Mountain biking is not a sport if it is not bumpy.
Two-wheel adventurers should live by these words. MTBs are among the most common bike styles for children. When they are young, there are many basic models available. You may also find that their interest in the sport grows as they get older. Mountain bike suspension systems will be the next step for the most serious riders.
This brings us back to bumps. The name mountain bikes is not a coincidence. Mountain bikes are built to handle rocky terrain. As riders progress, they will encounter more difficult terrain. They need to find a way to reduce the bone-rattling shocks that are caused by obstacles like roots, branches and stones. The suspension acts as a damper. By letting the wheel move up and down and the bike stay in contact with the ground, it will have better control and traction.
Hardtails are mountain bikes that only have suspension on the front wheel. Dual- or full- suspension bikes have systems on both front and back wheels. does not require for suspension. MTBs that are "rigid" work well for casual riders, and even for those just getting started.
We'll be happy to summarize the most important things for parents of adolescents who are looking to get into mountain biking. Let's start by going over the basic setup of your suspension, including both front and rear types. We'll then take a closer at two key components in any suspension system, the springs and dampers. Soon, you will be blowing everyone's mind with random references to things like sag and rebound. No big deal.
MOUNTAIN Bike SUSPENSION SETUP
FRONT SUSPENSION
Let's talk forks. Forks are also known as front shocks or suspension by cyclists. They are attached to the metal frame using a steerer tubing (suspension is not used on carbon fiber bikes; you can learn more about frame materials here). The steering tube is attached to the stanchion either side of the wheel. Each stanchion slides in and out from a "lower" or slider that connects both to the wheel and to the mount for disc or rim brakes.
Now that we've covered the basics of anatomy, let's introduce some additional terminology about suspension function. The biggest one is travel. The suspension travels a certain distance before it is fully compressed. Short-travel suspension means movement less than 120mm. It is good for riding uphill or on simple trails. The long-travel suspension has a travel of more than 120mm. It is used for rocky descents at high speeds, where a slower steering aids in stability.
Forks can be adjusted to suit trail conditions. The suspension can be configured differently depending on what style of mountain biking is preferred, as different styles put different stress on your bike. Some forks have a lockout lever located on the stanchion. This stops all movement. It's great when you don't have to worry about the travel settings for smooth surfaces, such as pavement, or long uphill sections.
REAR SUSPENSION
MTBing involves a lot of weight being placed over the front end of the bike. If you ride over long distances in arid terrain, then full suspension is the best option. This is even more effective at reducing the impact of rough terrain, as it keeps the wheel in touch with it for longer.
A casing, called a shock-body, houses two telescopic tubings that slide against each other just like the tubes on the fork. Stroke travel is the distance that these tubes compress when under load. The shock is connected to the frame by a pivot system.
Are you already spinning your wheels? You won't need to buy rear shocks separately from your bike if you get as far as the front shocks. These are not interchangeable with other bike models or brands. You're already ahead of the game.
SUSPENSION RINGS
COIL SPRING
This would be a gimme if we followed this article with a vocabulary test in the style of grad school. The part of a mountain bike's shock absorbers that provides the spring is called--drumroll--the spring. Like a click pen, springs absorb pressure and bounce back to their starting position. There are two spring types that will compete for your dollar: air and coil.
The first one is the coil. It's a kind of wine bottle opener that has some give. The steel corkscrew (or titanium, if you're not concerned about cost) will compress at a steady and smooth rate. Preload is the setting that allows you to adjust how firm or soft this compression will be. If you want a setting that is much harder or softer, you will need to replace the spring. The coils are very sensitive, but can be up to a pound more heavy than an alternative.
Air Spring
These days, MTBs use more air springs that are inflated. The hydraulic compression of the suspension is progressive, starting soft and becoming stiffer as the rider progresses. The right pressure is crucial for optimal performance, just like the preload of coil springs. You might as well just not use shocks at any cost if you have too much. You can damage the suspension if you have too little. The same as tire pumps, you can use shock pumps to set the resistance that is right for your weight and riding style.
Air springs are more adjustable than coil springs. Air springs are lighter than coil springs, which is great when you start adding accessories to your mountain bike. Many riders like coil springs for their sensitivity. However, newer air models are starting to match that performance.
SAG
Imagine you are on your bike, chatting with a friend while you wait for your turn to sprint downhill. Sag is the amount of compression your suspension experiences while you are sitting still. The softer the ride is, the more sag you get from your body weight.
Manufacturers should provide a recommended amount for sag in any suspension. To ensure your wheels perform well on rough terrain, you'll need to calibrate coil preload and air pressure. Sag, in metric terms, is a percentage of total suspension travel. The average range is between 15-30%, depending on the type of mountain bike.
SUSPENSION DAMPER
DAMPER FUNCTION
When it comes to MTB suspension, damping is also an important concept. It goes hand-in-hand with the spring. As we've established, springs spring. They would spring like a jack-in the-box if they didn't have a check. The damper acts as a check, dissipating spring energy. If the spring is responsible for creating resistance on impact, then the damper is accountable for controlling resistance.
Most dampers achieve this by using an oil bath. A piston pushes oil through an orifice when shocks are activated. The energy is transferred from spring to oil and then converted into heat. The more quickly the spring is compressed, the greater the resistance and energy loss.
Types of Damping
Balance between spring and damper is crucial for suspension quality. Tuning the fork is how you adjust a shock's suspension. You should be aware that there are two different types of damping so you don't end up on a pedal-powered pogo stick. The first is compression and the second is rebound.
The first one controls the spring's shock absorption. Low-speed compression damping is used for everyday activities such as braking, pedaling and turning. Other words, anything that activates suspension slowly. The high-speed compression comes into play when there are high-impact events such as jumps or severe bumps. This is more common on lower-end or intro mountain bikes.
Rebound damping controls the speed at which shocks return to the original position. In reverse, more rebound means slower return. You're also looking for balance, as with all the other things we've discussed.
MTB SUSPENSION BUYING TIPS
We understand that this may seem a little technical if you are new to shock absorbers. Hey, this is a sophisticated suspension system for a bike. Don't believe for one second that you have to spend half your monthly salary on a good suspension system, especially for your child's first MTB. Start small and gradually increase the suspension as your child shows interest in mountain biking.
You'll have to step things up at some point if that happens. As dad used to say, you get exactly what you pay. The benefits of a higher-quality system include:
Weight reduction without sacrificing strength
You can make adjustments until you get it right.
Superior construction for greater durability
All of the above contribute to a smoother ride.
Remember that suspension systems are not usually made by bicycle manufacturers. You can get good information on shocks by contacting the companies that make them. FOX and RockShox have been the two most popular brands, but there are also other well-known brands like Manitou and SRSUNTOUR.
Now that you're a little more energetic, show your kids this newfound knowledge and bask in their (temporary) glow. Respect for the elder clansman.