Add suspensions or sell my hybrid/road bike?

[cwah]

Hello,

Since my last accident, and also because it happens so often in these very damaged and/or dangerous road in london, I'm considering removing the kit from the bike and selling it out:

I actually quite like the bike, it's fast and nippy. Lots of torque, efficient and I can cycle even without power.

Another possibility, is to add front suspension to the bike:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c-Suspension-Forks-30mm-travel-DISK-ONLY-Swingshock-/200924471477?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item2ec80820b5

I'm however not sure adding 30mm suspension would really make any difference with the potholes in london... Maybe getting a proper mountain bike with 100mm+ travel (and maybe 29er?) would be better?

Any thoughts?

 

[cwah]

Look at this cyclist, he's meet what I hit few times a day:

 

[trex]

get a chunky mountain bike

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

Hello,
Maybe getting a proper mountain bike with 100mm+ travel (and maybe 29er?) would be better?

Any thoughts?

just fyi. your bike current bike is a 29er! 700c wheels and 29er wheels are exactly the same size.

 

[Sherman]

In the example video the guy is running totally unsuitable rims and tires for city riding, such a small bump shouldn't destroy the wheel.

I would first go for bigger tires, something like 30-40mm wide. Bike will still feel fast and nimble but with extra cushion.

 

[mfj197]

Yes, keep the hybrid (which as KTM says is already a 29er) and just put suitable tyres on. The Boardmans do tend to come with reasonably narrow tyres for some reason - 28mm aren't they, on yours? Mind you, I've been commuting for years on 25mm, but not at the speed you are going.

I've just put some 40mm Vittoria Voyager Hyper road tyres on the Cube SL Road Pro I've converted to electric. They are just as fast as the 25mm tyres on my road bike, although they don't feel as fast because you don't get the jitter. They also provide much better cushioning, comfort and braking reassurance.

No point in putting suspension on a bike for the roads. You might need to ride a bit more defensively though, giving yourself the space to see and avoid potholes in safety.

Michael

 

[cwah]

I know my bike is already a "29er", but I'm talking about these 29er mountain bike, which should have suspensions and ease on the road potholes.

My other mountain bike with 26" on the cute100h is really easier on the road, I can run over small cracks and sewer holes without fear... which is not the case with the hybrid.

So half of you recommend me to keep it and the other half to upgrade.... difficult choice!

 

[flecc]

The lowest cost upgrade to give suspension would be a pair of Schwalbe Big Apple tyres, sold as "suspension for bikes" and very effective for that purpose. The ones for your bike can be run at as low as 35 lbs pressure and they are remarkably effective in ironing out the bumps.

On this link they are listed as size 622 which is the same as 700 and also take no notice of the 28 inch, these are just different measuremnt methods. They come in three widths. Yours may only accept the 2 inch or possibly the 2.15 inch, but the 2.35 inch is unlikely to fit within your forks.
.

 

[Nealh]

My main bike/work bike is a 700c hybrid originally had std disc forks locally these were fine but on a longer ride my wrists/lower arm would ache form the vibrations, I fitted Suntour NCX disc forks and find the ride now much better no more aching. How ever I'm still running 28mm tyres ( just put them back on having Scwalbe studded for winter).
Should have said NEX.

 

[pn_day]

Would agree with the above. Fat tyres are great. Most manufacturers will quote a max tyre size for the frame.
I went from 22 to 32 and now at 42mm on a 700c wheel. No major difference in speed, but much more comfortable. Just make sure your tyre pressures are correct - check once a week and you should reduce the number of punctures you get as well.

 

[cwah]

My main bike/work bike is a 700c hybrid originally had std disc forks locally these were fine but on a longer ride my wrists/lower arm would ache form the vibrations, I fitted Suntour NCX disc forks and find the ride now much better no more aching. How ever I'm still running 28mm tyres ( just put them back on having Scwalbe studded for winter).

Which model did you fit? Most of them are quite big and bulky, they belong most of the time for mountain bike

 

[cwah]

My mudguard and tyre clearance are reallu narrow.

If I change to fatter tyre for sure I'd have to change mudguard too.

So new mudguard + new tyres + new inner tyres... and my rim is also quite narrow, which mean limited width...

Wouldn't remove my kit from this bike and install it on another 29er mountain bike easier and cheaper?

