Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

I'm in the process of looking for a new high end road bike, & would like the most (carbon) dampened bike available (not stiff).
Is there a list / review dedicated to dampness. I know ride magazine use accelerometers to review this feature, but I'm looking for a list?,
In particular im looking at an avanti quantum. Cheers

Doesn't exist, and Ride just started their use of the accelerometers.

Tyres (25 or 28C, i.e. bigger, but not all bikes can accomodate) will also have a significant impact on the inherent dampening characteristics of a frame, as will geometry, finishing kit, seat, gloves and clothing.

Easy isn't it !!

Just buy it and ride !!

wise comments

I would be careful buying a bike around dampening.
I have ridden bikes that to me offered very little feedback and as a result they just felt dead to me.
I also have to say that you dont just get dampening from carbon.
I have ridden steel, CF, aluminium and ti frames that all felt good to me.
I have also owned a steel Colnago that was perhaps the harshest ride I have ever had.

I have also owned a steel Colnago that was perhaps the harshest ride I have ever had.

this sounds odd?

I agree there are many variables, seat, tyres, forks, etc, where is you centre of gravity, how much force do you put on the bars,
but there must be a bike that suits ride best. I think a general a look for thinner rear seat stays, and any z type of construction is good. Not sure about reverse curved forks on avanti? maybe this is all marketing

bjammin wrote:

I have also owned a steel Colnago that was perhaps the harshest ride I have ever had.

this sounds odd?

I agree there are many variables, seat, tyres, forks, etc, where is you centre of gravity, how much force do you put on the bars,
but there must be a bike that suits ride best. I think a general a look for thinner rear seat stays, and any z type of construction is good. Not sure about reverse curved forks on avanti? maybe this is all marketing

Colnago Master Olympic with star shaped tubing.
I guess it was designed to be stiff and it was stiff.
You felt every bump.

look at something like the Cannondale Synapse or the Specialised Roubaix. Relaxed geometry carbon fibre bikes suitable for comfort, yet still speedy.

Vibration damping.

Dampness is what you might experience when thinking about / viewing high end road bikes.......

I had a decent test ride on a new Specialized Roubaix (2009 Expert frame) it was a very plush ride on a pair of Ultegra SL wheels.

My recently built Colnago C50 (now discontinued frame set but still avail. to purchase as NOS) is every bit as plush a ride as the Roubaix but I'm running Camapg Eurus wheels in it and I've not ridden these 2 bikes over the same road route, saddles were differnt, tyres very different, so we are not really comparing apples with apples.

I did what sumguy warned against. I chose the C50 for it's reputation as a comfortable frameset, a 'plush ride' both from a geometry viewpoint and more so for it's excellent vibration damping. I hate road buzz...... The C50 frameset is all the reviews crack it up to be....... comfortable and responsive.

The new C59 is said to be everything the C50 is but more 'vertically compliant' ...... My very biased (but honest) 20 cents worth.

open roader wrote:
I did what sumguy warned against. I chose the C50 for it's reputation as a comfortable frameset, a 'plush ride' both from a geometry viewpoint and more so for it's excellent vibration damping. I hate road buzz...... The C50 frameset is all the reviews crack it up to be....... comfortable and responsive.

And that is great if that is what you were chasing.
There is a difference between comfort and dead though.
You have got what you are after which is perfect.

Funnily the 2 bikes I rode that I thought felt dead were both MTB's made os Scandium.

I hear an Eddie Merckx EMX1, EMX3 has good dampeming properties with its odd shaped seat stays, any one varify this?

bjammin wrote:I hear an Eddie Merckx EMX1, EMX3 has good dampeming properties with its odd shaped seat stays, any one varify this?

What one person thinks is good will not be the same for you.

If you are worried about it, from reports and others may chime in, the Specialised Roubaix models are good for this.

Mind you, there are also many bike marketed with 'vertical compliance', and also, carbon does not necessarily mean it is more compliant.

Sounds like you need to do some test rides. Compliant means different things to different people - I've do rides over 100km on my CAAD9 (aluminium) and have no complaints.

As mentioned, things like tyre choice and tyre pressure will play a significant part in ride comfort. Both the Roubaix and the Synapse are purported to be comfortable frames.

Grant

bjammin wrote:I hear an Eddie Merckx EMX1, EMX3 has good dampeming properties with its odd shaped seat stays, any one varify this?

The merckx are a good frame for a larger guy (I am 185 cm and 90 kg fighting weight).Personally, I love the bike but as great as the EMX3 has been for me, it might not work as well for you. There is no substitue for a test ride..build a relationship with your LBS and if they are any good they will work with you to find the right frame and compnoent combination.

Good luck!

toppity wrote:look at something like the Cannondale Synapse or the Specialised Roubaix. Relaxed geometry carbon fibre bikes suitable for comfort, yet still speedy.

Good advice, I can vouch for the Synapse. I hired one for this year's Paris Brest Paris (1230km over 3 days) I was very impressed and this was an unbiased review, as I had never ridden the bike before although I was confident of it's qualities having done my research beforehand. Synapse's were used by Pro's for the Paris Roubaix as of course was the Specialised Roubaix. Both used on the ancient rough Roman roads because of their relaxed geometry which includes a slightly longer wheelbase.

cavebear2 wrote:

toppity wrote:look at something like the Cannondale Synapse or the Specialised Roubaix. Relaxed geometry carbon fibre bikes suitable for comfort, yet still speedy.

Good advice, I can vouch for the Synapse. I hired one for this year's Paris Brest Paris (1230km over 3 days) I was very impressed and this was an unbiased review, as I had never ridden the bike before although I was confident of it's qualities having done my research beforehand. Synapse's were used by Pro's for the Paris Roubaix as of course was the Specialised Roubaix. Both used on the ancient rough Roman roads because of their relaxed geometry which includes a slightly longer wheelbase.

I have a Synapse 1 and an Azzurri Forza. Both bikes are quick, stiff and climb well but the Synapse smooths out the bumps like you wouldn't believe. I have the same tyres (at the same pressure) and the same saddle on both bikes (and I wear the same gloves, knicks, etc). I don't know how Cannondale do it; you still feel the road but you don't get all the vibrations. It's a very comfortable bike.

I can comment on the Ridley - they are a good case in point.

The Noah is tight/fidgity but runs great, in a straight line and smooth tarmac
The Helium is so light and a fair bit more compliant in feel
The Damocles is between the two so I bought it and couldn't be happier.

I think you'll get more out of changing bars & bar tape. I run integrated bars (WR Composti and Deda) and they are rigid as. I use leather tape to soften the ride.