Suspension on or off?

[JamieRegan]

I feel I'm going to answer my own question, here, but in case there's something i've missed, I'll ask anyway.

my hybrid has the option to turn the front suspension on or off. I've not done any 'proper' cycling, other than the odd commute, but looking to build that up a lot over the coming months.

I presume the idea is that I turn it off when i'm on a flat road and on when I'm on a country track or bumpy road?

Is there any other purpose to it?

 

[snailracer]

On a truly flat road, it shouldn't actually slow you down much because the suspension won't be moving much anyway.

If you tend to ride out-of-the-saddle a lot (hills, pulling away) then you might notice it a bit more.

 

[HLaB]

I'd always turn it off unless I was going down a bumpy downhill, its quite comical when you see a cyclist struggling up a bumpy uphill bouncing up and down more than they are going forward.

 

[GilesM]

Turn it off on the road, and on when you are on something a bit rougher, simple guide is try both on and off for different conditions, and go with what one you prefer.

 

[Cyclopathic]

My personal point of view is that there is no need for suspension on normal roads. I think it just saps energy that could be better used for going forwards and adds unnecessary weight to your bike. A well fitted saddle will do more for general comfort on a bike than suspension.

 

[screenman]

Do what feels best for you.

 

[Peteaud]

Do what feels best for you.

+1

I normally leave mine on as ive been caught out with the road going from smooth to bumpy, but in all honesty i find it more comftable on.

 

[CopperCyclist]

My personal point of view is that there is no need for suspension on normal roads. I think it just saps energy that could be better used for going forwards and adds unnecessary weight to your bike. A well fitted saddle will do more for general comfort on a bike than suspension.

+1 I personally think hybrids only fit them because they are worried that people see bikes without as 'cheap'.

 

[Cyclopathic]

+1 I personally think hybrids only fit them because they are worried that people see bikes without as 'cheap'.

Which is ironic really when one sees the amount of bikes that seem popular with kids these days that have got front and rear suspension and cost about £100. To my way of thinking this is just about the worst of all possible worlds.

If I was into off road down hill racing or some such then I would definitely want to invest in a bike that had suspension. I'm not against it for the sake of being against it, I'm against it's inapropriate deployment and I'm against the whole ethos of selling things to people that doesn't really suit their needs and is just a gimick. After all how good can a bike with front and rear sus' be for £100.

 

[Red Light]

Suspension off for roads and climbs, on for off-road flats and downhills. IMO

 

[Peteaud]

Which is ironic really when one sees the amount of bikes that seem popular with kids these days that have got front and rear suspension and cost about £100. To my way of thinking this is just about the worst of all possible worlds.

If I was into off road down hill racing or some such then I would definitely want to invest in a bike that had suspension. I'm not against it for the sake of being against it, I'm against it's inapropriate deployment and I'm against the whole ethos of selling things to people that doesn't really suit their needs and is just a gimick. After all how good can a bike with front and rear sus' be for £100.

£100 bike, yes pretty poor, but they sell and get people into cycling.

My wifes old bike was a £100 apollo, in 8 years it never broke! Now she has a much better bike and a lot lighter, but it was still the cheapo bike that got us through.

I own a hybrid, because i dont want a full on mtb and nor do i want a road bike. I can take my hybrid out for a day, amble along at a reasonable speed and with a bit of comfort. No you dont always want front suspension, but how many people own carlos fandango bikes with mega light components or full sus mtb and never really use them to there full potential?

Test ride a bike and if it feels right go for it is my approach.

 

[HLaB]

£100 bike, yes pretty poor, but they sell and get people into cycling.

My wifes old bike was a £100 apollo, in 8 years it never broke! Now she has a much better bike and a lot lighter, but it was still the cheapo bike that got us through.

I own a hybrid, because i dont want a full on mtb and nor do i want a road bike. I can take my hybrid out for a day, amble along at a reasonable speed and with a bit of comfort. No you dont always want front suspension, but how many people own carlos fandango bikes with mega light components or full sus mtb and never really use them to there full potential?

Test ride a bike and if it feels right go for it is my approach.

