If you follow the instructions on the seatpost, they have you adjust your seat a bit forward and post a bit up, so that when you sit on it with a correctly tuned spring the sag puts you in your perfect position. Then it doesn't move much to either side of that, and only when it's actively absorbing a bump. If you're the kind of person that is put off by your position moving a few millimeters then sure it'll be annoying, but it shouldn't be for most people, once set up correctly. Though I've only tried the seatpost, not both at the same time
@@Bendersnatchling that’s the unfortunate nature of proprietary seatposts. Been there. From now on I intend to stay away from non-round seatposts as much as I can.
@@RicardoRocha-lg1xo it's tough though, isn't it? It seems like all road bikes are becoming aero and round tubes are awful in that respect. Teardrop or kammtail is way better, but not round and proprietary ofc....
@@Bendersnatchling that’s why I said “as much as I can” 😅… that’s one of the reasons I intend my next bike to be custom, either steel or Ti. One upside to aero seatpost is saddle alignment, though. That’s always an issue for me with my current bikes if I take the round seatpost out for cleaning/greasing. That never happened with the carbon aero bikes I had in the past
I have had lower back surgery for ruptured discs and have been using a suspension seat post for the last fifteen years. The seat post has allowed me to continue riding, I would definitely recommend one for someone with lower back problems.
Go on a long bumpy ride without the suspensions and with them for a couple of times. You will feel that how much more gas you save up in the tank by reducing the vibration fatigue. I was able to go twice as much as before thanks to this. You guys said that the saddle position will change, and that is in the manual. It states that you have a 6 mm initial sag so you have to calculate with that. My only issue is with the stem. You have to check the elastomer tension time to time as the bolt that puts the tension on the elastomers tend to loosen after a couple of rough rides. It will feel softer initially, but it hits you on a descent when you are cornering. I almost learned how to fly, when the dam thing loosened up and the characteristics of the steering changed. It felt like hitting a pothole when I put my weight on the front. Other than that, it was my best bike upgrade so far.
@@johnnunn8688 If you follow the pre-load procedure, than the initial sag should be the same for every rider, independent of their weight. Unless they are over the max pre-load capacity.
I have both on two of my bikes and love them. Taking the time to experiment and get the setup to your liking is key. I have the seatpost setup so that there is barely no sag (unless I'm carrying extra water or other stuff). That way it keeps the same/normal geometry on smooth roads, and soaks up all the bumps and rough stuff. I have the stem setup so that it is very stiff in the drops, at the brink of sag on the bar tops, and a tiny bit of sag when on the brake hoods (this is possible because drop bars have different leverage at those points). This gives me the best of all worlds for sprinting, control, and comfort.
I've had the Redshift stem for about year and half now on my steel gravel bike and I absolutely love it. It does take the sting out of some heavier hits and in general makes me feel more confident when descending or when on fast chunky segments. It doesn't bob when out of the saddle either!
the specialized terra seatpost that comes stock on the crux is a good medium between this and a rigid post. I put one on my bike and it's added a noticeable amount of smoothness on gravel and rough paved surfaces. It looks just like a normal seatpost as well.
I have the Redshift seatpost and stem ,the standard versions... Maybe try changing the elastomers in the stem to firm up the handlebars! Also may suggest trying them on an aluminium or steel gravel bike, might make all the difference.
I have the original post with the springs, and I love it. Honestly, I wouldn't swap to the elastomer version. Sure, you save a few grams. But the springs are really easy to adjust and get things just right. The proof is that I just forget its there most of the time. Btw: I'd consider the stem, but my bike has a Cannondale silk road headshock, so I'm good on that fro nt. Cheers
Yeah you have to add greater resistance to the stem for road bikes because of the added weight to the front vs a gravel/touring bike. I think the weight guidelines in the manual are more for gravel/touring.
I recently put the non-pro Redshift stem on my aluminium framed city bike, a Trek District 4. The frame is very stiff vertically, and I found going over bumps to be jarring on my hands. I really like the result. I have just the lightest elastomer in, and it doesn't take away the bumps entirely, but I describe it as turning "thud" into "whump." It really does take the edge off and keep my hands more firmly and comfortably on the bars. For me, the stem seems more important than the seatpost. I can always stand up if I see a harsh bump coming, but it's probably not a good idea to let go of the bars for a second to avoid the impact on my hands.
I’ve been riding on Redshift gear since it was a startup. It’s awesome for the rough roads of Cambodia and SEA where I now live. I ride a gravel bike and backpack it’s perfect. You should come here for a real brutal adventure
I did the badger divide last May and couldn’t feel my hands for a month afterwards… got the redshift stem afterwards and game changer…. Cuts a load of the vibrations out. Don’t have the seat post but use a Brooks cambium cut out which has a decent amount of give (although always a worry that a wardrobe malfunction could be v painful 😮). Chur 🤙
I have both of these and love them. Just set your seatpost about 10/15mm higher to allow for sag and change the polymers in the stem for firmer ones if its too floppy. Simple.
Used Redshift stem on Tarmac SL4 (70-84 kg elastomers) - I weigh 60Kg, so fairly firm. 28mm tyres, run 55f/70r psi. Also ride a Roubaix with futureshock, similar tyre pressures End result is very similar - fast, less stress and fatigue transmitted from road buzz, better handling as you're not re-inputting lumps and bumps in the steering, keep pedalling full gas over road humps while everyone around you stops and lifts bums off saddle. Both work for me.
I have a cane creek suspension seatpost and it is an absolute beauty. You don't notice it at all until you need it. I have done roughly 3000 kms with it and I don't have any issues in regards to bike fit. I think it would be the same for the redshift seat post.
@@michaelfisher9760 really good. Im a heavy rider at 115kg, so I use the stiffest polymers. Run 25mm tyres at 100psi, so get quite a harsh ride normally. Used to suffer from hand numbness on longer rides. That's pretty much gone now. Just sucks up the road noise.
Have both on a gravel bike. I actually like the stem more, but both are really good, albeit heavy. You need a few rides and the bike having a "give" in the stem will feel natural. I do run both at the hardest setting tho, including second spring & preload for the seat post. There is no real "sag" then, it only gives @ impacts.
Try the Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost. I have one on my Ridley Helium SL (due to bad discs in my back) and absolutely love it. It made for a dramatic improvement in comfort. eeSilk is much lighter than the Redshift.
