Front suspension lockout

[A.K. Boomer]

My mountain bike has a state of the art front suspension system with lockout, It sports a single telescoping tube instead of twin tubes, its extremely rigid and does not require a fork brace because there is no need to try and keep two tubes tracking together, also, because it is a square drive (underneath the rubber boot) it allows C-Dale to utilize 88 abec-3 needle bearings for their linear slide --- far superior to the plastic/teflon bushings that have to be used in the twin telescoping units --- the result is zero sticktion under massive loads, the forks work great under heavy braking or mild conditions, they are also sprung with air pressure which reduces the unneeded weight of a coil spring or elastomeric ------- For me Iv never seen or ridden a better cross country front suspension, Its also equipped with a lockout for sprinting up hills and not "pogo-ing" This is the only thing i did not like, To actuate the lockout one must have one hand leave the handlebars -- a No-No on a mountain bike esp. in brutal terrain --- The first pic is the center knob that C-dale had for locking and unlocking the front suspension, it sat directly on top of the steering stem





This is what I ended up doing -- although my bike uses thumb shifters I mounted a grip shift to the right handle bar, if you follow the cable it mounts to where the old knob was, there is another piece of a grip shifter mounted on top of a piece of delrin that holds two return springs and a shock actuator bracket, What an improvement to never have to have your hands leaving the bars while blasting down bumpy single track, i cant tell you how many times I almost lost control with the old set up, but If i ever do crash and break that little delrin piece I hope no one is around to hear me cry like a baby --- I had to fit many of things into a small package and would not look forward to building another.




This last pic shows the front suspension and the boot where the square steering drive and linear travel is located.

[M_C]

My mountain bike has a state of the art front suspension system with lockout, It sports a single telescoping tube instead of twin tubes, its extremely rigid and does not require a fork brace because there is no need to try and keep two tubes tracking together, also, because it is a square drive (underneath the rubber boot) it allows C-Dale to utilize 88 abec-3 needle bearings for their linear slide --- far superior to the plastic/teflon bushings that have to be used in the twin telescoping units --- the result is zero sticktion under massive loads, the forks work great under heavy braking or mild conditions, they are also sprung with air pressure which reduces the unneeded weight of a coil spring or elastomeric

They're only better until they have to endure mud.
Certainly in your average Scottish weather, they would manage about 3 months before getting nice and gritty feeling.

This is the only thing i did not like, To actuate the lockout one must have one hand leave the handlebars -- a No-No on a mountain bike esp. in brutal terrain --- The first pic is the center knob that C-dale had for locking and unlocking the front suspension, it sat directly on top of the steering stem

Bit late now, but was there not an electrical version available?
I know someone who had one on a pair of forks, and I think it was a Cannondale headshock. Just press the button and it would lock out, until the batteries went flat... (it fail safed in the unlock position when the batteries went flat).

It's always nice when you build something, or modify something for your bike.
In the past I've made a brake mount adapter (was desperate to get a new bike built up to try, and didn't have the proper adapter)-


Then there was the axle to fit a 12mm hub into standard 10mm drop-outs (I hunted everywhere to find a suitable axle at the time, but nobody sold them - now everybody seems to have them!)


And a couple months ago, I custom lowered a set of Fox Van 36s. I had them surplus after selling my Yeti, but they're that good a fork, I wanted them on my hardtail to replace the TALAS 36s. Just need to get around to buying a heavier spring for them, and chop it down to get them exactly how I want them (doesn't take much to blow through the travel just now)

[A.K. Boomer]

They're only better until they have to endure mud.
Certainly in your average Scottish weather, they would manage about 3 months before getting nice and gritty feeling.

Actually they never have to endure mud, as long as the boot does not rip your good to go in whatever weather mud/sleet/snow or ice, mine is a 2003 and despite the initial re-pack of the linear bearings with mobil 1 synthetic its never been down and is silky smooth, it cant get gritty feeling because grit cannot get into the mechanism

Bit late now, but was there not an electrical version available?
I know someone who had one on a pair of forks, and I think it was a Cannondale headshock. Just press the button and it would lock out, until the batteries went flat... (it fail safed in the unlock position when the batteries went flat).

