I have a spring in my step now that winter is over and the riding season is finally here. To get ready, I’ve been looking at bikes that have a bit of “spring” too. Of course, I’m talking about suspension. Whether you’re riding a road, gravel, or mountain bike, suspension can greatly improve your comfort, confidence, and speed. If you’re looking to add some extra springiness to your next ride, look no further. For today’s Dream Bike Quiver I’ve put together some of the best bikes in our inventory that are rolling smooth on air, coil, or even leaf springs.
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Road bike: Specialized S-Works Roubaix Team - $10,799.99
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The Specialized Roubaix was originally designed to tame the rough cobbled roads of Paris-Roubaix. Making it to the finish line in the Hell of the North requires a bike that can soak up bumps and vibrations. To accomplish this, the Roubaix uses FutureShock 2.0 in the head tube. An adjustable spring suspends the handlebars and provides 20mm of travel without affecting handling or efficiency. This added suspension improves comfort and control on rough pavement and reduces fatigue so you can ride harder for longer.
Gravel bike: Cannondale Topstone Carbon - $7,199.99
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The Cannondale Topstone Carbon runs on Kingpin Suspension, which attaches the carbon rear triangle to the seat tube with a thru-axle pivot that allows it to flex up to 30mm. Up front, riders can add Cannondale’s Lefty Oliver air fork, but this Topstone saves some grams with Lauf’s Grit SL fork. It has 30mm of travel and uses S2 glassfiber leaf springs that require zero maintenance and have fewer moving parts. It’s a light and reliable suspension set-up for gravel riders exploring the roughest roads and trails far from civilization.
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Hardtail MTB: Bombtrack Cale AL - $3,238.33
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The Bombtrack Cale AL comes from the rough and tumble world of BMX, so its aluminum frame is built to take a beating. Suspension duties are handled by the affordable RockShox Gold 35 RL fork, which has 130mm of travel and uses the same stiff 35mm stanchions as RockShox’s high-end trail forks. Add in modern trail geometry with longer reach and a slack 67.5-degree head angle and you have the formula for the perfect beginner mountain bike. Even if you’re not a beginner, it’s a fun and affordable trail hardtail you can add to an already springy bike quiver.
Full-suspension MTB: Rocky Mountain Altitude A70 Coil - $5,749.99
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The Rocky Mountain Altitude is built to go down enduro tracks as fast as possible. To reach warp speed, it comes with a bump-devouring Fox DHX2 coil shock which controls its 160mm of rear travel. Coil shocks feel more supple than an air shocks and resist heat build-up on long descents so the damping stays more consistent. It’s the ultimate shock for enduro racers pushing their limits. Pair it with a massive 170mm Fox 38 fork, and you have a race-winning combo that can take on the biggest features and charge into the gnarliest terrain.
Total cost: $26,988.30
In terms of springs, we’ve covered the entire spectrum. At one end, we have the basic but burly RockShox Gold 35 RL on the Bombtrack Cale. At the other is the 10-grand S-Works Roubaix Team with its small and proprietary FutureShock 2.0 system. The award for the funkiest use of springs has to go to the Cannondale Topstone Carbon with the Kingpin rear end and Lauf Grit SL fork. It will definitely ride well, but the looks are sure to be divisive. In the end, the one springy bike I want to take home most from this Dream Bike Quiver is the Rocky Mountain Altitude. I’m missing a big, long-travel enduro bike in my own quiver, and I’d love to attack my toughest local trail with that supple coil shock.
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