Hey Fedi!

[szakib@freeradical.zone]

Hey Fedi!

My front fork is busted and I am thinking about replacing it with a fixed fork + suspension stem. (The main use is to keep vibrations away from my wrists.)

Does anyone have experience with / recommendations about these stems? They are rather expensive, I would like to make the right choice on the first try.

So far I have found only this: https://www.bike24.com/p2778179.html

EDIT: There is a list under the CyclingAbout video about the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOmQUa23ZM0

#cycling #BikeTooter #AskFedi

[moz@fosstodon.org]

@szakib #BikeNiteQ in about 12 hours from now might also be worth asking. Phil might have closed questions for the week but it's another bunch of helpful people.

[szakib@freeradical.zone]

@moz I don't really agree with that concept. Here on the internet, with people living, writing, and reading in all timezones, it is pointless to constrain the discussion to a specific 1/15 of the week, which happens to be convenient for some people.

[pete@masto.hypertelia.com]

@szakib I do! I used to have a Cane Creek eeSilk stem fitted: https://www.canecreek.com/products/eesilk-stem It currently needs new bushes fitted as it developed a lot of play, IMO too soon, but was good while it latest. While I think my 'gravel' may be too much for it, I will get it fixed and use it again.
I have buddies that do too, using the Redshift ones, albeit the BMC-branded ones: https://redshiftsports.com/collections/suspension-stems They rate these too.
They definitely reduce fatigue and trail buzz.

[isol@mastodon.au]

@szakib

I recently installed the Meroca version of that suspension stem ($50 AUD on AliExpress), and so far it's been worth the money.

I've only done about 100km so far, and haven't experimented with different springs, but it definitely takes out the bumps I used to notice the most.

The only downsides are that it's less comfortable to walk the bike while holding the stem, and the accessory mount on the top of the steerer tube is now less useful because there's less clearance than the original stem, and even less if the suspension moves upwards.

[isol@mastodon.au]

@szakib

This is the stem:

MEROCA Bicycle Four link Suspension Stem
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKvRxc5

[plactagonic@f.cz]

@szakib the main thing to think about is that the suspension stem isn't fork replacement. As you said it is just for the vibrations.

I don't have any experience with it but my friend who developed some wrist issues from bike installed RedShift few years ago. He basically said it is too expensive but solved his issue and it works well.

I also want to buy it, but I just look around second hand sites for it.

[szakib@freeradical.zone]

@plactagonic I have been using suspension forks mainly to protect my wrist. Too much weight and maintenence burden for this one thing. (I live in Finland, the winter here is not nice to fragile components.)

[plactagonic@f.cz]

@szakib ok so you know that! If it is option for you try to search the second hand market - some people just don't like it/ think that it's fork replacement and are selling it off.