We were looking at bicyles today,& were wondering if it is worth the xtra money to buy the ones with shocks?

Question

My daughter wants to have a smoother ride....do shocks work well on bumpy dirt roads? Just to clarify incase there are more than one type of shocks...it's the kind with the coils that are sortof under the seat. Thanks.

Sorry everyone. I may have misled you. I am referring to a bike around $55-$75. I think you all thought I meant that she is a serious biker or something. She is simply wanting something to ride out here on our country roads...sorry for not being more specific. Most of you that are here must be serious bikers. Thanks everyone.

Answer 1

It's hard to determine what you mean I'll make some assumptions:

If she wants a bike for dirt roads and street riding she really needs no front or rear shocks. The fat tires offer pleny of cushion. However you will be hard pressed to find a cheap bike like this because they don't sell well.

If you're describing a rear shock that allows the rear wheel to move up and down, it's certainly not needed.

I mountain bike race - this means in the woods in very rough terrain at high speed. I use a front shock only. This is normal for most riders, some use both front and rear or dual suspension as it's called.

Duel suspension is used heavily in down hill racing only.

Front and duel suspension are sold in Wally Mart type stores because kids (and some adults) WANT, not need them. They look cool etc. that's what sells. They usually weigh a ton and don't work very well - but they do work.

Sounds like your girl WANTS this. So the question is does she get what she wants or what she needs. Wanting something can be just as valid a reason to buy as needing it.

If you're willing to spend the extra and the WANT is more important then the need then do it. What if she earns the money for the extra cost? I do this with my girls, I provide the needs, they help to provide some of their wants.

Answer 2

Full suspension bikes were originally designed to allow a serious mountain biker to have better control over very aggressive terrain. Bikes with this system that actually work start at around $1000.

There are much cheaper bikes out there that have a rear shock of sorts in the frame, but it's to sell bikes.
There is a very large weight penalty as well.

$200-800 full suspension bikes are the equivalent of a Honda Civic with a big wing on the back and loud exhaust. They may look and sound the part- but it's not a fast car.

Answer 3

You're right, most of here are somewhat serious. I put more miles on my bike than my car.

For me, a bike in that price range is essentially junk. I keep a couple in the garage for riding to the post office when I'm too lazy to bother locking it up.

Trying to answer your question in a useful way, there are tradeoffs.

Shocks will make bumpy rides more comfortable. With higher end bikes, they actually improve handling and make it easier to to control the bike on rough, high speed singletrack. Not sure how well the cheap components would do that.

Suspension components are heavier. Your daughter will have to work harder to make the bike go.

More moving parts mean more opportunities for component failure.

My MTB is front suspension only. I chose that instead of front and rear because of the above-mentioned weight and reliability concerns. Most of my mileage (on that bike, I've also got a couple road bikes) is on relatively smooth rails-to-trails, but I do race it off road now and then. I never felt myself at a disadvantage for lack of rear suspension.

All that said, if you think the full suspension will get her out the door and riding more, go for it. Kids will ride more if they think its cool, regardless of practicality.

Last thing, make sure she's got a helmet and uses it. Cheap insurance. People who don't ride a lot have no idea how easy it is to lose focus for a microsecond and dump the bike. I've broken my share of helmets over the years, and it was always on casual rides. When I'm racing, I'm 110% focused on what I'm doing and what's happening around me.

Answer 4

Shocks aren't necessary for dirt roads, and in that price range only add more parts that are likely to break. Nice big tires inflated to the right pressure are going to give a smoother ride than a poorly tuned suspension.

Answer 5

Often overlooked

Gel & Gelfoam Saddles. Modern materials throw up all sorts of possibilities and one material which has had perhaps the biggest impact on bicycle saddle design in the past 25 years is the introduction of "Gel". A true gel saddle has an insert of a viscous material (the gel) housed between a moulded plastic base and the covering material, commonly lycra, leatherette (vinyl) or leather. Similar to the inserts used in a particular type of cosmetic surgery, the gel insert will mould itself to the shape anything pressed against it, in this case your behind. The gel itself is not liquid but similar in texture to jelly. Owing to the viscous nature of the material, it can move with you acting as a cushion between you and the solid base material below. "Gelfoam" is not the same as Gel. Gelfoam is not viscous, it is simply an absorbent foam type material which has a pliable feel. When pressure is released from gelfoam, it immediately springs back into shape, whereas a true gel will almost appear to flow back into its original shape. The primary difference between gel and gelfoam is that a true gel has a fixed volume, there is no reduction in volume under compression, the gel simply relocates to an area of lesser compression. This in turn means that it provides a better level of comfort. A gelfoam filling will compress at the points where pressure is applied, reducing its volume and increasing the relative density at the pressure points. A true gel saddle will offer greater comfort than a gelfoam saddle. As Gel and Gelfoam are fillings, they can be inserted into any of the three preceding saddle types.

Ladies Specific Saddles.

The pelvic bone construction is dramatically different between men and women. Whilst not trying to state the obvious, this does have an impact upon saddle requirements for men and women. The majority of a riders weight is transferred through the lower section of the pelvis (Inferior pubic ramus - http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/radiology/pelvis/ramus.html ) the two sides of which are further apart within the female pelvis than in the male. Lady specific saddles take this difference in bone structure into account and are generally modestly wider at the back, are shorter from nose to back and have far more pronounced cutaways at the sides to accommodate the thighs. Unfortunately, however, most off the peg bikes come fitted with a mans saddle, which can be very uncomfortable for lady riders.

Answer 6

I have a Treks bike that has a shock absorbing front fork that keeps your arms and hands from bump fatigue while riding. It also has a piston style shock absorbing seat stem that also relieves bump fatigue on the bum. This is a $400.00 road bike that is comfortable to ride a fifty mile bike ride comfortably. Trek also makes a moutain bike with larger tires for dirt roads and off road use. Schwin and other high end brand names also make good riding bikes. I wouldn't buy a bike from any of the big box stores as the quality is not as good. They use cheap parts that break down quickly.

Answer 7

Shocks are a good thing to have for off-roading. They can make a ride more smooth, less bumpy, and less risky. A word of cation: you must do your research before buying a bike because some shocks are put on a bike without proper testing. Some bike manufacturers put shocks on just for looks.

Answer 8

well the first answer is a moron.
Shocks, actual shocks like a set of Fox Talas which will cost you like $1300USD will smooth out the terrain very nicely.

But yes, a spring will help tone down the harshness of big bumps and the repetitiveness of little bumps.

Answer 9

Shocks add weight to the bicycle and weight is generally considered to be bad.

Depending on the riding she plans to do shocks may make sense.

Regardless it is really important that she leans to ride with good form. A rider who rides with good form is able to compensate for shocks. (The rider uses his her body to adsorb the shocks.) I would suggest that you look at:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html

Answer 10

its a bike. its not a $30000 car. you go down a bumpy road your going to feel the bumps. they are more for tricks. jumping through the air and taking some pressure off when they land.