Rockshox reckon gold to air 120mm - Rebound

wavey1000
wavey1000 Posts: 59
edited June 2020 in MTB beginners
So what exactly does the rebound adjuster do on these (piccie attached)? I'm guessing it's how quick it returns to the resting position?

If that right why would you want it slow (turtle) a quicker route would surely keep the wheel in contact with the surface more?



Comments

  • wavey1000
    wavey1000 Posts: 59
    Thank you
  • wavey1000
    wavey1000 Posts: 59
    :D
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    The full name for Rebound is actually "Rebound Damping",ie more rebound damping slows down the speed of the rebound as the fork tries to recover after a hit.

    Instead of a hare and tortoise, they should have had a pogo stick and a mattress!

    Fast rebound is like a pogo stick, great if you want to be jumping everywhere, but if you want to proceed down a bumpy trail and NOT be bounced off the bike, then you need a slower rebound. The temptation with going with a slower rebound is that it can be very comfortable. But too much rebound damping can slow the rebound so much that the fork has failed to fully recover from one hit before it gets another one. Hit by hit, the fork is slowly compressed in a process known as "packing down". By the time the fork is fully packed down, it is fully compressed. This means two things: one is you have no more suspension; second, the front of the bike is now 100mm lower (or whatever your fork travel is) than the rear. If you are still descending that bumpy trail then you are in line for an OTB experience! :'(
  • wavey1000
    wavey1000 Posts: 59
    Thank you for that. I understand a little better now

Categories