A budget alternative for the Decathlon seatpost might be the €50 RFR suspension seatposts that Cube sells, they have a whopping 45mm of travel! No personal experience with them but might make sad Jimmy happy again ;)
In theory if you set it up so your seat height is correct while you’re sat on the bike on level ground then I don’t see an issue with your seat moving by a couple of cm’s given that it should be almost immediately returning to neutral and presumably that would only be for the biggest of bumps anyway, with your typical imperfect road surface resulting in a much smaller deflection. It’s all a moot point for me anyway as neither my road bike or gravel bike have round seat posts!
I have a Roubaix, which has probably a better version of suspension in the head tube. It doesn’t change the angle of the bar when it flexes. Still, I mostly find it gimmicky. What I wonder about the seat post is whether you noticed any pedal bob. Any time you put a spring between the bb and the saddle, you introduce the possibility because the rider unloads and loads that spring as they pedal.
Check out the Suntour NCX seatpost, less than £70, quite a bit heavier than this one but works basically identically. I have the Shockstop stems on several bikes and really like them.
It's an interesting idea, however I wouldn't trust the stem, a little change in the hoods angle can easily and unpredictably cause your hands to slip off the hoods, causing a serious accident.
Hmmm, thoughts on compensating for sag, if you set the seat spring tension so that when you are sat on it (static) you are in the right position, then going over the bumps while it will change the "fit" it is staying a lot closer to where it should be.
New Jimmy product rating system ; ‘not a heap of sh#%’. Praise indeed Jimmy. Quality review. How about old school saddle with springs to test, with a mahoosive comedy Carradice saddle bag for sandwiches and ginger beer?
Would be better if you read the instructions. If just doing road riding make both stiffer (look at chart in instructions) to absorb roughness without having there be lots of movement. Pro seatpost main difference is progressive elastimers so better feel on road for smaller bumps and less movement during normal riding (only bottom out for hard hits so use less range normally)
Surely the difference in saddle height and reach with the suspension on the seat post and stem must also come with gravel bikes with suspension forks and the rear shocks like in the specialized crux ?
What about the SR Suntour SP12-NCX Suspension Seat Post? it seems to work the same way (parallelogram), claims the same weight, but it's way cheaper...
My seat post broke. The suspension stem turn out to have a play that does a 2 or 3 mm difference at the end of the handlebar. I guess I got a fake products. I also was at the bottom of the seatpost with both spring. This does not occur, right?
That's also the reason why I'm a big fan of e-bikes even though I don't use one. It opens new possibilities for people who wouldn't ride a bicycle otherwise.
@@KNURKonesur Hey thats me :D. Since i got my E-Bike (Bergamont E-Revox 4 - i love it!) im riding almost daily! It's infact so much fun (which i never had with a normal Bike) that im currently planning a 450 km Tour from Niedersachsen to Zandvoort (Netherlands).
@@KNURKonesuryou are so right. I would never buy a road bike but I brought ebike that has top speed of 20mph , close to city limit. I don’t like normal bike because ebike allows me to take off quick at traffic light
I've been using a Redshift stem and seatpost since they first came out, fantastic product, stopped my back ache straight away. The slight change in position as you ride has never been an issue.
Seeing a roadbiker be amazed at suspension was great. Welcome to the club. This is why the recent gravel/adventure biking trend has been good, it broke a lot of people out of mental boxes
For longer rides they're great. I have Canyon's VCLS leaf sprung seatpost which is a brilliant alternative and definitely worth considering. It's quite expensive but they are less than half the weight of the Redshift and look a lot sleeker.
I have an S13 (VCLS 1.0) seatpost on my Inflite and am always amazed how compliant it is despite looking like a regular post. Also a quite a bit cheaper than the S14.
I have a similar one with no set back, I haven't found it much different to the seat post I was running (sadly...) but I'm going to try one with a 20mm setback. I reckon these are a great compromise between wanting a bit more compliance but as much as these offer.
I've had the Redshift on for about three years now and going back to a rigid stem just isn't an option. It's soooo much better on rough terrain and takes the buzz out on the road as well. I had the same epiphany as Jimmy a few years ago. I'm faster, but more importantly have more fun, when I'm comfortable. And since we've determined that weight doesn't matter, the slight penalty just isn't relevant.
i have the stem and seatpost on my gravel bikes and was even thinking about adding the stem to my TCR. i guess it may be a little blasphemous to add suspension to a super stiff race bike but the added comfort is worth it.
I’ve had the Redshift Shopstop stem + seatpost combo for a few years on my gravel bike and although no lightweight items they make for a super comfy ride without the hassle of “real” suspension.
I put Redshift stem and post on my Winter bike that i do Paris Roubaix on every year, they were a game changer, never been more comfortable on the cobbles, well worth the dosh!
For 5 months on my solo trip I've been using eeSilk from Cane Creek. I can't imagine riding without it now. It's expensive but no saddle sores after few thousand kilometers. Also I'm a proud owner of Redshift suspension stem which at beginning felt kind of weird. Especially with an Ortlieb Handlebar bag, but I've got used to it. And again I can highly recommend. No wrist pains after 70-80km a day.
@@rickeverett3304 I'd agree with that assessment. Pretty sure the eesilk, especially in the carbon variant, is quite a bit lighter though. If that's actually important to someone
I had the same issue with the stem moving too much and feeling like you would tip forwarded. However, I just added the firmer elastomer and now it's perfect. When I'm out of saddle or break hard it doesn't move much, but it moves enough to take a long of the road/trail buzz out. Also absorbs and takes the edge off the big bumps. Really love their system.
I've been using the stem and another brand seatpost for a couple of years on my gravel bike. With 650b wheels and bigger tires I can tackle some pretty gnarly conditions. Game changer.
For the stem, I found that when I used recommended elastomers from the instructions it was a little bit too squishy. If you add just a little bit more, to increase the stiffness, may improve the feel. I did this, and I barely notice the stem when riding smooth the road, but as soon as anything gets chunky, it, absorbs it all up.
The redshifts were on my radar then I forgot about them and now you have reminded me again. Thanks. I'm guessing you need to set the saddle up a bit higher so when you sit on it, the sag takes it to your actual bikefit height. Not sure what you can do about the stem though. Maybe if there is one that has a rubber insert for vibration dampening rather than suspension, so it doesn't move around so much.
