In case your bike has shocks, you may have to calibrate the sag to get one of the best journey efficiency. Sag is the quantity the shocks transfer underneath the load of your physique, bike sneakers, helmet another gear you carry whenever you’re simply sitting on the bike. Having it correctly adjusted ensures the shocks are neither too stiff nor too mushy.
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Video: Bike Upkeep: Setting Sag
Listed here are the instruments you’ll want:
A ruler
A shock pump
A pen and paper
You additionally have to put on your backpack with water and any further gear you usually carry whereas using.
Some bikes include sag calibration charts that assist make calculations sooner, however you do not want one. If you wish to use a chart yow will discover one on the shock producer’s web site.
Begin by measuring and noting the size of each the entrance and rear shocks in millimeters. You may use these numbers later.
Subsequent make certain the shocks are switched open or are in descend mode. To make the following steps simpler, discover a bench or tree to lean towards or have a good friend helpful to carry your bike regular.
Test each stanchions in your entrance fork for an O-ring. If you do not have one you possibly can connect a zipper tie to indicate how far the stanchion travels. It is essential to set sag in line with your using weight so make certain to put on all of your regular using gear.
Now sit on the bike and bounce the suspension up and down a number of occasions to heat up the shocks. Get into your using stance with all of your weight over the bike then slide the O-ring down the stanchion on the fork and up the shaft on the rear shock. Fastidiously dismount the bike with out bouncing the shocks. Now you possibly can measure and document the gap between the O-ring and the physique of the shock. This measurement is the shock’s static journey.
Set the Sag
To calculate your sag proportion, divide the static journey by the entire size of the shock and multiply by 100. Most producers advocate that you simply set your sag someplace between 25 to 35 p.c. In case your sag is larger or decrease than that, it’s worthwhile to make some changes by attaching your shock pump and growing or reducing the air stress within the shock and working the calculation once more.
Sag is usually a matter of non-public choice, however in the event you journey quick over aggressive terrain, you may need to preserve your sag decrease and on the agency facet by including air stress. For a smoother journey on simpler terrain, go for a softer setting by conserving the air stress decrease and the sag larger. Every time you modify the stress within the shock repeat the measuring course of till your sag is simply the place you need it.