The rear shock absorber of the bike is one of the elements of the bike suspension. This part can be spring or air, with or without a stable platform. Riding safety, smoothness, avoiding obstacles - all this depends on a properly selected and configured shock absorber.
What is it
The rear shock absorber of a bicycle is a device that serves to eliminate and absorb shock, vibration, shock when traveling on rough roads. Off-road negatively affects the bicycle frame and the entire structure, therefore, if the cyclist uses the bike for long trips not only on asphalt, it is advisable to additionally purchase a rear shock absorber. On two-suspension bicycles, spring or air shock absorbers are installed. The springs have a fairly large weight and a hard ride. Air-oil are lightweight and smooth.
Double-suspension bikes are a design with two shock absorbers, front and rear. The front fork is standard and the rear fork is optional. With this detail, cycling becomes more comfortable. If you add a rear shock absorber to the structure, it will become heavier, and the operating conditions will change. This detail fits perfectly into mountain bikes, suitable for a sporty riding style.
What is it needed for
The design of the bike includes an element such as a shock absorber. Thanks to him, you can operate the bike for a long period of time and not feel discomfort while moving. The rear shock absorber of the bicycle consists of a spring and a damper. Springs reduce the impact load on the frame when driving on rough roads at high speed.
Consequently, the cyclist also does not experience heavy load while riding. Dampers dampen vibrations and stabilize the bike. This system is optional, therefore, on some types of shock absorbers is missing. The rear springs are mounted on sports models and are not used on road and road bikes. Sometimes they are mounted on ordinary bikes to increase ride comfort.
How to choose
The modern rear shock absorber of the bike has a large number of settings. Select this component based on the transport model. Most often it is used in mountain biking. The shock absorber can be linear, which means that to compress it, you need to make a lot of effort. By this principle, all spring models work. The comfort of movement depends on the quality of the shock absorber, so the stronger the structure, the better for the bike.
The load on the rear shock absorber is always large, so do not save a bike on this part, especially if you are cycling. Choose the rear shock absorber in length. It ranges from 125 mm to 220 mm. For fastening elements use special caps and bushings. In progressive shock absorbers (air), compression will require increasing force.
When compressed, the volume of the air chamber decreases, and the pressure increases. Knowing the difference between linear and progressive elements, you can choose the right option for your bike. It is important when choosing a shock absorber to consider the design of the frame. The best option is a spring type. It works linearly, does not make it too heavy and does not make it rigid.
Varieties
Do I need a rear shock absorber on my bike? In most cases, cushioning systems are installed in the front, they are also called the "fork". Such a device dampens shock and vibrations in the part of the frame on which the front wheel is mounted. The rear shock absorber is considered optional and is installed primarily in mountain models. Most of the load falls on the front wheel. A bike with two shock absorbers is called dual-suspension. By type, these elements are spring, spring-elastomeric, air, oil-air and oil-spring. The spring of a part has characteristics such as stiffness, recommended stroke, internal and external diameter, and length.
Customization
What to do if the rear shock absorbs on a bicycle creak? This element is a complex structure, so it is not very easy to understand the first time. The most common causes are lack of lubrication, parts mismatch and poorly tightened bolts. During adjustment, it is important to consider a concept such as seg. This is the difference in length between the compressed shock absorber under the weight of the cyclist. Seg should be set correctly, otherwise the part will not work fully. Set it in the range from 23 to 33% of the stroke. If the seg is large, the suspension works softly, and if it is small, it is tough.
Several factors affect the setting of the rear shock absorber of a bicycle: preload, recoil and compression. At the first stage, the suspension fork will provide resistance to the weight of the cyclist. First change the subsidence percentage of the item. The best option is 25%. If the bike is designed for fast driving and descents from the mountain - 30%. Most rear shock absorber models have a snap ring that measures the level of subsidence.
Price
Adjustment of the rear shock absorber of the bicycle is carried out independently or with the help of a specialist, independence from the bike model and the cost of the element. The shock absorber spring is quite elastic and strong. In sports models, expensive models of rear shock absorbers are used, costing as a full-fledged bike - from 15 thousand rubles and above. The simplest elements cost about 400 rubles. Despite their budget price, they are made of steel, withstand pressure up to two thousand kilograms.