Do Regular Bicycles (like long distance cycles) Have Shock Absorbers or Just Mountain Bikes?
Road, commuter, touring, and fitness bikes don’t have shocks. They are not needed, add weight and absorb pedaling energy. Comfort, hybrid, and mountain bike can have shocks but some don’t. The better shocks will allow you to lock them out so you don’t waste energy when they are not needed.
Just mountain bikes.
Road cycling is a trade off between comfort and stiffness.
The stiffer the bike, the more efficiently your pedaling power is transferred into forward momentum on the road. However, a completely stiff frame would be difficult to control and uncomfortable to ride.
For long distance, recreational cycling you tend to have a long wheel base bike, with a bit more ‘give’ in the frame and forks. A thoroughbred racing bike will have a shorter wheel base and a much stiffer frame.
References :
Comment by Michael H — February 16, 2010 @ 5:12 pm
Some bicycles such as commuting bikes and comfort bikes have shocks in order to soften road bumps and potholes. Some road bikes have flexing stays and elastomer inserts to dampen road vibrations. An example of an elastomer system is the Trek Pilot 5.2 spa. A few other examples are listed in the source section.
References :
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/10/cusa/model-0CS4.html
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/10/cusa/model-0BS.html
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006/apr06/roubaix06/?id=/tech/2006/features/roubaix_postbikes
Comment by tvaddict232 — February 16, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Road, commuter, touring, and fitness bikes don’t have shocks. They are not needed, add weight and absorb pedaling energy. Comfort, hybrid, and mountain bike can have shocks but some don’t. The better shocks will allow you to lock them out so you don’t waste energy when they are not needed.
References :
Comment by Bob A — February 16, 2010 @ 5:54 pm
just the mountain bikes have frt. shox
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Comment by jp — February 16, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
Where I live, only bikes bought by those who fancy shock absorbers on their bikes have them (both mountain bikes and hybrids)
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Road Bike Cyclist
Comment by solvent — February 16, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
Mountain Bikes and Recumbent Bicycles have shock absorbers.
On most bikes, the shock absorbers can suck energy out of the rider by pumping up and down as he/she pedals.
On a recumbent, the rider is pushing the pedals FORWARD, not down, so the shocks don’t bounce from the pedaling.
Shock absorbers were meant for recumbent bikes.
Mountain bikes need shocks for fast - rolling, downhill on woodland trails, where the are tree roots to go over.
References :
bicycling since 1972.
Comment by AviationMetalSmith — February 16, 2010 @ 7:34 pm