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Would a Trance be more comfy than a Spearfish on a wheels on the ground bumpy ride?
Or does the amount of travel not enter into it as long as you are not repeatedly bottoming out?
Got a friend who has had major stomach surgery and they should be cleared to ride in July.
In theory, yes, all things being equal etc. Even if you don't bottom out the shorter travel is using a larger proportion of its travel for a given bump. Air springs aren't linear so the resistance increases as you get further into the travel, which basically means that the shorter travel compresses less for a given bump, transferring more of the hit to the rider.
That's obviously a simplistic description and linkage design will play a part, as will things like the damping on the shock, but in general a longer travel bike should still be more comfortable even if you aren't riding it hard enough to bottom out the shock.