When should you lock bike suspension?

The best time to lock out the suspension on your mountain bike is when you are doing a long non-technical trail climb or riding a long distance on a flat surface. Lockouts are typically used at specific times to help prevent wasting pedaling energy in the form of bobbing of the suspension.

How does lock out suspension work?

A Lockout is a small switch placed atop the front right stanchion of your MTB/Hybrid Bicycle’s suspension which when engaged decreases the low speed compression rate of the front fork, adjustable to the point of being fully rigid. This switch can also be routed to the handle bar which is called as a remote lockout.

What pressure should my MTB suspension be?

As a rough guideline, you should aim for a sag of about 20 % for the fork and 30 % for the rear shock. If yours is less than that, you can simply let some air out. If it’s more than that, you can add air with a shock pump.

What does the plus and minus mean on suspension fork?

This allows the fork to extend into depressions and absorb all minor trail chatter. Turning the preloaded dial towards the negative symbol will decrease the preload on the spring. On the other hand, if you find the fork to be too stiff, backing off the preload will soften the fork.

What is the benefit of having your suspension locked on a bicycle?

Many rear shocks (as well as front forks) have a lockout feature, which essentially stops it from compressing, and “locks out” the shock in a fixed position. This is used to at specific times when riding to help prevent wasted pedalling energy in the form of bobbing of the suspension.

Is fork lockout important?

A lockout is nice, but in no way essential. A fork will only really pogo around a lot if you get out of the saddle and honk on the bars. If you stay seated and spin a smooth, 80RPM cadence you won’t get a lot of unwanted movement.

When should I lock my bike suspension?

What pressure should my bike suspension be?

As a rough guideline, you should aim for a sag of about 20 % for the fork and 30 % for the rear shock. If yours is less than that, you can simply let some air out. If it’s more than that, you can add air with a shock pump. Recommended percentages or not: What matters most is that you feel comfortable on your bike.