Sus on a gravel bike?

I’d rather not if I have the choice though.

Yeah but IMO it’s not worth the compromises for a bit of an improvement on the occasional steep bit.

Well that’s why there are too many bikes in the shed! One for every occasion…

So there’s a blurred line over what the suspension is, how much, whether you can keep the stiffness of a rigid / lock it out etc. And a Q over whether the cost and complexity justifies the gains.

+1. The Headshok was perfect perfect for rigidity, tracking and lockout. Cost (service intervals) and complexity failed it imo.

The Silk Road ‘replaced’ my proto, proto ‘gravel-bike’ which was (also circa 2k) an F400 MTB w/80mm Headshok, On One Mary bars and 2.35 Big Apples. It was pretty quick offroad/paths and tarmac and rocks, pretty much everything except mud. I never put road rings on as too many miles on roads as I say prefer drops.

In turn I replaced the Silk Road with a Genesis Vagabond with 2.1 tyres. That was nearly right in a way, but missed the lightweight direct feel and the Headshok of my 2 old gravelbeasts. The Vagabond had more in common with my first ATB – a plodder on the road.

Somewhere in my head (something between the Cannondale Silk Road and the handful of Cannondale F-somethings I’ve owned) lay a dream of a light, strong, handbuilt alu gravel-rocket with 60mm Headshoky thing, lockout, wide drops, lowish BB, 60mm tyre clearance, capable of a fast float thru Horner Woods after a full day on the Moors and the lanes. Saying that, I’m half-certain if owned had such a thing I’d soon be hankering after something rigid, easily maintained and ‘pure’ 😏. Like a Fugio, I suppose?

Anyone tried a Diverge with Future Shock? Expensive, but it seems to address the forearm-fatigue? And their funny seat-post would take a little sting out?