Bicycles

Review: Rinsten Spring isn't a pain in the butt

Review: Rinsten Spring isn't a pain in the butt
The Rinsten Spring does make for a smoother ride, although it feels kind of weird at first
The Rinsten Spring does make for a smoother ride, although it feels kind of weird at first
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The Rinsten Spring can reportedly support riders weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb)
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The Rinsten Spring can reportedly support riders weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb)
The Rinsten Spring does make for a smoother ride, although it feels kind of weird at first
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The Rinsten Spring does make for a smoother ride, although it feels kind of weird at first

Butt discomfort is a common complaint among cyclists, caused at least in part by road vibrations being transmitted up the frame and into the saddle. As a result, we've seen a number of suspension seatposts and cushy saddles being introduced over the years. The Rinsten Spring takes another approach yet, in the form of a steel spring that's installed between the saddle and seatpost. I recently got to try one out, on my local potholey streets.

Installing the 392-gram Rinsten Spring is a little fiddly, but it's nothing you can't manage if you already know how to mount the saddle directly on the seatpost. No special tools are required, and it only took me several minutes.

The extra height of the device does mean that the seatpost will have to be lowered accordingly. This provided a bit of a challenge in the case of the fatbike I was using, as the seatpost couldn't slide down past the point where the seat tube joined the down tube – fortunately, I was able to get it just low enough. On a lankier-framed road bike, that shouldn't be a problem, but it's still something to be aware of.

The Rinsten Spring can reportedly support riders weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb)
The Rinsten Spring can reportedly support riders weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb)

Setting the tension is achieved by altering the points at which the saddle and seatpost are attached to the spring – moving those points closer to the front of the spring makes it less bouncy. After some experimentation, I determined that I preferred it at the highest tension. For my weight and riding preferences, having it set much lower felt like riding on a beach ball.

Even at the optimum setting, the Rinsten Spring still does take some getting used to. It moves as you pedal, initially making the bike feel kind of squishy. Indeed, serious road racers who like a really stiff, efficient ride may not take to it at all. Also, unlike a mountain bike shock absorber, it has no rebound adjustment, so it does noticeably spring back up after compressing when hitting bigger bumps.

Still, it does definitely smooth out the ride in quite a simple manner, so cyclists such as commuters and long-distance tourists may want to give it a try. It's currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, where a pledge of US$28 will get you one, when and if it reaches production. The planned retail price is $50.

It can be seen in action, in the video below.

Source: Kickstarter

Rinsten Spring at work

5 comments
5 comments
Nik
Seems to be another case of reinventing the wheel. Just 'google' ''lycett saddle,'' for examples of bicycle saddles from my youth. This particular design looks positively dangerous. Should one of the branches snap at the bend, with wear, a nasty sharp piece of steel could penetrate the seat, and the riders anatomy, in a particularly vulnerable location.
Douglas Bennett Rogers
This looks an awful lot like a hand grip, which I have worn out!
BobKropp
I'm more concerned with 'ball room' and the uncomfortable 'numb nuts' that occurs from extended rides.
ljaques
I prefer a suspension both front and rear on a bicycle. And if you add up costs, a regular (generic) bicycle plus a Rinsten spring cost the same as a fully suspended (generic) mountain bike, but the suspended bike gives your feet/back/legs more of a break, too. Sorry, Rinsten.
Ivo Sagui
il 18 marzo 2019 ho acquistato un set Rinsten Spring montato su una ebyke dopo la prima uscita scendendo da una strada sterrata si è spaccato il supporto ammortizzante faccio presente che peso 75 KG questa è la seconda volta che Vi scrivo senza avere nessuna risposta,dato che date una garanzia a vita vorrei sapere a chi devo rivolgermi per avere una risposta .Grazie