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Bicycle suspension
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Bicycle suspension
Bicycle suspension is the system, or systems, used to suspend the rider and bicycle in order to insulate them from the roughness of the terrain. Bicycle suspension is used primarily on mountain bikes, but is also common on hybrid bicycles.
Bicycle suspension can be implemented in a variety of ways, and any combination thereof:
The suspension stem is now uncommon with the ongoing trend of short stems which limit the suspension size and the "slacker" head tube angle for stability. Bicycles with only front suspension are referred to as hardtail and bicycles with suspension in both the front and rear are referred to as dual or full suspension bikes. When a bicycle has no suspension it is called rigid. Bicycles with only rear suspension are uncommon although the Brompton folding bicycle is equipped with rear only suspension.
Although a stiffer frame is usually preferable, no material is infinitely stiff and therefore any frame will exhibit some flexing. Bicycle designers intentionally make frames in such a way that the frame itself can absorb some vibrations.
Besides providing comfort to the rider, suspension systems improve traction and safety by helping to keep one or both wheels in contact with the ground.
As early as 1885, the Whippet brand of safety bicycle was notable for its use of springs to suspend the frame. In 1901 the famous author on bicycles Archibald Sharp patented air suspension for bicycles. He was involved with Air Springs Ltd and they developed an air sprung motorcycle in 1909, but they also loaned an air sprung bicycle to the correspondent to show how good the suspension was.
In 1983 Brian Skinner designed and implemented the first suspension system for a mountain bike with a simple rear shock and a single pivot called the MCR Descender. This bike still had a rigid front fork. Front suspension appeared on bikes in 1990 when the founder of Manitou, Doug Bradburry, designed and built the a front suspension fork in his garage. The fork used elastomers and had no dampening effect, just a spring. However, the stiffness was able to be controlled and functioned well except in cold weather.
The first full-suspension folding bike from German engineers Riese and Müller was developed in 1992 and was launched in 1995 as the Birdy model. It worked perfectly and was equipped with a joint-free aluminum main frame and 18-inch rims.
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Bicycle suspension
Bicycle suspension is the system, or systems, used to suspend the rider and bicycle in order to insulate them from the roughness of the terrain. Bicycle suspension is used primarily on mountain bikes, but is also common on hybrid bicycles.
Bicycle suspension can be implemented in a variety of ways, and any combination thereof:
The suspension stem is now uncommon with the ongoing trend of short stems which limit the suspension size and the "slacker" head tube angle for stability. Bicycles with only front suspension are referred to as hardtail and bicycles with suspension in both the front and rear are referred to as dual or full suspension bikes. When a bicycle has no suspension it is called rigid. Bicycles with only rear suspension are uncommon although the Brompton folding bicycle is equipped with rear only suspension.
Although a stiffer frame is usually preferable, no material is infinitely stiff and therefore any frame will exhibit some flexing. Bicycle designers intentionally make frames in such a way that the frame itself can absorb some vibrations.
Besides providing comfort to the rider, suspension systems improve traction and safety by helping to keep one or both wheels in contact with the ground.
As early as 1885, the Whippet brand of safety bicycle was notable for its use of springs to suspend the frame. In 1901 the famous author on bicycles Archibald Sharp patented air suspension for bicycles. He was involved with Air Springs Ltd and they developed an air sprung motorcycle in 1909, but they also loaned an air sprung bicycle to the correspondent to show how good the suspension was.
In 1983 Brian Skinner designed and implemented the first suspension system for a mountain bike with a simple rear shock and a single pivot called the MCR Descender. This bike still had a rigid front fork. Front suspension appeared on bikes in 1990 when the founder of Manitou, Doug Bradburry, designed and built the a front suspension fork in his garage. The fork used elastomers and had no dampening effect, just a spring. However, the stiffness was able to be controlled and functioned well except in cold weather.
The first full-suspension folding bike from German engineers Riese and Müller was developed in 1992 and was launched in 1995 as the Birdy model. It worked perfectly and was equipped with a joint-free aluminum main frame and 18-inch rims.
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