I have the Pro stem, very satisfied so far. I decided not to go for the seat post as my GT Grade has kind of a built in suspension, thanks to those glass-fiber rods having a lot of travel, and feels comfy enough but might still change my mind one day.
I have GT carbon grade. Yes the 25mm of travel works on a frame that's less than a kilo. I have read a flex seat post doesn't really have any benefit. For the bars I went for Bontrager carbon with gel inserts rather than a stem. Also Maxxis 120 tpi 40mm tyres are so subtle!
aren't you supposed to set them up for your normal saddle height accounting for the sag? so, if it sags 10%, then your your usual saddle height should be plus that 10%?
Manon Lloyd from GCN used these products for a UCI gravel worlds qualifier and gave it a thumbs up. Maybe you should set the saddle height up to compensate for the sag or set the spring preload so that It doesn’t sag under your weight just sitting on the saddle. If you have sag you’re reducing the suspension travel. It looks like a cool product. I’d like to try it.
I have the suspension seatpost from Decathlon. The spring it comes with is very hard, and it doesn't provide that much comfort. You can adjust the preload, but even on the lowest possible, it's not doing much. I ended switching it with a Cube RFR Suspension Seatpost. It's more plush and comfortable (they have 2 versions, for riders 60-90 Kg and 80-120 Kg). And it looks much better than the Decathlon one. The only issue with these seatposts is their weight, I think they are well over 500g. But I prefer being comfortable.
I’ve got the stem suspension on my Cannondale Topstone 1 gravel bike and the seatpost suspension on my Giant Tallon Zero mtb and after a bit of juggling, now have both of them perfectly adjusted. I ordered a softer spring for the seatpost as at 70 kgs I found that the standard one was too hard. I’m 71 and the difference these two items have made to my riding comfort is immeasurable. Both easy to fit and adjust. Great video from you guys as usual.
I have the Redshift Pro Shockstem on both my road bikes (12 months). I ride mainly sealed rural country roads in Australia and they can be quite uneven and rough. The shockstem Pro takes the vibration out of the handlebars going over rough surfaces which then doesn't travel up through your arms, shoulders and neck which can often fatigue. You can adjust the movement of the stem by selecting the correct combination of rubber blocks inserted in the stem to match your weight. 5 Star rating from me.
You need to remember that the seat post doesn’t just compress in line with the post, it also moves back, which reduces the amount of effective drop in relation to your pedals. You’ll still be closer, but not as much as you think. These sort of things have been around for ages in mountain biking, before rear suspension got good, so some of us old folk have gone through this discovery and figuring out geometry a long time ago. 😊
Yeah, the 10 cm travel CaneCreek posts really did the trick when a suspension frame was too costly or complex. It's funny that roadies now consider 28 mm normal, but they'd gather to shame me if I'd turn up to a club crit with 28s. I did a club crit on 28mm Diamond Tufo cross thingies and they all just shook their "wise" heads. Fat tyres just work for cyclists. It's becoming the norm in city bikes as well, that used to be skinny tyres with crappy suspension forks.
ive been using the pro stem on my gravel/winter bike and its a revelation. After doing the King Alfreds way and having numb hands afterwards i thought i would try this in order to reduce hand fatigue, and hay presto, it does what says on the tin. You just have to try various elastomer combinations, i went for a harder elastomer which reduces bob but still gives enough suspension to remove hand fatigue. The seat post is also to be tried but not sure if it will rub on my Tailfin rear aero pack if on a bike packing trip. The conclusion is that it works and definitley worth trying out, especially on gravel rides or rough rough surfaces.
I dunno, I did a bit of research and I came up with the combination of a Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost and a Cirrus Kinekt stem and it all works AMAZING with my aluminum (or: aluminium for you Brits) framed gravel bike (Marin Gestalt - not 1, or X, or whatever - just the base model). The seatpost has little to no "sag", while the stem does have a fair amount if you "lean in" too much (but the handlebar doesn't pitch forward like the one you used, as it uses a parallelogram design to prevent that). The setup is almost unnoticeable UNTIL you get into the "rough stuff". As much damping as possible for as little travel as is necessary. Works... I would suggest you revisit this.
remember when Girvin Flex Stem came out. Given how still road bikes are a suspension stem will take the sting out of the road. Problem with that stem is what you alluded to. parallelogram stems solve that issue
I weigh 100kg but set the elastomers in the stem for an 80kg rider which seems to work better, the other Redshift product I would recommend is the Cruise Control top grips.
If it's that hard to know if there's a fit problem, then there isn't really a fit problem. Not one anyone should care about anyway. More comfortable = good thing. Self flagellation went out with 23s.
Thanks for the video. Interesting as usually these components are tested on gravel bikes. Which make me think about my main doubt about buying one. Is it worth it if you already have a gravel bike with pretty generous clearance (50 mm). Or could I have the same comfort just by lowering my tires pressure without sacrificing weight and fitting.
Every bump is just a small hill. The less of the bike has to go over that hill, the less forward momentum you lose. And the heaviest part of the bike, by far, is the rider. It's not just comfort making you go faster. The comfort just means that the bike is going over all those small hills, but you're not. Your mass can continue on a more straight path. Suspension actually makes you a LOT faster. I'm surprised road bikes don't have it, cus no way is the tyre enough on rough asphalt, for example. The kind that makes you vibrate. To make an 80kg pereson vibrate, takes a lot of energy. And it all comes out of your legs to make you vibrate up and down, instead of moving forwards. But why the seatpost and bars? Just put it in the forks like people have been doing for decades.
I've had the Redshift stem on my road bike for 4 years. The gravel bike doesn't get out much these days! You get used to the dip pretty quickly and it's worth it for the comfort on the deplorable uk rural road surfaces.
I have the Redshift stem and love it on my gravel bike. I've pondered the seat post for a while but think after your initial thoughts I might just get it and see how I get on. Its certainly an interesting concept.
Go for it. I scored the regular one (springs) second hand but nearly new, and it's one of my best buys ever. I reckon it's still worth it at full price.
I run the EESILK seatpost on my road bike and rthe EESILK gravel seatpost on my gravel bike. Great pieces of kit. Waiting for the 70mm EESILK stem to be sold in the EU. 80mm redshift stem is 10mm too long for me.
