Redshift Shockstop Suspension: Take the Bite Out of Gravel

Both Ainsley and I have often wondered if adding suspension to our gravel bikes would be worth it. At the annual Malcolm Island XC Gravel Grind it felt vital. Everyone who finished ahead of me was either riding a gravel bike with a suspension fork or a mountain bike. There was a similar pattern across the women's race, too, leaving Ainsley wishing for the softer touch of suspension. A week later, the idea of suspension felt unnecessary on the 190-km Cowichan Valley 8. The majority of that route follows rail-grade crushed gravel paths that are nearly smooth enough for a road bike.

We spend most of our time on rough forest service roads, rather than crushed gravel paths, from our home in the Comox Valley, BC. With our plan to cycle the Tree to Sea Mini route, we decided to try to add a suspension fork to Ainsley's Trek Checkpoint SL5. When we learned the frame wasn't designed with suspension-corrected geometry, we began looking for alternative options.

The Redshift ShockStop Suspension System claims to make gravel rides smoother, faster, and more comfortable, and stood out as the best option with its stem and seatpost adding 20mm worth of suspension. Ainsley opted for the newly released +6 degree x 55mm ShockStop Stem and the ShockStop Pro Race Suspension Seatpost.

After a few test rides to dial in the fit, we packed up and headed out on the Tree to Sea Mini for a thorough 4-day test.

About Redshift

Originally launched on Kickstarter in 2013, Redshift Sports has earned a reputation for its innovative products designed to make bikes more versatile. Led by a group of mechanical engineers, the company has a depth of design, prototyping, and manufacturing experience that is evident across its range of products.

All of their products are designed and assembled by hand, in their Philadelphia warehouse, where the team can maintain an uncompromising dedication to the quality expected from customers. They're confident you'll like their gear, backing everything with a 90-day risk-free trial that includes free shipping and free returns. If anything goes wrong after 90 days, they also have a lifetime warranty.

As a sponsored athlete, Meaghan Hackinen used the Redshift Pro Race Suspension seatposts on two of her three Mountain Races this year. “The Redshift ShockStop Seatpost transformed my gravel rides,” said Meaghan, “smoother, more comfortable, and way less fatigue on long days in the saddle.”

Sorting Through Endless Options

The Shockstop Suspension System consists of the Shockstop stem and Shockstop seatpost. While both can be ordered separately, buying the kit provides a 10% savings. Both the stem and seatposts come in a variety of sizes and even a lighter pro version.

Choosing is simple, just match the length and angle to your current setup. Ainsley swapped her 60mm Bontrager for a 55mm ShockStop to keep her fit nearly identical. She also ordered the optional Garmin mount, which fits on the bottom two stem bolts to make a really streamlined system.

The ShockStop seatpost comes in four different versions: The City and Endurance have a 35mm adjustable dual spring system for active suspension, the Pro Endurance adds elastomers to fine-tune the 35mm of travel, and a slightly lighter weight, and finally the Pro Race version has 20mm of travel with fully interchangeable springs, elastomer damping, and a weight savings of up to 130g.

Seatposts come in multiple lengths & diameters depending on the version you choose; however, the two Pro versions are only available in 27.2mm, but shims will make them adaptable to any bike.

For Ainsley, the Pro Race seatpost struck the right balance between comfort and efficiency. We chose the 350mm length, so it could be swapped between bikes if needed.

Design, Construction & Installation

Out of the box, the ShockStop components look clean and well-built. The stem is almost indistinguishable from a standard one, while the seatpost is bulkier than a standard post, but still sleek thanks to a removable mud guard that also protects the moving parts.

To make it easy to dial Ainsley's fit back in after installation, we took four baseline measurements: saddle height (BB to saddle top), saddle angle, handlebar angle (measured at brake lever), and nose of saddle to centre of steer tube.

Installing the stem was simple. It uses five interchangeable elastomers to fine-tune stiffness for different riding styles and rider weights. With the faceplate removed, the elastomers slide into place inside the stem body. A supplied chart indicated recommended settings for different rider weights. Once we had them in place, we simply swapped the original stem with the new one.

The Pro Race suspension seatpost uses a combination of coil springs and elastomers to dial in its performance. It comes ready for riders between 61-79 kg, so we simply transferred her saddle onto the new post and slid into the frame. We then raised Ainsley's seat post by 4mm to accommodate the adjustable 20% sag.

