suspension locked or unlocked

[13 rider]

Just bought new hybrid bike with front suspension . on the road is it better to have the suspension locked or not

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

road bikes don't have suspension for a reason.
better locked out for speed. unlocked for comfort if the potholes are really bad.

 

[Drago]

A hybrid with front suspension? Get your money refunded, quick.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Definitely locked!
I have a MTB and the only time I use my front suspension is when I'm bombing it through woods or on trails.
The rest of the time it remains locked out (cycle paths, towpaths, road)

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I've yet to find a reason to need locked out suspension

 

[ScotiaLass]

I've yet to find a reason to need locked out suspension

At my age I can't bomb about like I used to <sigh>

 

[Pale Rider]

Lock out is irrelevant with the cheap forks fitted to most hybrids - the fork doesn't compress enough to soak up much power on climbs, let alone the flat.

I think you can tell by trying both settings, if there's little perceptible difference it doesn't matter.

 

[MoNkEyMaNbAnAnAeAtEr]

Noob here with a front susp hybrid. Not a lot of difference on road but on bumpy ground a hellava lot ;-)

 

[Cyclist33]

Save money, weight and time, use your arms as shock absorbers!

 

[Moodyman]

The roads round here are so bad, it's a dream when I step off the road bikes and onto the MTB for local errands.

 

[13 rider]

Hi thanks for the advice . just completed 10miler with suspension locked, could not really tell the difference on the flat but felt better on the climbs got up a hill that beat me last time out .might still go back to unlocked as ride was more comfortable with suspension unlocked due to poor roads . I suppose its just what feels right to me

 

[Licramite]

I don't have suspension on my hybred and after a long ride my arms ache from the shocks, I'm looking to see if you can get a shock on the handlebar post, bit like the ones on seat posts, Our roads are the worst in europe (I wonder why that is!).

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Our roads are the worst in europe (I wonder why that is!).

Trust me, having cycled around some 20 countries in Europe, our roads are by far not the worst. They are amongst the best.

Latvia takes a lot of beating as does Ireland, Poland, Lithuania and a few more I can mention. When you come home to the UK, you actually go aaaahhhhhhhhh at the smooth tarmac. We just like to think they are bad and some are, but overall, nope, they are not.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I don't have suspension on my hybred and after a long ride my arms ache from the shocks, I'm looking to see if you can get a shock on the handlebar post, bit like the ones on seat posts, Our roads are the worst in europe (I wonder why that is!).

Your arms probably ache due to bad bike fit

 

[Licramite]

Most of my rides tend to be 50%off road 50% on road, the off road bits don't normally bother me - unless the ground is baked hard then I bounce around a bit- but the on road section knock the crap out the bike - and my arms. maybe its just wiltshire , good to know we have better roads than Poland and latvia, so thats why all there lorries are over here.

I noticed the tour de france section in UK the roads looked pretty good, didn't see to many riders disappearing down potholes.
Must organise it for wiltshire next time.