As a disabled cyclist with shoulder & back issues, with out suspension I couldn't ride. I've run air sprung forks on my MTB for years and have suspension seat post & 50mm travel fork on my gravel bike. It makes long rides less fatigue inducing. Years ago both Girvin & Allsop experimented with these systems. The Allsop was hugely ugly!
I had a cheap suspension post on my old commuter bike. It worked a treat and was about £15. I've recently got a road bike after years of not cycling and love the efficiency and low rolling resistance. It ain't comfy though.
A spring loaded saddle will literally give you more traction, as the bike will be able to follow the ground structure if it isn’t rigidly connected to your bones
Just set the seat height and fore-aft with taking the sag into account (little bit higher than usual and slightly forward). Not sure about the stem though. My guess is that a stem spacer will do a similar thing to set your bar height back to the one recommended during bike fitting. As for the reach, it depends on how do you mount the stem (positive or negative drop), but I'm sure you can also mitigate that by adjusting the position of brake levers / shifters.
One of the things I see is because the seat moves back a little on bumps instead of just down, the distance between your seat and pedals probably doesn't change much. It will change your knee angle slightly though. Every review I've been looking up hasn't mentioned it being an issue... I think I'm gonna get one for my hardtail MTB.
Noob...suspension makes grip more reliable. Lower peak loads, not just on your hands and bum, but also for the tyres pressing the surface. On MTB's, suspension bikes get away with more tyre pressure, not just for comfort, but also grip.
Ive used the Red Shift stems on road and gravel bikes since they came out. Too many hand surgeries . They made a difference with 2 layers of padded tape.. MAy try a seat one on a gravel bike. Some monster holes in the shade on country road thanks for the videos
I’m enjoying the bike so far ruclips.net/user/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA My only real complaints are the brakes and the pedals. I feel like a bike designed for bigger people should have much larger pedals and more heavy duty brakes. I’ve only gotten two really good rides out of it, minimal downhill action, and the brakes feel like they’re already going out. A larger person has more momentum, so I think this wasn’t thought through very well. Also, I wear size 13-14 wide shoes. My feet cramp up on these pedals that are clearly made for smaller feet. Since I’m not a pro rider (and I don’t think many are who purchase this bike) I don’t think that the straps on the pedal are necessary at all. None of this takes away from the enjoyment I get from riding, however. I’ll just head to a bike shop to improve on a few things.
My brother swears by his Specialized Future Shock and won't accept a bike that doesn't have something at least as good. I've looked this Redshift system for a while, but am leaning more towards RockShox suspension seatpost.
I bought alloy Cane creek eesilk for commuter bike 2 years ago. After few months I bough CF eesilk for gravel bike. Very expensive but my ass thanking my wallet on every ride. I can ride cobblestone in the saddle without any discomfort.
Perfect *haha* we as mtb riders had the same thoughts in the 90s. Your roadie guys can overjump the last 20 years of bike evolution and go direct to a xc mtb. Than you have skinny nobby tires, small disk breaks, low travel forks and if you want to a rear shock...... just smash on your dumb bent bars and you are ready....... shock seat posts.. omg ridiculous....
I had one on a commute bike but recently switched it to my gravel for longer rides. I have lower back issues, and it has really helped. However, I found it hard to set up with 100km+ rides, causing me some issues on my right hamstring that I can't resolve with height or position adjustments. So, I am still not sure it's ideal for ride position given the sag, and I am a heavy rider.
Ergon has the CF post for 10 years. Canyon put it on their bikes, naming it VCLS 2.0 Unlike this post, VCLS does not change the seatpost length, the distance to the bottom bracket. It is also lighter.
My bike commute has some real choppy bits, and a lot of gravel on pavement. These are some of the most expensive components on my bike, I’ve had them a couple years, and they’ve been totally worth it. Just soaking up the biggest hits makes a huge difference in quality of life. Any health loss in bike fit has to made up by not having the bones rattled, I assume. I didn’t realize these had gotten popular though, May upgrade my seat post ring to locking.
You can adjust the height to be pretty much the same. Also, I doubt having the geometry change in such small amounts would do any harm to you long term. How many people have their seat heights adjusted "perfectly" in the first place? Moreover, instead of transferring potholes and bumps straight into your ass and spine, the suspension should put less strain and shock into your joints. Less jolts and you said it felt more comfortable. You're body will tell you and if you noticed that difference im sure long term it would appreicate it.
If you follow the instructions on the seatpost, they have you adjust your seat a bit forward and post a bit up, so that when you sit on it with a correctly tuned spring the sag puts you in your perfect position. Then it doesn't move much to either side of that, and only when it's actively absorbing a bump. If you're the kind of person that is put off by your position moving a few millimeters then sure it'll be annoying, but it shouldn't be for most people, once set up correctly. Though I've only tried the seatpost, not both at the same time
I’m one of those people. I tend to ride with a zero offset seatpost and the saddle slightly forward, so I rarely ride my Redshift post
Well f me and my D-shaped proprietary seat post.
(Cervelo R5)
@@Bendersnatchling that’s the unfortunate nature of proprietary seatposts. Been there. From now on I intend to stay away from non-round seatposts as much as I can.
@@RicardoRocha-lg1xo it's tough though, isn't it?
It seems like all road bikes are becoming aero and round tubes are awful in that respect.
Teardrop or kammtail is way better, but not round and proprietary ofc....
@@Bendersnatchling that’s why I said “as much as I can” 😅… that’s one of the reasons I intend my next bike to be custom, either steel or Ti. One upside to aero seatpost is saddle alignment, though. That’s always an issue for me with my current bikes if I take the round seatpost out for cleaning/greasing. That never happened with the carbon aero bikes I had in the past
I have had lower back surgery for ruptured discs and have been using a suspension seat post for the last fifteen years. The seat post has allowed me to continue riding, I would definitely recommend one for someone with lower back problems.
Go on a long bumpy ride without the suspensions and with them for a couple of times. You will feel that how much more gas you save up in the tank by reducing the vibration fatigue. I was able to go twice as much as before thanks to this. You guys said that the saddle position will change, and that is in the manual. It states that you have a 6 mm initial sag so you have to calculate with that. My only issue is with the stem. You have to check the elastomer tension time to time as the bolt that puts the tension on the elastomers tend to loosen after a couple of rough rides. It will feel softer initially, but it hits you on a descent when you are cornering. I almost learned how to fly, when the dam thing loosened up and the characteristics of the steering changed. It felt like hitting a pothole when I put my weight on the front. Other than that, it was my best bike upgrade so far.