Or they put off people for life I'm glad it never put your wife off though. My first bike after a long cycling break was a cheap heavy bike and it never put me off either

 

[Cyclopathic]

£100 bike, yes pretty poor, but they sell and get people into cycling.

My wifes old bike was a £100 apollo, in 8 years it never broke! Now she has a much better bike and a lot lighter, but it was still the cheapo bike that got us through.

I own a hybrid, because i dont want a full on mtb and nor do i want a road bike. I can take my hybrid out for a day, amble along at a reasonable speed and with a bit of comfort. No you dont always want front suspension, but how many people own carlos fandango bikes with mega light components or full sus mtb and never really use them to there full potential?

Test ride a bike and if it feels right go for it is my approach.

Your attitude does you credit sir and puts my curmudgeonly ways to shame. I would perhaps just say that as much as a cheap bikes may get people into cycling I think that if you have only got a small sum to spend you'd be better off spending all of it on the best bike for your purposes as bike that is poorly suited to a persons needs could well have the opposite effect and put them off cycling. I know I'm in danger of sounding like a bike snob but it's not really the case. Cheap bikes can be absolutely fine and looked after (as with any bike) can serve a person very well.
I fully take your point about people with massively over specified bukes who never get anywhere near the full use of them and again I think these people would be better served having spent the entirety of their budget on the bike that suits their needs. I am however interested in this "Carlos Fandango" bike and wonder where they are retailing .
Having said all of that though there is still a case for people just getting the bike they like the look and feel of regardless of whetehr they are going to enter into downhill racing competitions or just nip to the shops. If their Carlos Fandango fulfils a desire and makes someone happy then who am I to say they shouldn't do that. Liek you I've gone for the hybrid type bike and for many of the same reasons. I see them as the sort of modern day equivalent to the old ordinary sort of gents (or ladies) type bike for simply getting about the place yet still capable of going on wee jaunts.
Anyway I have to go now as I'm sure there must be someone somewhere on the internet who is doing it wrong and I must interfere.

 

[cyberknight]

Which is ironic really when one sees the amount of bikes that seem popular with kids these days that have got front and rear suspension and cost about £100. To my way of thinking this is just about the worst of all possible worlds.

If I was into off road down hill racing or some such then I would definitely want to invest in a bike that had suspension. I'm not against it for the sake of being against it, I'm against it's inapropriate deployment and I'm against the whole ethos of selling things to people that doesn't really suit their needs and is just a gimick. After all how good can a bike with front and rear sus' be for £100.

I picked up a full Susser off freecycle with the intention of using it for a "OMFG its snowing " winter hack, i am considering selling it on ebay and getting a rigid bike.Weighs a ton and the tyres i have on it would probably cost more than i will get for the bike .

 

[Peteaud]

Your attitude does you credit sir and puts my curmudgeonly ways to shame. I would perhaps just say that as much as a cheap bikes may get people into cycling I think that if you have only got a small sum to spend you'd be better off spending all of it on the best bike for your purposes as bike that is poorly suited to a persons needs could well have the opposite effect and put them off cycling. I know I'm in danger of sounding like a bike snob but it's not really the case. Cheap bikes can be absolutely fine and looked after (as with any bike) can serve a person very well.
I fully take your point about people with massively over specified bukes who never get anywhere near the full use of them and again I think these people would be better served having spent the entirety of their budget on the bike that suits their needs. I am however interested in this "Carlos Fandango" bike and wonder where they are retailing .
Having said all of that though there is still a case for people just getting the bike they like the look and feel of regardless of whetehr they are going to enter into downhill racing competitions or just nip to the shops. If their Carlos Fandango fulfils a desire and makes someone happy then who am I to say they shouldn't do that. Liek you I've gone for the hybrid type bike and for many of the same reasons. I see them as the sort of modern day equivalent to the old ordinary sort of gents (or ladies) type bike for simply getting about the place yet still capable of going on wee jaunts.
Anyway I have to go now as I'm sure there must be someone somewhere on the internet who is doing it wrong and I must interfere.

If you know who Carlos is your showing your age