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Basic Bicycle Anatomy 101 - Shocks

     There are many different types of shocks. Including: fork shocks (standard, dual crown, springer, mono-stay, head shock etc), frame shocks, frame elastomers, seat shocks, seat post shocks, stem shocks, etc. We are only going to cover the basic 2 most popular. It is a common misconception that shocks are intended to make a bike comfortable. Although it makes sense and to a certain degree this is true... it is not the reason they exist for bicycles. Bicycle shocks are an important feature that increases your control of the bike.

     Shocks do two things.

1. Absorb the impact from running over stuff. 

  • When you hit, let's say, a fist sized rock in the trail a bike without shocks will buck up in the air. This throws your bike up off the ground and your body even higher. It takes time for gravity to pull you and your bike back down to the trail. So, after hitting a single object you lose several feet of traction... without traction (ie: your wheels touching terra firma) you cannot turn, slow down, or stop. Shocks keep you from bouncing way high after running over an object.

2. Shocks shove your wheel back down to get contact with the ground quickly.

  • After running over something your shock returns your tires back down in contact with the trail. If your wheels are in contact with the planet... you, my well suspended friend, have the ability to control your immediate destiny by being able to steer, slow down or stop if needed.
Imagine running over a series of tree roots and rocks and you and your bike clatters across them at high speed... and oh... by the way you need to slow down and turn because you're coming up on a tree studded cliff or a section of barbed wire... I think we can agree... shocks are important.
And they look really cool too!

Fork Shock

Fork shocks are probably the most common and most important. If your bike has a front shock but no rear shock it's called a "Hard Tail" bike. Hard tails are lighter than "Full Suspension". Front suspension will give you plenty of control for cross country riding.

Rear Shock

The rear shock (aka: Frame Shock) does the exact same thing for the back of your bike as the fork shock does for you... gets your wheel back in contact with the trail. A bicycle with a rear shock will be a little heavier than the same bike model as a hard tail design. Having a full suspension bicycle will give you the ability to go faster down a hill than you would have been able to do on a hard tail. Editors note: One of the guys I used to work with could out run me and my full suspension cross country bike on his full-rigid (no shocks in either front or rear). In other words a full suspension bike will not make you "fast" it will simply give you the ability to go faster than you would have been able to go on a hard tail as well as making the bike "more comfortable".

 

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Quick links to specific bicycle sections & parts:

Frame Terminology>>
Bicycle Front End>>
Bicycle Center>>
Bicycle Back End>>
Shocks>>
Brakes>>
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