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. The suspension fork
Suspension forks
All MERIDA mountain bikes as well as some
trekking and cross bikes are equipped with
suspension forks. This feature gives you bet-
ter control of your bike when riding cross-
country or on rough road surfaces. It notice-
ably reduces the strain on you and your bike
caused by mechanical shocks.
When the front wheel receives an impulse,
the lower fork, the so-called immersion tubes,
are forced upwards. The lower fork legs trav-
el on thinner upper fork legs which are fixed
to the fork crown (stanchion tube). The fork
retracts as a spring inside it is compressed.
The spring allows the fork to extend again
and assume its original position.
An undamped spring would instantly extend
again, making riding impossible. The fork
has an oscillation damper built into it which
prevents the fork from springing back uncon-
trolled and provides a smooth return travel.
The telescopic forks differ in their spring ele-
ments and in the way the damping is realised.
The suspension may be provided by steel
springs, special types of plastic known as elas-
tomers or sealed air compartments or combi-
nations of these options.
The damping is usually afforded by oil or by
the self-damping properties of the elastomers.
Almost all fork manufacturers include
well-written instructions in their deliv-
eries. Read these instructions carefully
before changing any settings on your fork.
Adjustment and maintenance routines are
in any case jobs best left to your MERIDA
dealer.
Please also visit the websites of the suspen-
sion fork manufacturers and importers:
www.foxracingshox.com, www.toxoholics.de
www.answerproducts.com
www.rockshox.com, www.sram.com
www.dtswiss.com, www.marzocchi.com
www.srsuntour-cycling.com
www.rst.com.tw, www.magura.com
. Adjusting suspension forks
In order to function optimally the fork has to
be adjusted to the weight of the rider and its
intended purpose. Have your MERIDA dealer
do this job. Please follow the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Adjusting the fork to your needs before first use
requires little work, if you use a simple trick.
Before you start adjusting the fork the initial
spring tension and the damping should both
be at their lowest.
Slip a cable binder onto the upper fork tube so
that you can shift it easily along the tube. If you
cannot slip the cable binder onto the upper
fork tube because of a bellows, ask a helper to
measure the distance from the top edge of the
fork crown to the ground, once with and once
without you in the saddle.
