Specialized zert inserts

martyc5674

Are these a gimmick, or do they actually work?
Getting new bike in the new year and saw the roubaix by spesh which had these.
Cheers
Marty.

bazermc

Hi

I have these on my bike, I think anyway. A Roubaix. I am not entirely sure what they are suppose to do, take out road vibrations? I can honestly say I dont really notice any difference. I suppose the only well to tell is to do the exact same route once with and without a bike that has them. But then not comparing like for like!

I would not be putting them high on priority list for features needed for a new bike.

Al Wright

Use of elastomer is one manufacturers method of damping road vibrations from a bicycle frame. There is a thread here;-
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/bikes-frames-forks/zertz-inserts-61266.html


I use a steel bike with C28 tyres. I tried out a friends Specialized Alu frame bike with those inserts and C25 tyres on a road that had been recently resurfaced with stone chippings. Although this in not a like for like comparison the ride on the Specialized bike was noticeable smoother.


If I was buying a bike I would not specifically look for damping inserts, other methods are used to damp frames.

marty_crane

Due to an old shoulder injury I always have a Specialized Roubaix and think they add comfort to the ride. My winter bike is a zerts free Specialized Allez and there is a noticeable difference between the two-although, obviously, some of that may be down to geometry.