals from the saddle. The first hill I came to
I instinctively tried to coast and it promptly bucked me off and mashed me
up and down on the top tube for a half dozen revolutions before I bailed out
onto the bitumen to save what was left of the nads. Haven't been near one
since...

--
www.ozcableguy.com
www.oztechnologies.com

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:59:17 -0700

Donga said:

Hey Ozzie it's probably time in your riding career to ditch the
squishy saddle. Yes they feel nice superficially, hence they get the
inexperienced bum on a bike. However, people find minimally padded
seats to be more comfortable, once their bum gets used to it after a
few rides. The foam only compresses, so the squish is an illusion and

*snort* *giggle* *act insufferably smug*

Zebee
- who realises this post will make no sense to new readers

Zebee is on a wheeled couch, if you didn't get it.
;-)

On Oct 19, 10:41 am, "OzCableguy" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Naturally now that I've got this fixie concept in my head I've got my eye on
a Brooks. ;-)

Good move the fixie. I've just set one up and am loving it. Brisbane
hills are a bit of a trial but that's half the fun - it's just you,
the hill and the bike, no sissy gears and nothing to think about
(except the nads!).

Donga

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:45:02 -0700

Donga said:

Zebee is on a wheeled couch, if you didn't get it.

I wanted to say "that's not a wheeled couch, *this* is a wheeled
couch".

But dammit I can't find the URL!

Does anyone have the link for the guys who put wheels on a sofa and
pedalled it across Canada?

Zebee

"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Good move the fixie. I've just set one up and am loving it. Brisbane
hills are a bit of a trial but that's half the fun - it's just you,
the hill and the bike, no sissy gears and nothing to think about
(except the nads!).

I'll definitely run a front brake. I'm a bit worried about being able to
slow down if I let the cadence get away from me on some of those hills. ;-)

Zebee Johnstone said:

- 20/26 SWB steel monotube ASS rigid hiracer with sliding mesh seat.

Hur hur - she said ASS!

Quoted message said:

But who would rather like a 20/26 or even 26/26 suspended USS

But seriously... I understood all of the above except the ASS/USS bit.
Something about the steering?

--
John
Every program has at least one bug and can be shortened by at least one
instruction. By induction, every program can be reduced to one
instruction which doesn't work.

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:45:41 -0000

John Pitts said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

- 20/26 SWB steel monotube ASS rigid hiracer with sliding mesh seat.

Hur hur - she said ASS!

Quoted message said:

But who would rather like a 20/26 or even 26/26 suspended USS

But seriously... I understood all of the above except the ASS/USS bit.
Something about the steering?

Yes, Above Seat Steering vs Under Seat Steering.

Although then you get hamster vs tweener vs Rans/U for above, and I
think there's at least 2 ways to do underseat too...

I love the tweener bars as they put your arms in a much more relaxed
natural position. Hamster (where your hands are up against your chest
like a praying hamster) are more aero and many prefer them, but I find
them uncomfortable and not as secure.

Oh, glideflex vs stiffie too - the bit the handlebars are attached to
can be on a pivot so a) much more adjustable and b) making it easier to
get in and out, or stiff making for a slightly stiffer ride. Some people
find so anyway.

Defintely in the recumbent world there's a hell of a lot of variation.

Not all of it gets here of course, although flyingfurniture.com.au
has around 20 different machines to try. Bit tricky to arrange if you
are a long way from Canberra but worth it if you can.

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:45:41 -0000

John Pitts said:

But seriously... I understood all of the above except the ASS/USS bit.
Something about the steering?

Yes, Above Seat Steering vs Under Seat Steering.

Thanks.

Quoted message said:

Although then you get hamster vs tweener vs Rans/U for above, and I
think there's at least 2 ways to do underseat too...

I love the tweener bars as they put your arms in a much more relaxed
natural position. Hamster (where your hands are up against your chest
like a praying hamster) are more aero and many prefer them, but I find
them uncomfortable and not as secure.

Some 'bents seem to place the rider's arms very high, a bit like a
"chopper". Speaking as one who has never ridden one, only looked at the
pictures, it seems to me that your arms would get tired, being elevated
like that. What are your thoughts Zebee?

Quoted message said:

Defintely in the recumbent world there's a hell of a lot of variation.

You're not kidding. I just had a look at the flying furniture site. I
can't imagine buying one without going down and trying them all out to
see what suits.

--
John
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
- Steven Wright