The initial sag will depend on the weight of the rider (Leonard M Lee) Shirley?
@@johnnunn8688 If you follow the pre-load procedure, than the initial sag should be the same for every rider, independent of their weight. Unless they are over the max pre-load capacity.
Use the stem on my gravel bike - huge benefit and removed a lot of shoulder and neck pain which I was having after rides. Bike is fitted by the way.
I am in the same boat and thinking about buying the seatpost too...
@@lomicwind you can get them for boats? Got a link?
@@johnnunn8688 boats ?? no I mean I am in the same situation ^_^
I have both on two of my bikes and love them. Taking the time to experiment and get the setup to your liking is key. I have the seatpost setup so that there is barely no sag (unless I'm carrying extra water or other stuff). That way it keeps the same/normal geometry on smooth roads, and soaks up all the bumps and rough stuff. I have the stem setup so that it is very stiff in the drops, at the brink of sag on the bar tops, and a tiny bit of sag when on the brake hoods (this is possible because drop bars have different leverage at those points). This gives me the best of all worlds for sprinting, control, and comfort.
I've had the Redshift stem for about year and half now on my steel gravel bike and I absolutely love it. It does take the sting out of some heavier hits and in general makes me feel more confident when descending or when on fast chunky segments. It doesn't bob when out of the saddle either!
the specialized terra seatpost that comes stock on the crux is a good medium between this and a rigid post. I put one on my bike and it's added a noticeable amount of smoothness on gravel and rough paved surfaces. It looks just like a normal seatpost as well.
I have the Redshift seatpost and stem ,the standard versions... Maybe try changing the elastomers in the stem to firm up the handlebars! Also may suggest trying them on an aluminium or steel gravel bike, might make all the difference.
I have the original post with the springs, and I love it.
Honestly, I wouldn't swap to the elastomer version. Sure, you save a few grams. But the springs are really easy to adjust and get things just right.
The proof is that I just forget its there most of the time.
Btw: I'd consider the stem, but my bike has a Cannondale silk road headshock, so I'm good on that fro nt.
Cheers
Yeah you have to add greater resistance to the stem for road bikes because of the added weight to the front vs a gravel/touring bike. I think the weight guidelines in the manual are more for gravel/touring.
I recently put the non-pro Redshift stem on my aluminium framed city bike, a Trek District 4. The frame is very stiff vertically, and I found going over bumps to be jarring on my hands. I really like the result. I have just the lightest elastomer in, and it doesn't take away the bumps entirely, but I describe it as turning "thud" into "whump." It really does take the edge off and keep my hands more firmly and comfortably on the bars.
For me, the stem seems more important than the seatpost. I can always stand up if I see a harsh bump coming, but it's probably not a good idea to let go of the bars for a second to avoid the impact on my hands.
I’ve been riding on Redshift gear since it was a startup. It’s awesome for the rough roads of Cambodia and SEA where I now live.
I ride a gravel bike and backpack it’s perfect.
You should come here for a real brutal adventure
I did the badger divide last May and couldn’t feel my hands for a month afterwards… got the redshift stem afterwards and game changer…. Cuts a load of the vibrations out. Don’t have the seat post but use a Brooks cambium cut out which has a decent amount of give (although always a worry that a wardrobe malfunction could be v painful 😮). Chur 🤙
I have both of these and love them. Just set your seatpost about 10/15mm higher to allow for sag and change the polymers in the stem for firmer ones if its too floppy. Simple.
Used Redshift stem on Tarmac SL4 (70-84 kg elastomers) - I weigh 60Kg, so fairly firm. 28mm tyres, run 55f/70r psi. Also ride a Roubaix with futureshock, similar tyre pressures End result is very similar - fast, less stress and fatigue transmitted from road buzz, better handling as you're not re-inputting lumps and bumps in the steering, keep pedalling full gas over road humps while everyone around you stops and lifts bums off saddle. Both work for me.
I have a cane creek suspension seatpost and it is an absolute beauty. You don't notice it at all until you need it. I have done roughly 3000 kms with it and I don't have any issues in regards to bike fit.
I think it would be the same for the redshift seat post.
You are spot on. Ive got the regular Redshift post and I don't notice it until I need it.
They're great.
I love my redshift stem. Would never go back now.
I have a Redshift stem too and love it too! Wouldn’t dream of going without it now.
How is it with general road vibrations rather than just pot holes?
@@michaelfisher9760 really good. Im a heavy rider at 115kg, so I use the stiffest polymers. Run 25mm tyres at 100psi, so get quite a harsh ride normally. Used to suffer from hand numbness on longer rides. That's pretty much gone now. Just sucks up the road noise.
Have both on a gravel bike. I actually like the stem more, but both are really good, albeit heavy.
You need a few rides and the bike having a "give" in the stem will feel natural.
I do run both at the hardest setting tho, including second spring & preload for the seat post. There is no real "sag" then, it only gives @ impacts.
Try the Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost. I have one on my Ridley Helium SL (due to bad discs in my back) and absolutely love it. It made for a dramatic improvement in comfort. eeSilk is much lighter than the Redshift.
A budget alternative for the Decathlon seatpost might be the €50 RFR suspension seatposts that Cube sells, they have a whopping 45mm of travel! No personal experience with them but might make sad Jimmy happy again ;)
In theory if you set it up so your seat height is correct while you’re sat on the bike on level ground then I don’t see an issue with your seat moving by a couple of cm’s given that it should be almost immediately returning to neutral and presumably that would only be for the biggest of bumps anyway, with your typical imperfect road surface resulting in a much smaller deflection. It’s all a moot point for me anyway as neither my road bike or gravel bike have round seat posts!
I have a Roubaix, which has probably a better version of suspension in the head tube. It doesn’t change the angle of the bar when it flexes. Still, I mostly find it gimmicky.
What I wonder about the seat post is whether you noticed any pedal bob. Any time you put a spring between the bb and the saddle, you introduce the possibility because the rider unloads and loads that spring as they pedal.
This should be use on a gravel bike, that would be another game changer
I have the stem on two bikes, I have the seat post on my turbo ! Makes the turbo loads better 😂
Check out the Suntour NCX seatpost, less than £70, quite a bit heavier than this one but works basically identically. I have the Shockstop stems on several bikes and really like them.
