Mountain Biking - Friday rant: Suspension a disservice?

Does the industry do a disservice in the way suspension is sold? Should riders be required to pass a test and obtain a Suspension License?

I am amazed sometimes at the riders I meet who have nice suspension bikes and: a) Don't know the first thing about how their suspension operates, b) They don't really care, and c) They are just riding at whatever air pressure the shop put in when they bought the bike, d) They are afraid to twist any of their knobs, and e) Never do maintenance.

* When someone goes three years on a $5000+ bike without even owning a shock pump or thinking to check up on the pressures now and then, I just don't know what to make of that.

* When I ride with someone, and every time we've ridden during the past five years he complains about his rear shock, but he won't get it serviced, what's up with that?

* When I meet someone riding a brand new, top of the line suspension bike and the shop just handed it to her with whatever air happened to be in the suspension at the time, and without recommending she buy a shock pump, Ergh! That's not right.

* What about the rider who asks his shop for the number of clicks to set for rebound, and they give him a number, and that's what he runs with?

Does the industry need some sort of uber-simple, generic, one-size-fits-most, suspension that doesn't involve air and that has no knobs? Should better product manuals be given when riders purchase a new bike? Do shops need to spend more time with riders who are moving up to their first, really good suspension bike?

Discuss!

* When a rider gets a nice new full suspension bike but pumps the shocks WAY up because they heard that peddling efficiency suffers if the shocks are too soft and then proceed to rattle their teeth out on all but the steep assents, whats up with that?

Meh... Motorcycles are worse.

Most people never adjust the suspension, then take the bike at 100mph-180mph down a road.

Most people that buy "aftermarket" suspension, are just really buying a "better looking" shock, but they never get it adjusted for their size or riding conditions.

I think the bike shops need to step it up a bit. Went to a few different bike shops a few years ago to look at new bikes and they told me all about the suspension but not how to adjust it. Went with the one shop that took the time to show me and even helped me set it up on the spot for light off road. Never really needed to use it in all the years that I had it but I really think its up to the people at the bike shop to tell people how to use it other then trying to get people to buy it because it has suspension

Your answer is no. And I don't care what people do with their suspension. Your rant is like getting mad at 95% of the drivers on the road that don't have a clue about how to use 99% of their car's features. I see it every day that some guys is driving a 100k Mercedes and still holding his phone while driving even thought car came with Bluetooth. People are lazy and even if you give them a personalized how to adjust your suspension class they will not do what's needed.

So do what I do...when you see one of those people just point and laugh.


http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x288/lluvialita/Nelson.png

What about product manuals? I think manufacturers could do better here. Pretty much everything I've learned about my Reba has come from the forums.

What about product manuals? I think manufacturers could do better here. Pretty much everything I've learned about my Reba has come from the forums.

Let me repeat again...people are lazy and they will not open that manual. My car example stands. How many people do you know that you think they actually opened their car manual to figure out how the features of the car they just spend about $ 40k?

And why suspension is a disservice? Why shouldn't I enjoy a full squish bike because of lazy people who doesn't care to have the proper set up?

Oh by the way you tube is full of videos of manufactures showing how to set up your suspension properly. They are much better than manuals and straight forward.

Does the industry need some sort of uber-simple, generic, one-size-fits-most, suspension that doesn't involve air and that has no knobs?
Discuss!

Call it the IShock. Extra points if you make it mandatory to have an ITunes account to operate it.

In sales its called "Sell the SIZZLE, not the Steak!" I like all the stuff out there for sale. I have a nice Samsung phone, but I only use what I knew from my blackberry. SAD. But when it came to my bike/s I like pouring over manuals and learning all the details. Playing with the setting is a blast. People in my neighborhood must think I am the oldest kid on the block. I'm always playing with the settings and repumping this or that and then jumping off curbs and blasting around the neighborhood and measuring how far the rubber band moved. Beats watching CSI reruns.

I've also now got the neighborhood job of teaching kids how to fix flats, oil chains and adjust brakes. It amazes me how many parents buy a 13 year old a $1K bike and never service it. You and mystolen are both right. Its a shame and the responsibility sits on the shoulders of the purchaser. BTW, just got the wife something super charged because that is the model she wanted. She has never made use of it. BUT, I checked it out for her-it was my duty! :thumb: