Why didn’t Specialized just use an air shock with the new 2023 Diverge STR?

 

In a nutshell, an air shock would add too much weight and complexity to a drop bar frame. Moreover, according to Specialized, an air shock wouldn’t offer the same small bump sensitivity and requires more frequent servicing. Speaking of which: the damper of the Rear Future Shock requires a service every 2 years, but this is more expensive than the damper itself, so Specialized replaces the whole thing altogether. That said, the first shock replacement should fall within the statutory 2-year warranty period. And while this might not be the most sustainable approach, with high-end performance products, performance is often gi For more at frempind

 

ven priority over sustainability – especially in the drop-bar segment. For comparison’s sake, a high-end mountain bike shock should be serviced every 10 to 20 riding hours – but that’s according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, which only a handful of hardcore geeks will follow!

Why complicate your life when there’s an easier option – or is there?

The sceptics amongst us might ask themselves: why all the effort, what’s wrong with a suspension seat post? Specialized’s aim was to create an adjustable, dampened suspension system that keeps the rider’s centre of gravity as constant as possible. Here, we’ll show you different concepts and approaches from different manufacturers and competing products, each of which has its pros and cons. For more at cykelgear

 

Canyon’s S25 VCLS 2.0 CF seatpost

For the S25 VCLS seat post, German direct-sales brand Canyon relies on carbon leaf spring technology. The patented design generates up to 20 mm travel and is claimed to be 100% maintenance-free. However, the degree of stiffness can’t be tuned and changes noticeably with increasing saddle height. In addition, the seatpost movement isn’t damped and tends to bounce with impacts. With MTB full-suspension bikes, we talk about wheel path, which is the exact line that the axle of the rear wheel follows during a full compression of the suspension. With bikes that rely on a flexing seat post instead of conventional suspension components, the post flexes in a sloping curve that changes the saddle angle over the travel, which makes you feel as if you were slipping backwards off the saddle – although this sensation can vary in intensity depending on the seatpost and bike. To counteract this, Canyon rely on a two-part design that ensures a very low degree of saddle tilt.