Road vibrations detectable by the human body usually fall between 500 -
700 Hz depending on the speed the bike is traveling. The different
materials that are currently used in bicycle frames only damp vibration
above 2300 Hz. Materials like carbon fiber do not actually offer any
significant advantage in shock absorption when used in bicycle frames.
The frame design, not the material, is what really determines how a
frame rides and feels. This makes it possible to have a super stiff
titanium frame or a whippy aluminum frame.
Individual materials have gained reputations for certain ride
characteristics because of the designs they often lend themselves to,
not because of the material itself. Frame materials on their own cannot
absorb vibrations below 2300 Hz. without sacrificing torsional
stiffness. This is where suspension comes in. Beam suspension allows a
Softride frame to effectively absorb road shock and vibration and not
sacrifice exceptional stiffness.
