Bicycle shock absorber seatposts: what are they for and how to choose?

When riding on uneven surfaces, the cyclist is constantly shaken. The use of a shock absorber seat post for the bike allows the rider to feel much more comfortable during the ride. This article will help you choose the right long tube for your bike seat.

Quality 2-suspension bikes are expensive and the soft, wide saddle can chafe your inner thighs. To significantly reduce the shock transmitted to the rider's body through the rear wheel, a shock absorber seat tube can be fitted. Plus, this seatpost fits most bikes, and you can even get more comfort on an old bike. It costs much less than a new bike.

This post is installed in the same way as a regular rigid seatpost. He significantly reduces stress on the spine and slows down fatigue. As a consequence, the average travel speed increases. Some models allow the seat height to be adjusted remotely, which will allow the rider to better adjust to the road, depending on its condition.

The damping pin, in addition to its advantages, has some disadvantages. It requires regular lubrication of moving parts and keeping them clean. Also, its weight is slightly higher than that of a rigid seatpost, and its service life is shorter.

Several seatpost designs have been created for different types of bike.Shock absorber pins are divided into several types, which differ in design and purpose.

Represents 2 tubes, one of which slides on the inner surface of the other. A spring with an elastomer is installed inside them. His dignity - simplicity of the device, relative resistance to dirt and mechanical damage. Of the shortcomings - large compression under load, limiting the size of the working stroke. This must be taken into account when adjusting the saddle height.

Internal friction makes it difficult to soften small vibrations. This post is the best choice for XC bikes where big impacts are needed and muddy road conditions are possible.

Geometrically similar to this figure, an elastomer is installed between its levers. This post deflects less under the rider's weight, making it easier to adjust. Payloads are generally limited to 90 kg, but more robust models are available. This type of seat requires more maintenance than a telescopic seat and more frequent lubrication of the pivots.

The lifespan of a lever pin is usually shorter than that of a telescopic pin. This seat is better at absorbing small vibrations and vibrations. This type of seatpost is a good choice for road and touring bikes when you need to ride on relatively flat surfaces or paved roads.

Both seat types have a travel of 3-6 cm. Rigidity can be adjusted to suit the rider's weight or comfort level. Some models can be manually adjusted without the need for a tool. The adjusting screw is located at the bottom of the pin that fits into the frame.

And also the seat tubes are divided according to the way the saddle is fastened. The more common single bolt mounts provide a secure hold on the seat rails, but the tilt adjustment is rather coarse. Double bolts are more accurate, but also more expensive.

Separately, it is worth talking about the seatposts with a drive. Their main task is to change the saddle height depending on the terrain. When driving over bumps, the seat must be lowered as much as possible so that it does not interfere with jumping. Conversely, when riding on flat terrain, the saddle must be raised to increase pedaling efficiency. If there is an alternation of obstacles and flat areas, then you need to remotely change the height of the saddle while riding.

These pins are mechanically and hydraulically driven. The height range is usually 100 mm. More advanced models have an adjustment of 125-150 mm. The flagship value is 200 mm.

The seatpost drive is controlled remotely using a dedicated button on the handlebars. It can be stepped and continuous. When stepped - the saddle rises to a predetermined value at the touch of a button and takes a fixed position. With continuous - the button must be held down, which will allow you to more accurately set the height you need. The latter drive option is more convenient and more common.

The height adjustment button can be located on the seat itself, then a separate drive is not needed. In this case, you need to release the steering wheel, which is only suitable for flat surfaces. For XC bikes, this is not an option because the difficult terrain requires constant steering control. This type of pin is more specific and less common.

The drive output can be at the bottom or top of the seat. A bottom outlet is used if your bike frame allows internal drives to be routed. This option is better protected from mechanical damage and looks aesthetically pleasing.

It is important to correctly select and install the pipe - for this it must be of sufficient length. Any seatpost should go 15-20 cm deep into the frame. The deeper it is in the frame, the more weight the rider can handle and the stronger the connection is.... But at the same time, you should not take a pipe that is too long, as this will give an extra weight gain to the bike. When installing, you must follow the mark of the largest protrusion of the pin.

The upper position of the shock absorber should be 1 to 2 cm higher than the normal height. This is necessary so that when boarding the bike, the rider takes a natural position, since the shock absorber flexes.

And also the pins come in different diameters - 27.2 and 31.6 mm. Consider this when choosing. The 25mm standard is outdated, and bikes with this diameter of a seat are no longer available, although they are still quite common.

Cycling comfort guarantees good results. The shock absorber seat tubes allow for better control of the bike's behavior, reduce the strain on the back, and keep the body in good shape. Feedback from real users confirms this.

In addition, a flexible seatpost will allow you not to buy an expensive full suspension, but to confine yourself to a cheaper hardtail. When using such a pin, the difference will be almost imperceptible.

See the following video for how to choose a shock absorber seatpost for your bike.