Steven Rindner Briefly Talks About Gravel Bikes and Suspension

Suspension is becoming a pretty popular choice on gravel bikes, particularly due to the cycling versatility on both rugged trails and smooth roads. According to Steven Rindner, suspension is perfect for smoothing out medium gravel as well as diverging onto bigger dips, which allows for a more comfortable ride where a rigid fork may struggle. Gravel bikes with suspension are truly redefining what is possible on mixed terrain, and offer a range of benefits starting from enhanced comfort to superior control. This setup is particularly popular amongst adventurous riders.

Steven Rindner talks about gravel bikes and suspension

Suspension opens up brand new possibilities and allows cyclists to explore paths that would be too rough for a traditional gravel bike, making it a hot favourite of adventure seekers. This setup would also be a good way to ease into gravel biking. It helps smooth out the rough spots and makes gravel rides more enjoyable, especially for the cyclists who are just starting out.

That 30mm of fork movement from the suspension system can be great for eating up small trail chatter like tight brake bumps, gravel sections and small rocks. Suspension particularly shines when it comes to smoothing out roots, drops and rocky gravel. The added comfort provided by the setup helps lower the fatigue associated with long-distance single-track rides, while also providing cyclists with a responsive feel on technical climbs. Suspension on gravel bikes helps enhance control and traction. It can effectively absorb vibrations and shocks, thereby keeping the wheels in better contact with the ground, and providing stability on rocky sections and loose gravel. This increased level of control is particularly advantageous on fast descents and rough terrain, where suspension helps make sure that the front tire stays in contact with the ground, thereby improving both braking power and overall safety.

In the opinion of Steven Rindner, cyclists can deliver sustained high performance on the gravel due to the added comfort from a suspension that helps lower rider fatigue over long distances. When cyclists feel less beaten up by the terrain, they are more likely to focus on handling technical sections with precision and maintaining a consistent pace. The extra control and comfort, along with reduced physical strain results in a more enjoyable and confident riding experience, and enables cyclists to push their limits on challenging gravel routes.

Cyclists can do a remarkable amount of riding on a rigid gravel bike that has good tires and a carbon fork, particularly when sticking to gravel routes that majorly comprise of smooth dirt paths or gravel with occasional rough patches. A suspension fork becomes quite advantageous on rough roads or even single tracks where it is able to absorb bigger hits and make full use of its damper.  Suspension keeps cyclists comfortable and in good shape on challenging terrain, providing them with the freedom to explore back roads at their own pace and tackle rough, fast descents. While mountain bikes are the ones to excel on extremely rough terrain, a gravel bike with suspension is known to strike a better balance for mixed surfaces. It provides comfortable rides on gravel, while staying fast and efficient on smoother roads.