Canyon Mountain bike Manual page 44

84 SUSPENSION GLOSSARY
SUSPENSION
GLOSSARY - SUSPENSION
Spring rate or hardness:
The force required to compress the spring a given
distance. A higher rate indicates a higher force re-
quirement per unit of length. With air spring elements
a higher rate means a higher pressure.
Initial spring tension:
The initial spring tension of coil springs and elasto-
mers can be set within a certain range. This makes
the suspension respond only when exposed to a
higher load. The spring rate remains, however, un-
changed. Heavier riders cannot compensate a too
soft spring rate with a higher initial tension.
Rebound damping:
Damps / slows down the rebound.
Compression damping:
Damps / slows down the compression motion.
Sag:
The distance by which the rear shock or fork com-
presses (should compress) when the rider assumes
his normal riding position while the bicycle is station-
ary.
Lockout:
Device blocking the fork or the damper from absorb-
ing shocks thus ensuring a smooth riding on tarred
roads without vibrations. A lockout must not be acti-
vated when riding off-road or downhill.
Platform damping:
Increases compression damping and helps eliminate
bob. Compared to the lockout mechanism the sus-
pension is not inactivated entirely.
Suspension fork
Rear-frame suspension
Lockout
THE SUSPENSION
FORK
There is a clear trend in bicycle technology towards
greater riding comfort and safer handling. For this
reason Canyon mountain bikes are fitted with sus-
pension forks. The suspension fork gives you better
control of your Canyon when riding cross-country
or on rough road surfaces. It noticeably reduces the
strain on you and your bike caused by mechanical
shocks. While there are various designs on the mar-
ket, most suspension forks belong to the category
of telescopic forks, which function similarly to the
spring elements commonly used on motorbikes.
Suspension forks differ in their spring elements and
in the way the damping is realised. Suspension is pro-
vided by coil springs, special types of plastic known
as elastomers or sealed air compartments or com-
binations of these options. The damping is usually
done by oil or by the self-damping properties of the
elastomers.
HOW SUSPENSION FORkS WORk
When the front wheel receives an impulse, the lower
fork tubes (also referred to as immersion tubes) are
forced upwards. The lower fork tubes travel on thin-
ner upper fork tubes which are fixed to the fork crown
by means of a bolted connection or a glued or com-
pression joint. The fork retracts as a spring inside is
compressed. The spring allows for the fork to extend
again and assume its original position. An undamped
spring would instantly extend again, giving a very un-
comfortable ride. The fork is equipped with an oscil-
lation damper which prevents the fork from springing
back uncontrolled and provides a smooth return trav-
el. The telescopic forks differ in their spring elements
and in the type of damping. For elasticity these forks
are provided with steel or titanium springs, special
types of plastic (also referred to as elastomers) or
sealed air compartments or combinations of these
options.
FUNCTIONING SUSPENSION FORK 85
Suspension fork
Lockout
For more information see the suspension
i
glossary heading this chapter.
Our Canyon mountain bikes are all de-
signed to be only used with standard ver-
sion or comparable suspension forks. The use of
double bridge forks or of forks of differing effec-
tive lengths is not permitted. This could cause se-
rious damage to your Canyon, even to the point of
breakage, and in any case voids your guarantee.
Risk of an accident!