Hit the following link to ask Mountain Bike Action a question: mbaction@hi-torque.com


UNWANTED OPTION
Why don’t fork companies eliminate the fork lockout feature in favor of a low-speed compression adjustment?
--Zul, who breaks the rules
Mountain Bike Action: As you can tell from reading our tests, there have only been a few occasions when we have actually used a fork’s lockout feature (or shock for that matter). Even long-travel trailbikes, when ridden smoothly, don’t benefit much, if at all, from a fork lockout feature. Does this mean fork lockouts will disappear anytime soon? Probably not. Marketing 101 teaches that a company must give its customers what they want. Bike companies say the feature has to stay because riders (less experienced than you and me) perceive the feature as a "must have" for riding performance.

Hey smart guys: I still have a lot to learn about selecting the best suspension mode while riding my Trek EX8. Uphill, I lock out front and back. Cruising singletrack, I unlock the front only. Downhill, I unlock front and back. Am I doing this right?
-Scott, who is throwing a lot of levers

Answer (and thanks for calling us smart): You are correct with your suspension mode selection, but we’d like to suggest another option. First, be sure your suspension is properly pressurized. Your bike uses an air spring in both the fork and shock. Your bike’s suspension works best if you have 20-percent sag in both the fork and rear suspension. Trek makes a super handy sag tool that should have come with your bike. We also explained how to set fork sag in our February 2011 Garage Files. If you don’t know how to set suspension sag, you will need to have your local bike shop show you.

Once the suspension is correctly set and your tires are properly inflated (don’t overlook them), try this. On your next ride, leave the fork open in all situations and only employ the shock’s platform feature for steep climbs (if the trail surface isn’t too technical). In all other situations, leave the shock open, especially if the trail is rough. Concentrate on a smooth pedaling rotation and spinning instead of torqueing a gear. Doing this will unlock all the performance your Trek was designed to deliver.


Q: Got a Specialized Hardrock and want to upgrade the RST Gilla T7 stock fork with something a little more smooth but that won't break the bank. -Mike 

Mountain Bike Action: Go for the 2011 RockShox ToraTK. Priced at roughly $200 (depending on options that you choose, like remote lockout), it packs good bang for the buck. Its coil spring will provide you with a plush ride, and will allow for external preload adjustability. Among the other features are external rebound adjustment and a lockout. It comes ready to accommodate both disc and v-brakes, so you shouldn’t have any compatibility issues there. With a claimed weight of 4.85 pounds it’s not the lightest fork out there, but it will be a noticeable upgrade over your existing fork. That being said, don’t expect it to perform like your buddy’s $900 Fox fork.


Hey Mountain Bike Action guys: I have a 1999 Cannondale F400 with a fork that has a single suspension mounted in the center. I know Cannondale is making their Lefty design now. The Lefty approach seems needlessly complicated. Is there a reason so few use the center/single like mine?
--Lee who likes the Headshok

Mountain Bike Action: Your front suspension is called the Headshok and Cannondale still makes it (although it is now five generations removed from the one on your bike). This suspension design lost favor as forks inched toward longer travel. The Headshok design raises the front end too much as the travel increased. This leads to all kinds of handling woes and some would theorize frame stress issues. Cannondale still offers one or two bikes with the Headshok, but they are hybrids, intended for city riding and bike paths.

The Lefty is totally different from the fork on your bike and is a marvel of engineering. It works awesome and Cannondale went out of their way to be sure the design was not needlessly complicated so riders could perform their own service. The Lefty once stood above the field in rigidity but that lead has been trimmed with the introduction of 15-millimeter front axles that have made a big improvement to conventional forks and leveled the playing field so to speak.