Easy Rider Fork; Preload Adjustment - Cannondale Easy Rider Owner's Manual Supplement

Spring rate: The force needed to compress the spring one inch. Heavier people
need a higher spring rate than lighter people.
Preload: The initial amount of force placed on the spring. Preload is used to
change or adjust spring rate and therefore sag.
Sag: The amount that the suspension compresses with the rider sitting on the
bike in a normal position. It is usually expressed in percent of suspension travel.
Sag allows the wheel to travel downward to follow the terrain.
Easy Rider fork: The Easy Rider fork features the patented HeadShok
telescoping steerer tube assembly that uses 88 needle bearings for smooth,
responsive suspension action. The fork blades are TIG-welded 6061-T6
aluminum for a lightweight but stiff fork structure for precise steering. These
forks are not disc brake compatible. Do not attempt to fit disc brakes with any
clamps and/or adapters.
The Easy Rider fork includes the MC60 cartridge that offers 60mm of travel
using the Advanced Spring System's coil spring / MCU combination. The
cartridge also features a mechanical air damper that controls the compression
and rebound speed of the spring.
FORK WARNINGS
If the suspension fork ever begins to make "knocking" or
"clunking" noises, or if it ever shows an unexplained
increase in travel, or looks like it is extended farther than it
was originally, stop riding the bike and bring it to a
Cannondale dealer for inspection. Possible indications of a
problem are:
An increase in the fork's extension or travel.
A stretched-out fork boot.
A stretched or strained front brake cable.
"Knocking" or "clunking" noises coming from fork.
If any of the above symptoms are ignored, the result could
be a separation of the fork from the bicycle frame.
Separation of the fork could lead to an accident, with risk of
serious injury or death.
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FORK WARNINGS CONTINUED
If your bike has suspension, the increased speed you may
develop also increases your risk. When braking, the front of
a suspended bike dips. You could have a bad accident if
your skill is not up to handling this system. Get to know how
to handle your suspension system well before trying any
very fast biking.
Likewise, suspension will increase handling capabilities and
comfort of your bicycle. This enhanced capability may allow
you to ride faster. But do not confuse the enhanced
capabilities of a suspension bike with your own capabilities.
Increasing your skill will take time and practice. Proceed
carefully until you are sure you are competent to handle the
full capabilities of your bike.
Use only brakes designed to be mounted to existing
cantilever bosses. Do not attempt to add any brake mount or
use any brake device that requires adapting the fork's existing
brake mounts. Altering or adapting existing brake mounts or
installing new brake mounts will void the fork's warranty and
may result in structural failure of the fork. Structural failure of
the fork will result in loss of control of the bicycle, placing the
rider in danger of serious injury or death.
Preload Adjustment: Before the bike is ridden, front and rear spring preload
must be adjusted to rider weight. If too much preload is applied, the suspension
will be stiff and unresponsive; too little preload and the rider may feel
"bouncing" while climbing or accelerating hard, and may tend to bottom out the
shock (compress it to the limit of its travel) on large bumps.
The HeadShok front suspension uses a steel coil and MCU spring and a
mechanical air damper, also known as a shock absorber. These components
are hidden from view inside the HeadShok. To adjust the front suspension
spring preload, first use a 6mm hex wrench to remove the stem extension tube.
You will now see a hole in the center of the top of the fork. Insert a 4mm hex
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