Maybe trade off is that it won't be as fast and nippy

 

[flecc]

A 2 inch tyre is ok on a 700c rim, but I understand your bike may be limited for large tyre clearance.

A mountain bike is a good choice for coping with London's worst roads, but as you say, not as fast and nippy. The time difference on journeys will be quite small though, and probably worth it for the safety and comfort.
.

 

[Nealh]

The Suntour NEX I got off ebay they were brand new, they are specific for 700c not mtb ones. Price was £57.98 18 mths on they are now even cheaper.

 

[Nealh]

Here you go CWAH under 50 notes now for the black ones but also available in white.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUNTOUR-NEX-700C-Suspension-Forks-1-1-8-Disc-Brake-Black-RRP-69-99-/201167992209?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ed68bf591

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUNTOUR-NEX-700C-Suspension-Forks-1-1-8-White-Takes-Disc-Brakes-RRP-69-99-/201098346311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ed2653f47


The only time I fisically see any travel movement is under braking how ever they obviously do the job as I no longer suffer from lower arm or wrist ache from road vibration.

 

[mfj197]

It's better to fit wider tyres if possible to your current bike rather than replace the forks with suspension ones for the following reasons:

1. Fitting a longer pair of forks (as suspension ones will be, to accommodate movement) will throw out the geometry of the bike. You had this on your last bike of course.
2. Even the best forks are not as good as wider tyres at soaking up small road imperfections and jitter.
3. Safer braking and cornering - you are asking a lot of 28mm tyres with the amount of weight you are putting on and the speed you are going.
4. Fitting wider tyres will give you more suspension on both the back and the front. The back is holding more weight than the front of course, so arguably needs suspension more than the front if you are to avoid buckling wheels.
5. It's faster! Wider tyres have lower rolling resistance, and pass less vibration through to the rest of the bike (vibration is all energy lost from forward momentum).

Of course if you cannot fit wider tyres, such as the 40mm Vittoria Voyager Hyper or even the 35mm Schwalbe Kojaks then you can't realise these benefits. In this instance you'd be better off with a different bike. I've gone for a flat bar road bike with large tyre clearance, but you could of course get a mountain bike.

Michael

 

[Nealh]

These forks should be fine and the right size for his bike if he wants to go down that road , they are 490mm from the very bottom to the crown race seat. On my hybrid the front end sits 70mm higher but once it is on the road this reduces by 25mm down to the weight and force being exerted. Cwah's last problem with forks and geo was that he fitted tapered 26" mtb forks to a small wheel Dahon with a straight head and they looked down right stupid and totally out of place as well as an accident waiting to happen.

 

[mfj197]

They are only the right size in that they will physically connect. They are not the right size for the geometry of the frame. Having the front higher messes up the steering angle and the seat post angle so the bike won't handle the same. No, the difference is far less than his last bike but it is still there.

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

They are only the right size in that they will physically connect. They are not the right size for the geometry of the frame. Having the front higher messes up the steering angle and the seat post angle so the bike won't handle the same. No, the difference is far less than his last bike but it is still there.

Lots of bikes are "suspension corrected" in terms of their geometry when they have rigid forks, because brands like Bordman will use the same frame across a range of bikes, some of which will have suspension forks.

So its highly likely that Bordman won't produce two hybrid framesets. More likely these rigid forks are a bit longer than normal, to allow Bordman to use one frame on a range of bikes.

Swapping to a short travel suspension fork won't effect the geometry to any significant extent anyway, so really not worth worrying about either way.

 

[mfj197]

Lots of bikes are "suspension corrected" in terms of their geometry when they have rigid forks, because brands like Bordman will use the same frame across a range of bikes, some of which will have suspension forks.

So its highly likely that Bordman won't produce two hybrid framesets. More likely these rigid forks are a bit longer than normal, to allow Bordman to use one frame on a range of bikes.

Swapping to a short travel suspension fork won't effect the geometry to any significant extent anyway, so really not worth worrying about either way.

I don't believe this is true for the specific bike in question, a Boardman Hybrid. The frame for their suspended hybrid (the MX series) is a different geometry.

That notwithstanding, wider tyres are the thing to install if the frame will allow them to fit. If not, then there is no point putting suspension forks on a bike limited to 28mm tyres with all the other downsides highlighted above.

Michael