It's an interesting idea, however I wouldn't trust the stem, a little change in the hoods angle can easily and unpredictably cause your hands to slip off the hoods, causing a serious accident.
Hmmm, thoughts on compensating for sag, if you set the seat spring tension so that when you are sat on it (static) you are in the right position, then going over the bumps while it will change the "fit" it is staying a lot closer to where it should be.
I'm using redshift stem and it really makes a big difference.......
Oh you gotta get the decaflon one!
New Jimmy product rating system ; ‘not a heap of sh#%’. Praise indeed Jimmy. Quality review. How about old school saddle with springs to test, with a mahoosive comedy Carradice saddle bag for sandwiches and ginger beer?
Could have done with these on my latest bikepacking trip - bumpy bridleway brutality
Would be better if you read the instructions. If just doing road riding make both stiffer (look at chart in instructions) to absorb roughness without having there be lots of movement. Pro seatpost main difference is progressive elastimers so better feel on road for smaller bumps and less movement during normal riding (only bottom out for hard hits so use less range normally)
Surely the difference in saddle height and reach with the suspension on the seat post and stem must also come with gravel bikes with suspension forks and the rear shocks like in the specialized crux ?
I want to put this on my mountain bike now and have a Mercedes class ride.
did you end up doing a video on the Decathlon seat post suspension?
this would have been nice for RideLondon last Sunday
i'm not a roadie, laughes in 1x .... wheelie time!
What's the advantage to retrofitting suspension in your seatpost and stem as opposed to buying a bike with built-in suspension?
News flash: Roadies discovers suspensions 30 years after mtbers. 😆
The problem for me is nobody seems to make a good 25.4 suspension seat post for my old (but very reliable) steel bike...
What about the SR Suntour SP12-NCX Suspension Seat Post? it seems to work the same way (parallelogram), claims the same weight, but it's way cheaper...
I would love to see some cheaper options as I think it would do wonders for us.
how about putting a saddle bag there?
My seat post broke. The suspension stem turn out to have a play that does a 2 or 3 mm difference at the end of the handlebar. I guess I got a fake products. I also was at the bottom of the seatpost with both spring. This does not occur, right?
Fucking love Jimmi. And you Francis ;)
Well realistically touring guys have gotten half that travel out of brooks style saddles for eternity. Plenty ways to skin a cat.
What is the cost of them ?
nice!
Bro, 2 cm is 20 millimeters. If I told you that I adjusted your saddle height 20 millimeters, you'd punch me in the face.
I think the bigger point might be missed.... With the added comfort, will it get a person to ride more... And is that more important?
That's also the reason why I'm a big fan of e-bikes even though I don't use one. It opens new possibilities for people who wouldn't ride a bicycle otherwise.
It's a very important question... and maybe change the way they ride, or the types of rides they do.
i have a cheaper one on my bike and it's made me ride it more honestly
@@KNURKonesur Hey thats me :D. Since i got my E-Bike (Bergamont E-Revox 4 - i love it!) im riding almost daily! It's infact so much fun (which i never had with a normal Bike) that im currently planning a 450 km Tour from Niedersachsen to Zandvoort (Netherlands).
@@KNURKonesuryou are so right. I would never buy a road bike but I brought ebike that has top speed of 20mph , close to city limit. I don’t like normal bike because ebike allows me to take off quick at traffic light
I've been using a Redshift stem and seatpost since they first came out, fantastic product, stopped my back ache straight away. The slight change in position as you ride has never been an issue.
Seeing a roadbiker be amazed at suspension was great. Welcome to the club. This is why the recent gravel/adventure biking trend has been good, it broke a lot of people out of mental boxes
Mental boxes indeed. I broke out and tried my best to be a sort of Morpheus to my riding buddies, but they’re still stuck in the Matrix 😂😂😂
The boys were so impressed, they forgot to moan about all the extra weight!
Bonus.
For longer rides they're great. I have Canyon's VCLS leaf sprung seatpost which is a brilliant alternative and definitely worth considering. It's quite expensive but they are less than half the weight of the Redshift and look a lot sleeker.
great seatpost, that is actually made by ergon but canyon use it on lots of their bikes
I have an S13 (VCLS 1.0) seatpost on my Inflite and am always amazed how compliant it is despite looking like a regular post. Also a quite a bit cheaper than the S14.
@@billhulley I had the VCLS 2.0 but didn't like so much movement and it was ugly, switched to the older S13 VCLS 1.0 which I love and it looks good.
I have a similar one with no set back, I haven't found it much different to the seat post I was running (sadly...) but I'm going to try one with a 20mm setback. I reckon these are a great compromise between wanting a bit more compliance but as much as these offer.
Problem with these is, if you are a lighter rider, these basically do nothing.
Can confirm the Pro seatpost and either stem are ideal for 200km+ rides. Excellent products.
I've had the Redshift on for about three years now and going back to a rigid stem just isn't an option. It's soooo much better on rough terrain and takes the buzz out on the road as well. I had the same epiphany as Jimmy a few years ago. I'm faster, but more importantly have more fun, when I'm comfortable. And since we've determined that weight doesn't matter, the slight penalty just isn't relevant.
i have the stem and seatpost on my gravel bikes and was even thinking about adding the stem to my TCR. i guess it may be a little blasphemous to add suspension to a super stiff race bike but the added comfort is worth it.
I’ve had the Redshift Shopstop stem + seatpost combo for a few years on my gravel bike and although no lightweight items they make for a super comfy ride without the hassle of “real” suspension.
I put Redshift stem and post on my Winter bike that i do Paris Roubaix on every year, they were a game changer, never been more comfortable on the cobbles, well worth the dosh!
For 5 months on my solo trip I've been using eeSilk from Cane Creek. I can't imagine riding without it now. It's expensive but no saddle sores after few thousand kilometers. Also I'm a proud owner of Redshift suspension stem which at beginning felt kind of weird. Especially with an Ortlieb Handlebar bag, but I've got used to it. And again I can highly recommend. No wrist pains after 70-80km a day.
The eesilk is the top of my wanted list...
