We’ve all been wondering about the best way to set suspension sag — sitting or standing? — so I asked The Man Himself: Mark Fitzsimmons at Fox Racing Shox. As Fox’s MTB race manager, Fitz does suspension testing and setup at the highest level of our sport. He is also a ripper.
Hi Lee- I’m a CSU, Chico student. I’m TRYING to write a lesson plan for fourth graders about bicycle safety. My subject is how to wreck with the least amount of injuries.
My inspiration was my son. He had his helment on, got squirrely and dove off of the bike face first into the asphalt, busted three of his permanent teeth and his lip. He now wears a BMX helmet with the face guard! I don’t want to give the same old “wear your helmet” speech in my lesson plan because obviously you can still get injured.
So, I thought I could teach them the best way to land when they are wrecking. I have not had much luck finding any official websites or videos with this information. Do you know of any? I’d really appreciate any information you have.
Thanks so much,
Shauna
Last week’s PowerMax indoor cycling workout at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine was BRUTAL in the endurance sense, but it inspired me to become a better person (or least a better bike rider). I just got back from another PowerMax love session, and tonight I feel better.
DMC is discontinuing its handy handlebar-mounted lap timer to focus on its other products. Once they sell out of their existing stock, that’s it.
If you want one of these guys, now’s the time:
Lee,
I came across an interesting idea on a forum on farkin.net — someone was saying that you should set up the sag on you suspension while you’re standing. Everything I’ve come across previously says set the sag when you’re on the seat but the more I think about it the more it makes sense to set it while standing — when you are in attack position.
So when you’re in attack position you’ve got the correct sag front and rear and the suspension works at its best. When you’re sitting the forks will be a bit stiffer and the rear shock will be a bit softer so maybe you’ll get a bit more pedal feedback when you climb but maybe this is a good trade off? What do you think?
PS – link for that forum is: http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165738
regards, Paul
Hey Lee,
At the start of the Sea Otter downhill there are 4? short beeps and then one long beep. When does the actual timing of your race run start? Can you go anytime during those beeps or is it after the long beep finishes?
Thanks,
Brian
Hi Lee,
Great site. A quick one:
The Bighit 2003 came out standard with a 24″ rear wheel. I’ve changed the seatstay to accommodate a 26″ wheel and I use the most progressive (bottom) hole on the frame and position A on the shock link. How will this affect the headtube angle? I do a lot of DH and some “downhill” freeriding if I can call it that. I know with the 24″ rear wheel the slackest angle is 66.3 degrees, but I’m concerned it has negatively impacted that angle. I have a 2004 Boxxer Team up front – 7″, and a Fox Vanilla RC at the back.
Regards, Adrian
I just got back from a brutally difficult indoor bike workout. One where I did not kick butt. Not even a little bit, not in any way.
Hey, Lee
My family just moved to Kansas from northern Illinois shortly after I got into DH racing, and even though there are no DH trails anywhere near me I am dieing to get better. I have raced in a few midwest DH races with some ok results, however I want to get better. I am currently building a pump track, ride my fixie as much as possible, as well as ride street in Kansas City when i can. But what else can i do to stay at the same level or riding and even become a better DH racer given my situation? I will only be able to ride DH maybe a few times this summer and after that even less as i will be a poor college student in Chicago without a car.
Oh yeah, there are no BMX tracks or single track anywhere near me to ride.
Thanks,
Patrick
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The Wife and I are having two little babies!!! Here they are, just 6.5 weeks after they were conceived.
They already have names. Baby A is 7.5 mm long and rocking steady at 118 bpm. Baby B is 6 mm long and pinning it at 130 bpm.
OK riders, let’s set ’em up! …
— Lee
Here’s a common theme, but a helpful one.
