I have Fuji Absolute 1.9D road bike. Is the seat post on this bike fitted with ashock absorber? I don't think so. If not, would it be worth replacing the original seat post with shock absorbing one?
Thank you
Your bike probably does not have a suspension seat post.
They are great for smoothing out small bumps on rough roads, and help with people whose anatomy is not 'cycle hardened'. For less fit riders, you do not need to unload the seat by standing for small bumps, so can make a ride less tiring. They also help soften the blow where you misjudge a bump and its bigger than expected.
However, they also loose some pedalling efficiency due to the changing length of the seat-pedals, so few serious cyclists use them.
Most people love or hate them, not much middle ground. People who love them are usually casual cyclists. I have used one on a MTB hardtail, but ride often enough it makes little difference to me. My wife currently does because she rides rarely, and it helps smooth out the bumps on the hard packed MTB trails she rides.
Should you get one? Only if you ride with padded shorts and still want a bit more comfort. if you try one and like it, as you get more miles under you belt, you may find you don't need it, or even dislike it. It could be worth holding off getting one for a while and giving time for your body to adapt to riding.
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1Thank you, mattnz. I'm male, 65 years old and in fairly good physical condition. I use padded shorts and a padded saddle cover. I use the bike everyday for one hour for aerobic workout. I ride about 20 kilo metres in one hour. I don’t use the bike for travelling to places. Based on the above information, would you like to revise your advice or does it still stand.– AliMay 16 '16 at 10:24
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Good answer. @ali if your rides are on smooth tarmac, then no you won't need one. If you ride on chipseal then it should help smooth the buzz, A road bike shouldn't be going through potholes, but a suspension post will only take the edge off a big hit. I'm also assuming road bike means drop bars and light/sporty, as opposed to a hybrid or commuter rigid MTB style.– Criggie ♦May 16 '16 at 11:11
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Thank you, Criggie. The roads I ride on are fairly smooth with occasional humps (speed breakers). You may call my bike a hybrid for it says in manual that it can be used on off roads with 30 cente. metre drop (whatever that may mean). The handle bar is straight– AliMay 16 '16 at 12:00
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Based on that information, best guess is a suspension post won't make much difference to you. However I could easily be wrong and you won't know unless you try one. Consider a few rides without the padded seat cover - counter intuitive, but notice most riders do not use them (although most serious riders have been through dozens of saddles to find the one that fits 'just right')– mattnzMay 16 '16 at 20:05