@@markjthomson I have an EESilk on one bike and the Redshift on my #2 and wifes bikes, both are good but the Redshift is more comfortable
@@rickeverett3304 I'd agree with that assessment. Pretty sure the eesilk, especially in the carbon variant, is quite a bit lighter though. If that's actually important to someone
Wife and I really like our Redshift stems, may have to give the seat posts a try as well.
I had the same issue with the stem moving too much and feeling like you would tip forwarded. However, I just added the firmer elastomer and now it's perfect. When I'm out of saddle or break hard it doesn't move much, but it moves enough to take a long of the road/trail buzz out. Also absorbs and takes the edge off the big bumps. Really love their system.
I've been using the stem and another brand seatpost for a couple of years on my gravel bike. With 650b wheels and bigger tires I can tackle some pretty gnarly conditions. Game changer.
Didn't Girvin make the flex stem 20 years ago or so? Had one on my proflex MTB. The more things change......
For the stem, I found that when I used recommended elastomers from the instructions it was a little bit too squishy. If you add just a little bit more, to increase the stiffness, may improve the feel. I did this, and I barely notice the stem when riding smooth the road, but as soon as anything gets chunky, it, absorbs it all up.
The redshifts were on my radar then I forgot about them and now you have reminded me again. Thanks. I'm guessing you need to set the saddle up a bit higher so when you sit on it, the sag takes it to your actual bikefit height. Not sure what you can do about the stem though. Maybe if there is one that has a rubber insert for vibration dampening rather than suspension, so it doesn't move around so much.
I have the Pro stem, very satisfied so far. I decided not to go for the seat post as my GT Grade has kind of a built in suspension, thanks to those glass-fiber rods having a lot of travel, and feels comfy enough but might still change my mind one day.
I have GT carbon grade. Yes the 25mm of travel works on a frame that's less than a kilo. I have read a flex seat post doesn't really have any benefit. For the bars I went for Bontrager carbon with gel inserts rather than a stem. Also Maxxis 120 tpi 40mm tyres are so subtle!
@@SimonCurrey what a great bike we have! 😉
aren't you supposed to set them up for your normal saddle height accounting for the sag? so, if it sags 10%, then your your usual saddle height should be plus that 10%?
Manon Lloyd from GCN used these products for a UCI gravel worlds qualifier and gave it a thumbs up. Maybe you should set the saddle height up to compensate for the sag or set the spring preload so that It doesn’t sag under your weight just sitting on the saddle. If you have sag you’re reducing the suspension travel. It looks like a cool product. I’d like to try it.
Actually, GCN gets paid to give a thumbs up for the product that is being ‘displayed’ in a video.
I have the suspension seatpost from Decathlon. The spring it comes with is very hard, and it doesn't provide that much comfort. You can adjust the preload, but even on the lowest possible, it's not doing much.
I ended switching it with a Cube RFR Suspension Seatpost. It's more plush and comfortable (they have 2 versions, for riders 60-90 Kg and 80-120 Kg). And it looks much better than the Decathlon one.
The only issue with these seatposts is their weight, I think they are well over 500g. But I prefer being comfortable.
I’ve got the stem suspension on my Cannondale Topstone 1 gravel bike and the seatpost suspension on my Giant Tallon Zero mtb and after a bit of juggling, now have both of them perfectly adjusted. I ordered a softer spring for the seatpost as at 70 kgs I found that the standard one was too hard. I’m 71 and the difference these two items have made to my riding comfort is immeasurable. Both easy to fit and adjust. Great video from you guys as usual.
I have the Redshift Pro Shockstem on both my road bikes (12 months). I ride mainly sealed rural country roads in Australia and they can be quite uneven and rough. The shockstem Pro takes the vibration out of the handlebars going over rough surfaces which then doesn't travel up through your arms, shoulders and neck which can often fatigue. You can adjust the movement of the stem by selecting the correct combination of rubber blocks inserted in the stem to match your weight. 5 Star rating from me.
Great Video as always! You should try out the Ergon one with the leaf spring design :)
You need to remember that the seat post doesn’t just compress in line with the post, it also moves back, which reduces the amount of effective drop in relation to your pedals. You’ll still be closer, but not as much as you think. These sort of things have been around for ages in mountain biking, before rear suspension got good, so some of us old folk have gone through this discovery and figuring out geometry a long time ago. 😊
Yeah, the 10 cm travel CaneCreek posts really did the trick when a suspension frame was too costly or complex.
It's funny that roadies now consider 28 mm normal, but they'd gather to shame me if I'd turn up to a club crit with 28s. I did a club crit on 28mm Diamond Tufo cross thingies and they all just shook their "wise" heads. Fat tyres just work for cyclists. It's becoming the norm in city bikes as well, that used to be skinny tyres with crappy suspension forks.
ive been using the pro stem on my gravel/winter bike and its a revelation. After doing the King Alfreds way and having numb hands afterwards i thought i would try this in order to reduce hand fatigue, and hay presto, it does what says on the tin. You just have to try various elastomer combinations, i went for a harder elastomer which reduces bob but still gives enough suspension to remove hand fatigue. The seat post is also to be tried but not sure if it will rub on my Tailfin rear aero pack if on a bike packing trip. The conclusion is that it works and definitley worth trying out, especially on gravel rides or rough rough surfaces.
I dunno, I did a bit of research and I came up with the combination of a Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost and a Cirrus Kinekt stem and it all works AMAZING with my aluminum (or: aluminium for you Brits) framed gravel bike (Marin Gestalt - not 1, or X, or whatever - just the base model). The seatpost has little to no "sag", while the stem does have a fair amount if you "lean in" too much (but the handlebar doesn't pitch forward like the one you used, as it uses a parallelogram design to prevent that). The setup is almost unnoticeable UNTIL you get into the "rough stuff". As much damping as possible for as little travel as is necessary.
Works...
I would suggest you revisit this.
7:07, read the manual...
remember when Girvin Flex Stem came out. Given how still road bikes are a suspension stem will take the sting out of the road. Problem with that stem is what you alluded to. parallelogram stems solve that issue
Suntour NCX has also similar product whcih got lot of praise and is even much more cheaper.
I weigh 100kg but set the elastomers in the stem for an 80kg rider which seems to work better, the other Redshift product I would recommend is the Cruise Control top grips.
If it's that hard to know if there's a fit problem, then there isn't really a fit problem. Not one anyone should care about anyway.
More comfortable = good thing. Self flagellation went out with 23s.
