The Chainlink

An very unscientific poll...

I just wanted to get a quick idea on this so if you could give a quick yes or no I would appreciate it:

 

Do you, on the bike you commute on or use as daily transport have a suspension fork?

 

I'm just interested in if you have one or not right now and would prefer this not devolve into a debate making it harder for me to count so if we could just limit it to yes or no and skip the reasons that would be awesome.  Afterward I shall give my opinion and we can all argue about it, I promise.

 

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Permalink Reply by Davo on October 17, 2011 at 5:34pm
no
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on October 17, 2011 at 6:34pm

Not currently, but I did have one that I used in Michigan, Ohio and NYC (why?)  New Jersey had some cool gravel trails too.

 

In Chicago no.

 

Permalink Reply by MK on October 17, 2011 at 7:02pm
no
Permalink Reply by Jared on October 17, 2011 at 7:06pm
no
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on October 17, 2011 at 7:18pm

Not in trouble exactly but I noticed something and it got me to wondering...

 

You see, contrary to popular belief, I am not the sort of man to irrationally hate things.  I am willing to put in the research to back the hate.  Because of this I found myself reading the horrible f'd to death pile of caca en fuego that is Scott Rowan's book.  I was right on all assumptions; it was a poorly written, poorly researched book full of some decent advice but mostly crap... hell it made no mention of winter riding beyond that it was dangerous!

 

So anyway, that whole thing got me to thinking about what qualifies, or disqualifies, as an authority on bikes.  I mean shit tons of people are out there telling you right, wrong, up down and sideways when it comes to riding a bike and a lot of them are flat out wrong about stuff; how can you judge who's words to put merit in and who's not to? 

 

Working in a bike shop?  Hey, I've seen a few mechanics and sales people in bike shops who didn't know their head from a hole in the ground.

 

Rides everyday or total mileage?  Well, the crazy dude who lives in the bum house in my block rides a mountain bike with plastic bags full of urine soaked phone books hanging off of it but I'm not taking his advice on nothin'.

 

About that time I noticed the pictures of both of the authors in the back of the book and noticed that they both rode suspension fork hybrid or mountain type bikes.  Now, while I have nothing against either of these types of bikes I think that they are both horrible commuters or city bikes for a variety of reasons.  Personally I think of those who ride them as inexperienced or casual riders when it comes to cycling as transportation.  I wondered if that conception was my own bike snobbery  or a legitimate point of view; hence asking a community of bike commuters and experienced riders what they rode...

 

Looks like no one who rides much for transportation rides one.  I now feel perfectly fine passing judgment on those who do.

 

 

Kevin C said:

I know the poll doesn't end until you say it ends, but the suspense is killing me. With all these "no" votes, is somebody in trouble and about to incur your wrath?
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on October 17, 2011 at 7:19pm

P.S.

 

Please feel free to argue about anything and everything regarding suspension ans suspension forks.  I'll start.

 

They suck because they soak up energy, weigh a ton and require extra maintenance.

Permalink Reply by Billy Poore on October 17, 2011 at 8:13pm
No
Permalink Reply by Billy Poore on October 17, 2011 at 8:20pm
Suspension forks would be nice if you decided to run over the author of that book.  MTB Wheelie up the back, vrooooom!  Not literally, just a joke.  I don't want to be responsible if somebody actually does it.  Do you know if this book is at the CPL?
Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on October 17, 2011 at 8:21pm

Yup. Love the suspension. Have it on my seatpost too.

Flat as Chicago is full of curbs, potholes, etc.

I'm 48 and "young"

Love that I can keep commuting to work vs. bus/train and be comfortable.

 

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on October 17, 2011 at 9:05pm

I've repeatedly asked the LBS of my choosing to look over my Marzocchi Bomber to see if it needs overhauling.  I bought the Kona it lives on in 1999 and it has yet to require any maintenance even after the many thousands of miles I've put on it, both on trails and on the city streets.  Contrary to any of the evidence gathered, after 20 years of commuting in this city and tens of thousands of miles of cummulative miles gathered through my 47 years, I like a suspension fork in the city.

 

I may buy a Magma full suspension from Walmart and start commuting on that just to spite you, Dug.  It'll be heavy, dog slow and a great work out.

notoriousDUG said:

P.S.

 

Please feel free to argue about anything and everything regarding suspension ans suspension forks.  I'll start.

 

They suck because they soak up energy, weigh a ton and require extra maintenance.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on October 17, 2011 at 9:37pm
As is so often the case, I agree with Doug. Suspension forks are heavy, they scrub speed and they require more maintenance than a rigid fork. All things being equal, a rigid bike is going to be more efficient (not that that's the most important thing in the world) for transferring energy into forward motion. I have limited experience with suspension forks in Southern Kettle Morraine and Breckenridge, CO and I didn't like them. Part of the fun for me is missing stuff, and a suspension fork tends to make me lazy. As bad as the pavement can be in Chicago, I have never thought I needed a suspension fork to traverse it.
Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on October 17, 2011 at 11:44pm
NO

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