Selecting Rear Shocks; Sag - Cannondale PROPHET Owner's Manual Supplement

selecting rear shocks

WARNING
SELECT ONLY COMPATIBLE SHOCKS AND FORKS FOR YOUR BIKE. DO NOT MODIFY YOUR
BIKE IN ANY WAY TO MOUNT ONE. HAVE YOUR SHOCK OR FORK INSTALLED BY A
PROFESSIONAL BIKE MECHANIC
• Riding with the wrong rear shock can damage the frame. You could have a serious
accident. Make sure the total travel, eye-to-eye length, and stroke length of the rear
shock you select meet the specifications listed in this manual.
• When selecting different shocks or forks for your bike, make sure that the shock or fork
you select is compatible with your bike's design and how you will use your bike.

sag

Sag is the distance the bike suspension compresses with a rider (wearing all appropriate
gear) mounted in a normal riding position (seated, hands on handlebar and feet on the
pedals) on flat ground.
The recommended sag for your bike is intended to maximize the bike's suspension travel
and it is usually specified as a percentage (%) of the fork or shock's total travel.
Maintaining the recommended sag in both the front and rear suspension helps assure that
the fork and shock operate normally without excessive top-out or bottom-out that can lead
to difficult handling or damage.
CAUTION
Please read the fork and rear shock manufacturer's owner's manual and instructions
provided before attempting any set-up or adjustment.
Small adjustments to sag are performed by adjusting preload of the shock or fork.
With coil springs this is done by adding or removing spring shims, adjusting the installed
length of the spring with a preload adjusting ring. With air springs, changing air pressure
changes preload
Larger adjustments to sag may require changing the installed springs in the fork or shock.
Changing the spring may be a simple task or very complex depending on the design of the
fork or shock. In general: increasing preload decreases sag, decreasing preload increases sag.
Finding tuning sag within the suspension fork or rear shock range is a matter of personal
preference taking body weight and how you ride into consideration.
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