Thanks for the video. Interesting as usually these components are tested on gravel bikes. Which make me think about my main doubt about buying one. Is it worth it if you already have a gravel bike with pretty generous clearance (50 mm). Or could I have the same comfort just by lowering my tires pressure without sacrificing weight and fitting.
Every bump is just a small hill. The less of the bike has to go over that hill, the less forward momentum you lose. And the heaviest part of the bike, by far, is the rider. It's not just comfort making you go faster. The comfort just means that the bike is going over all those small hills, but you're not. Your mass can continue on a more straight path. Suspension actually makes you a LOT faster. I'm surprised road bikes don't have it, cus no way is the tyre enough on rough asphalt, for example. The kind that makes you vibrate. To make an 80kg pereson vibrate, takes a lot of energy. And it all comes out of your legs to make you vibrate up and down, instead of moving forwards.
But why the seatpost and bars? Just put it in the forks like people have been doing for decades.
I've had the Redshift stem on my road bike for 4 years. The gravel bike doesn't get out much these days! You get used to the dip pretty quickly and it's worth it for the comfort on the deplorable uk rural road surfaces.
I have the Redshift stem and love it on my gravel bike. I've pondered the seat post for a while but think after your initial thoughts I might just get it and see how I get on. Its certainly an interesting concept.
Go for it.
I scored the regular one (springs) second hand but nearly new, and it's one of my best buys ever. I reckon it's still worth it at full price.
I run the EESILK seatpost on my road bike and rthe EESILK gravel seatpost on my gravel bike. Great pieces of kit. Waiting for the 70mm EESILK stem to be sold in the EU. 80mm redshift stem is 10mm too long for me.
As a disabled cyclist with shoulder & back issues, with out suspension I couldn't ride. I've run air sprung forks on my MTB for years and have suspension seat post & 50mm travel fork on my gravel bike. It makes long rides less fatigue inducing. Years ago both Girvin & Allsop experimented with these systems. The Allsop was hugely ugly!
I had a cheap suspension post on my old commuter bike. It worked a treat and was about £15. I've recently got a road bike after years of not cycling and love the efficiency and low rolling resistance.
It ain't comfy though.
A spring loaded saddle will literally give you more traction, as the bike will be able to follow the ground structure if it isn’t rigidly connected to your bones
Just set the seat height and fore-aft with taking the sag into account (little bit higher than usual and slightly forward). Not sure about the stem though. My guess is that a stem spacer will do a similar thing to set your bar height back to the one recommended during bike fitting. As for the reach, it depends on how do you mount the stem (positive or negative drop), but I'm sure you can also mitigate that by adjusting the position of brake levers / shifters.
Thank you for the informative video.
However: the background music is distracting and it's generally superfluous
One of the things I see is because the seat moves back a little on bumps instead of just down, the distance between your seat and pedals probably doesn't change much. It will change your knee angle slightly though. Every review I've been looking up hasn't mentioned it being an issue... I think I'm gonna get one for my hardtail MTB.
Noob...suspension makes grip more reliable. Lower peak loads, not just on your hands and bum, but also for the tyres pressing the surface. On MTB's, suspension bikes get away with more tyre pressure, not just for comfort, but also grip.
Ive used the Red Shift stems on road and gravel bikes since they came out. Too many hand surgeries . They made a difference with 2 layers of padded tape.. MAy try a seat one on a gravel bike. Some monster holes in the shade on country road thanks for the videos
I’m enjoying the bike so far ruclips.net/user/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA My only real complaints are the brakes and the pedals. I feel like a bike designed for bigger people should have much larger pedals and more heavy duty brakes. I’ve only gotten two really good rides out of it, minimal downhill action, and the brakes feel like they’re already going out. A larger person has more momentum, so I think this wasn’t thought through very well. Also, I wear size 13-14 wide shoes. My feet cramp up on these pedals that are clearly made for smaller feet. Since I’m not a pro rider (and I don’t think many are who purchase this bike) I don’t think that the straps on the pedal are necessary at all. None of this takes away from the enjoyment I get from riding, however. I’ll just head to a bike shop to improve on a few things.
My brother swears by his Specialized Future Shock and won't accept a bike that doesn't have something at least as good. I've looked this Redshift system for a while, but am leaning more towards RockShox suspension seatpost.
I bought alloy Cane creek eesilk for commuter bike 2 years ago. After few months I bough CF eesilk for gravel bike. Very expensive but my ass thanking my wallet on every ride. I can ride cobblestone in the saddle without any discomfort.
More Redshift please! The Kitchen Sink bars for example? With all the pads and grips, they look interesting and comfy.
Perfect *haha* we as mtb riders had the same thoughts in the 90s. Your roadie guys can overjump the last 20 years of bike evolution and go direct to a xc mtb. Than you have skinny nobby tires, small disk breaks, low travel forks and if you want to a rear shock...... just smash on your dumb bent bars and you are ready....... shock seat posts.. omg ridiculous....
I had one on a commute bike but recently switched it to my gravel for longer rides. I have lower back issues, and it has really helped. However, I found it hard to set up with 100km+ rides, causing me some issues on my right hamstring that I can't resolve with height or position adjustments. So, I am still not sure it's ideal for ride position given the sag, and I am a heavy rider.
Ergon has the CF post for 10 years. Canyon put it on their bikes, naming it VCLS 2.0
Unlike this post, VCLS does not change the seatpost length, the distance to the bottom bracket. It is also lighter.
My bike commute has some real choppy bits, and a lot of gravel on pavement. These are some of the most expensive components on my bike, I’ve had them a couple years, and they’ve been totally worth it. Just soaking up the biggest hits makes a huge difference in quality of life. Any health loss in bike fit has to made up by not having the bones rattled, I assume. I didn’t realize these had gotten popular though, May upgrade my seat post ring to locking.
SR SUNTOUR New SP12-NCX ,I've been using one of these for over 2 years. It's a Godsend for my back
You can adjust the height to be pretty much the same. Also, I doubt having the geometry change in such small amounts would do any harm to you long term. How many people have their seat heights adjusted "perfectly" in the first place?
Moreover, instead of transferring potholes and bumps straight into your ass and spine, the suspension should put less strain and shock into your joints. Less jolts and you said it felt more comfortable. You're body will tell you and if you noticed that difference im sure long term it would appreicate it.