Cycling: How Much Suspension Do I Need?

By Colin Izzard, CTS Coach

Mountain bikes have come a long way since Gary Fisher and his buddies flew down the hills in California. One of the biggest improvements for mountain bikes came in the form of suspension. Initially, front suspension was developed for off-road use and was based mainly on moto cycle technology. Once the front end was dialed in, the cycling industry began working on rear suspension. While there are still many views on what is the most effective rear suspension design, one thing is for certain: full suspension bikes will allow a rider to go up or downhill faster.

There are, in general, 3 classes of suspension bike currently available. They range from full downhill, trail or free ride, and cross country designs. Each type has a specific intention and use for the travel that it has. Typically downhill bikes will have upwards of 9 inches or front and rear travel. This type of suspension design has one purpose: going downhill fast! Because of the increased suspension travel and the extra strength in the components and frame, these bikes are usually on the heavier side and generally are not the best bikes for climbing on. This style of bike is much more common to hitch a ride up the mountain on the chair lift or in the bed of a truck and then bomb back down.

Specialized Demo 9 downhill bike

A more mid range level of suspension comes in the form of trail and free ride bikes. These suspension bikes are designed to handle terrain that would be encountered on a longer, epic ride. They will range from 4 to 6 inches of travel pending on the brand. Many bikes in this class come with front forks with adjustable travel. This is a huge benefit for riders who climb as much as they descend. By having an adjustable travel fork a rider can lower the front end of the bike for climbing allowing for more weight to be distributed over the front wheel. A more forward position helps especially when the climbs become steep. Then when it is time to go down the front fork can be opened up to a longer travel setting to allow for a more centered or rearward bias balance of weight. In this position the rider will have more ability to get back over the rear wheel and let the suspension soak up rough terrain. Trail bikes are generally in their element when on rough trails either climbing or descending.

Specialized Stumpjumper 120 trail bike

The final class of full suspension bikes is cross country specific. These bikes will usually hover around three to four inches of travel depending on the manufacturer. Cross country full suspension bikes are the lightest of the three classes. They are designed for all around performance, but specifically geared towards racing and tamer trail riding. Another advantage of this style of bike is that the bottom bracket tends to be lower and the shorter travel of the suspension causes a smaller change in the head angle when the suspension compresses. This means that the bike will have a lower center of gravity when cornering.

Specialized Epic cross country bike

With all the options in suspension available to riders today it can be hard to decide which is best suited for your riding style and needs. Downhill bikes are very specialized in terms of their use and are really only truly needed for those doing downhill events or runs with their riding buddies. For the most part the majority of riders are going to get the most use out of trail and cross country style bikes. One factor to keep in mind is that more travel does not always mean faster since you have to get the bike to the top of the hill before you can go down! Talk to your local shops and other riders in your area to see what is recommended for the terrain you ride. If you race occasionally and ride more casually; there are a great deal of trail bikes that can be raced every once in a while. If you are more a pure racer looking for speed, then a shorter travel, cross country bike may be the way to go for you. Finally, make sure that you take advantage of your local dealer’s demo fleet. Take several bikes out in the woods to really see what different types of suspension styles and travel can do and what fits your needs the best.

cizzard@trainright.com

© 2005, Carmichael Training Systems, Inc.