81
Sit on the WHEELER bicycle while wearing your typical clothing for rid-
ing (with a full backpack, if applicable), take up your usual riding posi-
tion and lean against a fixed object (railings, wall, etc.) so that you do
not fall over. Push the cable tie downwards against the dust seal at the
lower tube
(a)
and get off the WHEELER bicycle so that the fork does
not compress any more.
The distance between the cable tie and the dust seal is the negative
spring travel, or sag. Compare it against the total spring travel (as spec-
ified by the manufacturer) to determine whether the suspension should
be set to be harder or softer.
With most suspension forks with coil springs or elastomers the springs
can be adjusted and pretensioned within tight limits by turning a knob at
the top of the fork crown. If that is not possible and the desired negative
spring travel (“sag”) cannot be set, the coil springs or elastomers must
be replaced by harder or softer examples. When replacing any parts be
sure to only use parts that bear the appropriate mark and, to be on the
safe side, original spare parts. Your WHEELER bicycle dealer will be
pleased to help you.
With pneumatic suspension forks the hardness of the spring is set by
the air pressure in the fork. The pressure must be set before the first
ride by means of a special high-pressure pump
(b)
with pressure gauge
and modified later as required due to changes in the weight of the
rider and/or load. Note the appropriate setting values and check them
subsequently at regular intervals. Always follow the recommendations
of the manufacturer and never exceed the maximum air pressure for
the suspension fork.
Always make a test ride after each change to the settings. Check af-
terwards the position of the cable tie. Its distance from the dust seal is
the maximum spring travel that you have used. If the cable tie has been
moved by even a few millimetres
(c)
, then the setting of the forks is too
hard. Reduce the pressure, or, in the case of coil springs, the spring
preload. If that brings no improvement then replace the springs.
If the cable tie has shifted over the entire length of the tube
(d)
or if
the fork audibly “bottoms out” and hits the top repeatedly when riding
off road or on bad roads, then the setting of the springs is too soft. In
this case the spring preload/the pressure must be increased. If the
adjustment range of the coil spring is too small, have it replaced by your
WHEELER bicycle dealer.
G
Suspension forks
(e)
are designed in a way to absorb
shocks. If the fork is too rigid and jammed, the terrain-
induced shocks pass directly into the frame without any
damping. The frame is normally not designed to withstand
such undamped stresses. If your suspension fork has a
lockout mechanism, do not activate the lockout function
when riding in rough terrain, but only when riding over
smooth terrain (roads, field tracks).
A
The suspension fork should be set up and adjusted in a way
that it does not reach the end of its travel, i.e. bottoms out,
unless in extreme cases. A spring rate which is too soft
(or too low an air pressure) can usually be heard or felt as
a “clunk” type noise. This noise is caused by the sudden
complete compression of the suspension fork as it bottoms
outs. If the suspension fork frequently bottoms out, both the
fork and the frame will sustain damage over time.
I
Contact your WHEELER bicycle dealer and follow the re-
spective instructions in the fork manufacturer’s operating
instructions, which you can find on the enclosed CD.
Damping and Lockout
The damping is adjusted by valves inside. When the oil is forced through
these valves this slows down the speed with which the suspension fork
is extended or retracted and prevents the suspension “bouncing” after
hitting an obstacle.
For long uphill rides involving hard pedalling out of the saddle it is advis-
able to disable the damping, if the suspension fork has a lockout mech-
anism
(f)
. For downhill rides on uneven ground the lockout mechanism
must be open.
Suspension forks with adjustable rebound damping
(g+h)
are fitted
with an adjusting knob to slow down or accelerate the rebound move-
ment. Start the adjusting with a completely open damping (“-“). Ride
over an obstacle (e.g. a kerb) and turn the rebound damping in small
steps towards the
“+”
setting. You have found the proper rebound set-
ting when the suspension fork does not cycle more than once. Always
check a modified adjustment during a test ride.
If you do not trust the setting of the damping or if problems occur with
it, contact your WHEELER bicycle dealer or follow the corresponding
operating instructions of the suspension fork manufacturer, which you
can find enclosed on the CD.
a
b
c
d
80
e
f
g
h
Summary of Contents for Cross
Page 70: ......
