Bicycle Suspension Systems

Suspension systems help riders remain on the bike and in control when they hit things on the road or go over bumps. Suspension systems also help keep the bike on the ground. Bicycle suspension generally consists of front and rear suspension systems.
 
Without a suspension system, if a rider hits an object on the road, the bike would be more prone to stop suddenly and a rider would be at a greater risk of flying off the front of the bike.
 

Parts of the Suspension System

Front and rear suspension systems each consist of a spring and a damper, which together make up a shock absorber. The suspension spring allows the bike to move up when a rider hits a bump in the road and then down again after passing the bump. The damper stops the spring from continuing to bounce. Most dampers are filled with oil, although some use air.
 
A suspension fork is the most common type of front suspension. The bottom part of the suspension fork holds the bike wheel and connects to the bike's frame via the bike tubes.
 
Most rear suspension systems have large, coiled bicycle suspension springs and use shock absorbers. Unlike front suspension systems, however, there are many types of rear suspension systems. Advancements in frame structure allow for these new and innovative rear suspension system designs.

Tips for Suspension Repair

Suspension systems should be adjusted according to a rider's weight and style of riding. Suspension repair is easy to do using a fork pump, which can be found at any bicycle shop.
 
Suspension forks can leak, so you may have to eventually repair or seal them. Many different types of suspension forks exist, so following the directions for your specific model is necessary. However, most can be taken apart and cleaned or repaired by using these steps:
  1. Take off the front wheel of the bike.
  2. Take off the front brake and the bridge piece.
  3. Pull apart the forks, or remove the plastic caps with a screwdriver. Keep the forks upright.
  4. Replace the oil if the oil has leaked. Consult a manual for your specific model if you aren't sure how much oil to use.
  5. Make sure you clean the forks to remove dirt and avoid corrosion, which will wear down the seals.
  6. Reassemble and make any necessary adjustments, making sure the front brake is properly adjusted and the fork tubes are at the same height.

Types of Suspension Systems

Different types of bikes, different riding styles and different terrains need different types and amounts of suspension. For example:
  • Cross country bikes need less suspension, as they are not usually ridden in rough conditions and are designed to be lighter and more efficient.

  • Downhill bikes have a lot of suspension, which can make uphill riding quite a challenge. In general, the amount of suspension used in these bikes makes them suitable only to downhill riding.

  • Free-ride bikes have a great deal of suspension, as they are built for rough conditions and need to take bumps and drops in stride. However, the increased suspension does add a bit of weight to the bike.

  • Mountain bikes have slightly more suspension, as they need to be able to handle rougher terrain than cross country bikes.

Resources

Bikewebsite.com (n.d.). Suspension Basics. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from the BikeWebsite.com Web site.
 
Nice, Karim (n.d.). How Mountain Bikes Work. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from the HowStuffWorks Web site.
 
Tisue, Kevin (n.d.). How much mountain bike suspension travel do I need? Retrieved April 15, 2008, from the About.com Web site.