After installation, Ainsley's position shifted back about 5mm, but saddle height and reach stayed consistent. With everything set, the bike was ready for the Tree to Sea Mini.

Performance Test: Tree to Sea Mini

After a couple of short shakedown rides, Ainsley chose her Trek Checkpoint over the rigid Surly Krampus for our four–day Tree to Sea Mini loop. We rolled out of Campbell River with overnight stops planned at Muchalat Lake, Naka Creek, and McCreight Lake. The route's mix of pavement, gravel, and long climbs made it a perfect test for the ShockStop system.

The Tailfin Aeropack mounted without issue, but the seatpost's suspension arc created an unexpected packing challenge. To clear the travel path, Ainsley had to load her bag unevenly, leaving the front minimally packed. While it wasn't the worst case scenario, it showed how nuanced setups can be. To keep the weight balanced on the bike, she added two Salsa Anything Cages on her fork and kept the front roll minimal. Although the Garmin mount is oddly difficult to install to the correct torque spec because the mount blocks access to the bolts, once it's in place it works great. It makes keeping an eye on riding stats and navigation easy.

The first stretch, from Upper Campbell Lake to Gold River, was all pavement. On that surface, the ShockStop disappeared. “It still felt like the same fast, responsive bike I love,” Ainsley said. Once we left Gold River and hit gravel, the system started to show its worth. Over four days, we logged 22 hours in the saddle, spread across three long days of roughly 100 kilometres each, followed by a punchy 60 km finish.

After passing through Gold River, the ride returned to gravel for most of the route. With back-to-back-to-back 100 km days, followed by a shorter but more difficult 60-km ride at the end, it was a big test. Our cumulative riding time was just over 22 hours, with the longest day falling just short of 7 hours.

From Gold River to Woss, the terrain was rolling, not steep, but washboard was everywhere. We find these kinds of roads common on Vancouver Island. They're smooth enough to promise speed, but so rough they sap our energy. Ainsley found the Shockstop System did exactly what they promised.

“This section reminded me of the Comox Lake Road,” said Ainsley. “The potholes and washboard can really jar my body and steal my energy. With the Shockstop System, the ride is so much smoother that it was easier to keep my speed and rhythm.”

After Woss, the climbs and descents grew longer. Instead of feeling fatigued, Ainsley still felt fresh. “It's incredible that just 20mm of suspension can really make such a measurable difference,” said Ainsley. “Six to seven hours a day in the saddle, and still no hand, neck, or back fatigue.”

After a final night at the McCreight Lake Recreation Site, we descended to Elk Point and started the hard climb up over a pass to Browns Bay. The 6-km climb had sections over 18%, which proved the limits of the gravel bike setup. The suspension wasn't the limiting factor, but rather the bike's geometry and tire setup. She ultimately had to walk a couple of the steeper sections, but she was still convinced she'd opted for the right bike.

“If I had ridden my Krampus, I probably could have climbed that one section,” she admitted, “but I wouldn't have been as fast or comfortable for the rest of the route. The suspension really helps make my gravel bike better suited for these longer bikepacking trips.”

Comfortable Conclusion

The decision to try the Shockstop System proved worthwhile. Because Ainsley's Trek Checkpoint isn't suspension corrected, it was the only warranty-approved option to add some suspension. After the Tree to Sea Mini, Ainsley was convinced that it is undoubtedly a great choice for gravel riders spending long hours on rough forestry roads or bikepacking routes.

While it might not be the first choice for riders with suspension-corrected bikes looking for fork options, it is still worth considering. Ainsley's complete kit is listed at CAD $664.08 (US $412.18). In comparison, a 30mm Rockshox Rudy Ultimate XPLR gravel suspension fork is priced at CAD $1220 (USD $839), and weighs far more.

Since our Tree to Sea mini loop, Ainsley also completed the 3-day Slow Coast event. Because she was traveling solo on that trip, she had to add the Tailfin Bar Bag System to her handlebars to carry additional gear. Still, the total weight still fit within the same elastomer range, showing the versatility of the Shockstop System. For heavier loads, it would only take a few minutes to swap out the elastomers for a stiffer ride.

Overall, she claims to be equally impressed with what the system does as what it doesn't do to her bike, “Redshift's ShockStop didn't turn my gravel bike into something it isn't. It just let me ride further, smoother, and with more energy left to go even further.”