Richard,
 -=> Quoting Richard Glazer to Steven Mcfarlane <=-
 
 RG> It doesn't surprise me that they are selling road bikes with front
 RG> suspension.  What a way to sell a bike for a little bit (a lot) more
 RG> money. As I have always said for mountain bikes, not everyone is in
 RG> need of front suspension let alone  rear suspension. Mountains bikes
 RG> ridden on ashpalt or even gravel roads are  fine without any
 RG> suspension. Road bikes unless ridden on broken cobble road  such as
 RG> Paris-Robaix road race do not need shocks. Most professional riders in
 RG> this race don't even have suspension. The biggest set back to
 RG> suspension is  weight, up to 3 pounds and of course price.
 RG> 
 I could not agree with you more, A while back Ken Peck and I were
 talking about this same thing.  Suspension is a great thing but
 not needed for most people who do not ride rough technical mountain  
 paths.  It does add compfort and saftey to have suspension, but
 I would bet more suspension bikes are sold for status than for need.
 A group of people I work with get together now and again for 
 mountain bike rides after work.  Some have unsuspended bikes others
 have front or dual suspension.  The steep hills around here have 
 lots of loose rocks & stones that make climbing tricky.  I must
 admit a good rear suspension does give a traction advantage while
 the rear wheel bounces over loose rocks.   Over all though on a off 
 road ride the things that count most seem to be (1) rider, (2) shift 
 quality and chain not slipping, (3) Tire tread choice and pressure. 
 (4) rear suspension, (5) front suspension.  
 On the road not only do we have the weight disadvantage of front
 suspension but also the wimp factor.   Most road riders, would not 
 use them because the top racers don't use them.  And many of the 
 top racers whould hesitate to use anything that could make them 
 look like wimps.  Just look how long it took helmets to catch on.
 
 John O'Neill
 
 
 
... The quality of life is determined by its activities. Aristotle
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