Suspension stems are back pt2! ShockStop hits Kickstarter target with pivoting suspension stem

@leqin - for some people stiffer may be better since it really is about personal preference. But, we can all see the general trend in the industry to finally embrace comfort (comfort and performance can co-exist in my opinion). As David mentioned in the article, innovations like Trek’s Iso-Speed Decoupler, Pinarello’s K8-S frame, and Specialized’s CG-R seatpost show that people are focused on compliance and comfort these days and not just stiffness.

Redshift Sports wrote:

@leqin - for some people stiffer may be better since it really is about personal preference. But, we can all see the general trend in the industry to finally embrace comfort (comfort and performance can co-exist in my opinion). As David mentioned in the article, innovations like Trek’s Iso-Speed Decoupler, Pinarello’s K8-S frame, and Specialized’s CG-R seatpost show that people are focused on compliance and comfort these days and not just stiffness.

Which is why I am maybe going to buy one so that I can try it out long term on my commute to work bike and see if it actually does what it says on the box. Even I appreciate that riding my Boardman 29er down the same roads each day is like commuting in a sofa... if it works then that will be great, besides which - like everybody - I am growing older by the minute and wouldn't want to make the same journey every day on my Colnago.

@Jamminatrix - I hear you - a lot of people had the same issues with the Girvin and Softride back then. One thing that is important to keep in mind is that the suspension stems of old (designed for mountain biking) had up to 3-inches (75mm) of vertical travel! This meant that the effective geometry of the bike changed radically as the stem compressed. The ShockStop has a practical travel of 1-1.5 cm which is so small that you do not get a geometry change or an impact on fit – instead you get absorption of the kind of impacts you might encounter on an “all-road” road bike. And when it comes to that "connected" feel, because we have a large pre-load in our stem and you can set it up pretty stiff even when you climb or sprint out of the saddle you don't feel any motion.

LarryDavidJr wrote:

Some people really need to HTFU.

If you can't cope with a little bit of vibration, buy a suspension hybrid.

Didn't your mum ever tell you that if you can't say it with flowers, don't say anything at all?

KiwiMike wrote:

LarryDavidJr wrote:

Some people really need to HTFU.

If you can't cope with a little bit of vibration, buy a suspension hybrid.

Didn't your mum ever tell you that if you can't say it with flowers, don't say anything at all?

Didn't your Mum ever tell you to HTFU?

Maybe she should have.

LarryDavidJr wrote:

KiwiMike wrote:

LarryDavidJr wrote:

Some people really need to HTFU.

If you can't cope with a little bit of vibration, buy a suspension hybrid.

Didn't your mum ever tell you that if you can't say it with flowers, don't say anything at all?

Didn't your Mum ever tell you to HTFU?

Maybe she should have.

Now, are you still mad because they called you Junior ?

fukawitribe wrote:

LarryDavidJr wrote:

KiwiMike wrote:

LarryDavidJr wrote:

Some people really need to HTFU.

If you can't cope with a little bit of vibration, buy a suspension hybrid.

Didn't your mum ever tell you that if you can't say it with flowers, don't say anything at all?

Didn't your Mum ever tell you to HTFU?

Maybe she should have.

Now, are you still mad because they called you Junior ?

I'm safe enough in the knowledge I'm not the sort of person that wants a 'suspension stem' if it makes you happier!

You can keep it coming, I really do have all the time in the world for poking the keyboard warriors!

LarryDavidJr wrote:

You can keep it coming, I really do have all the time in the world for poking the keyboard warriors!

So you've made a deliberately antagonistic self-aggrandising post, just to get people to call you on it, so you can then tell them you'd like them to say more so you can self-aggrandize some more? do we understand you correctly?

I'm assuming you run 20mm tyres at 200psi, with cloth bartape on deep drops. Because, you know, anything else would be delinquent in the HTFU stakes.

Please post photo of said tyre/tape combo, cheerzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

KiwiMike wrote:

LarryDavidJr wrote:

You can keep it coming, I really do have all the time in the world for poking the keyboard warriors!

So you've made a deliberately antagonistic self-aggrandising post, just to get people to call you on it, so you can then tell them you'd like them to say more so you can self-aggrandize some more? do we understand you correctly?

yeeeeesss ... that's exactly it. Those sixth form psychology lessons really paid off didn't they!

LarryDavidJr wrote:

I'm assuming you run 20mm tyres at 200psi, with cloth bartape on deep drops. Because, you know, anything else would be delinquent in the HTFU stakes.

Please post photo of said tyre/tape combo, cheerzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

Will do! I'll find one on the internet ... I mean .... take one tonight, just for you! Aren't I nice!

Simmo72 wrote:

I don't recall ever thinking I need more shock protection on the front of my road bike.

I do, regularly.. cobbles, single track, forest tracks, country roads, pot-holes, roads under repair / redressing and variants thereof.

One of the first things I noticed about my Domane was how the rear showed up the front, it's not bad at all but can be harsh in comparison to the isolation you get with the IsoSpeed (and other stuff these days i'd imagine). To have both would be quite nice in a general purpose bike IMO - i'd certainly like one of these on the best bike - the difference in speed can be quite noticeable. YMMV as ever.

Edit : snip stem comment

fukawitribe wrote:

Simmo72 wrote:

I don't recall ever thinking I need more shock protection on the front of my road bike.

I do, regularly.. cobbles, single track, forest tracks, country roads, pot-holes, roads under repair / redressing and variants thereof.

I see where you are coming from, then hopefully there is a market, as long as this is an improvement on earlier designs.

Personally, I like to feel the bumps and road, makes me feel connected to the road more. I suffer from bad back issue but I've never had any improvement riding suspension, it just feels squidgy, though I would love to give the Domane a go.