Thumbs up for the suspension: Riding a bike comfortably is easy © Canva
Did you know that you can ensure a cloud-smooth ride on your bike with little effort? This post will tell you how to do it, what it brings and what it costs.
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Even city cyclists know the unpleasant bumps when the bike bumps up and down the edges of the bike path due to insufficient lowering. "Ouch" for the buttocks and "ouch" for the wrists. Not to mention all those cyclists who like to take one or the other shortcut over a dirt road.
If you own a "normal" bike without a suspension fork or frame, you have to be tough.
What many basic bike owners don't know is that their uncomfortable bikes can be easily retrofitted as soft as clouds.
The topics at a glance
When does it make sense to have a suspension on a bicycle?
The honest answer is: always. Because even the smallest edges in the city and, of course, potholes or stones on natural paths quickly become noticeable - especially on the buttocks, which really gets every little bump on unsprung wheels. A well-padded saddle can absorb a lot, but that's not enough on longer distances.
Suspension bicycles make a lot of sense for:
- Long distances
- Off-road and gravel road rides
- Intervertebral disc problems
- Osteoarthritis in the fingers and wrists
The fastest way for (slightly) more driving comfort
The choice of tires alone can be used to gain a lot of driving comfort. The larger and wider the tire, the less pressure is required when inflating. This provides "softer" comfort, because it simply rolls over small bumps.
Handlebar suspension for retrofitting: What are the benefits of the alternative to the suspension fork?
Retrofitting a suspension fork requires a lot of material costs. Because here the entire stem of the bike has to be replaced. And: A suspension fork should be cared for and maintained regularly, so it is also time-consuming and costly. Durable branded products such as suspension forks from FOX Racing or RockShox cost up to €1,000 and more.
However, there is an alternative suspension "for the front" that many do not even know - the handlebar suspension.
This is a small intermediate piece, the so-called sprung stem, which is placed between the handlebars and the headset. They absorb shocks and vibrations and dampen shocks with a travel of up to 40 mm.
Differences between suspension fork and suspension stem
| Suspension fork on trekking and touring bikes | Suspension stem/handlebar suspension | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | 40 - 80 mm | 20 - 40 mm |
| Necessary parts | Replacement of the complete fork | Replacement of the stem |
| Cost | From approx. 400 € for a branded product incl. assembly | From 160 € with self-assembly |
| Assembly | Preferably by a specialist | Can be exchanged by yourself |
Recommended spring-loaded stems to order
Redshift ShockStop at €160.95 instead of €184.99
KINEKT Suspension Stem 189,07 €
Is it possible to retrofit this alternative to the suspension fork on any bicycle?
Yes, that's the practical thing about a spring-loaded stem. The spacers are available in different sizes that can be mounted on the common handlebar and headsets of a wide variety of bikes. Whether it's a city runabout, mountain bike or trekking bike – in principle, all types of bicycles can be retrofitted with the sprung intermediate part.
All you need is the right tool to loosen the screws and tighten them again. As a rule, these are Allen or Torx screws.
Retrofitting a suspension seatpost: Does that help?
Retrofitting a suspension seatpost makes even more sense than optimizing the handlebar suspension. Because when cycling, almost the entire body weight rests on the buttocks. Bumps and bumps land directly on the buttocks and thus also unpleasantly in the spine.
Full-suspension bicycles, so-called "fullys", are mainly found on mountain bikes. They have both a suspension fork and a full-suspension frame - and that comes at a price. So if you don't want to buy a full-suspension bike for many hundreds or even thousands of euros, you can achieve a lot with a suspension seatpost.
How can I retrofit a suspension seatpost?
You'll be amazed at how easy it is. You don't have to be a professional to do this.
All you need to do is:
The best suspension seatpost: the test winners from AllesBeste
The fact that good can also be cheap is proven by the test of the platform AllesBeste. Suspension seatposts with good quality are already available for less than 100 euros.
These are the test winners:
€34.95 instead of €62.90 – ercotec SP – 10.0
€59.95 – AARON Spring Seatpost
€64.99 – Suntour suspension seatpost SR SP12
€128.25 – by.schulz G.2 ST
New: Foreverup shock-absorbing saddle spring
The shock-absorbing saddle spring Foreverup is suitable for all types of bicycles. © Amazon
As simple as it is ingenious: Foreverup can be built between the saddle and the conventional seatpost in just a few minutes with just a hexagonal screwdriver (included). The shock-absorbing saddle spring is suitable for riders weighing up to 15 kilograms and buffers bumps.
€20.99 on Amazon
Back again: The retro saddle with suspension
The spring is back: retro bicycle saddles with extra damping are back in vogue. © Amazon; eBay
What grandma and grandpa already appreciated is experiencing a revival: bicycle saddles with XL springs. Super comfortable and super stylish, an enormously affordable solution for occasional and short-distance cyclists.
Bicycle saddle black, 49,99 €
Bicycle saddle brown 29,54 € on eBay