Actually - The C-dale headshock system is what your looking at,(its what I have) and it does not have an electric lockout, your thinking of another C-dale design called the "Lefty" its a massive single tube off to the left of the steerer tube, while it raised plenty of controversy it was rated very rigid and strong, unless it happened in the last year or two C-dale does not have a on bar lockout like the one I built, and I also would prefer mine over electric -- although the Lefty had added adjustments for dampening and return rates.

QUOTE]

[A.K. Boomer]

I'll try to find a lefty to view, they are strange and you would think not very strong...................................

[M_C]

I know one person who had a headshock, and it was always gritty feeling, which is something they had a reputation for across here. Riding conditions can be horrendous, and dirt gets past everything but the best of seals.

The Lefty is claimed to be one of the most torsionally stiff forks you can get, but there's the whole it'll only fit on a Cannondale frame problem, and Cannondale have major image problems in the uk (they're very much seen as the bikes of choice for people with more money than sense).

[A.K. Boomer]

Seals are only one line of defense --- good boots are the ticket, Its the only thing thats between C-dales linear bearings and the elements and they have to be perfect or moisture/dirt will ruin them.

As far as cost nobody had a frame/fork/front suspension combo that even came close for the money as my C-dale -- thats why I bought it, I did take a hit on components but always upgrade most of them anyways, Id much rather have a great foundation to build on then trying to put lipstick on a pig.

For what its worth I live where your Yeti was built, and where some might agrue is the mountain bike capital of the world, Iv ridden with many other c-dale owners who never had a problem with their headshock systems, in fact they have nothing but good to say, from what I see out here I dont think it matters much what UK'ers think --- C-dale is doing just fine --- as long as they dont try to butt heads with suzuki/kawasaki/honda in the motocross seen again

I feel sorry for anybody who has to pedal his bike in mud all the time, I could not afford to ride if i had to replace my chain and sprockets every 3 weeks, so if C-dales headshocks are locking up on you over there it sounds like it may be just one of your problems --- only way I will pedal in mud is if im already out and get caught in the rain ---- Im sure not worried about my headshock, I just wont put my drivetrain through it.

[john hobdeclipe]

I know one person who had a headshock, and it was always gritty feeling, which is something they had a reputation for across here. Riding conditions can be horrendous, and dirt gets past everything but the best of seals.

The Lefty is claimed to be one of the most torsionally stiff forks you can get, but there's the whole it'll only fit on a Cannondale frame problem, and Cannondale have major image problems in the uk (they're very much seen as the bikes of choice for people with more money than sense).

I take it from this that you are UK, correct?

Do you see many folks riding Moultons? And do they have trouble with the front suspension?

[dicks42000]

AK Boomer;
I was out for coffee with a friend of mine who works for Cannondale, indirectly....(Credit accountant and phenominal rider at Sugoi....also works part time as an exotic dancer at 40 some yrs old, but another story there.)
I don't profess to know what's going on corporately, but here's the scoop. 2 years ago Cannondale's parent Co. bought Sugoi Inc. (think tights if you're into lycra....) Cannondale is owned by an investment company with an interest in the sports field, I was told it also owns Asics Shoes and a sports drink co. as well....
Anyhow, it seems with the slowing American economy and the high Cdn. $, head office has determiined that performance isn't up to spec. so Sugoi is for sale again....Lots of pressure and looking over your shoulder at the office here in Vancouver....End result will probably turn out to be the death of another good Canadian Co.....
So far, the only people who've made any money off the deal are the original owners, lawyers, accountants and Revenue Canada....
And so it goes in the world of the MBA with it's short term focus on performance rather than the long term goal of creating new wealth....
But what do I know ???? I just run a lathe......therefore I'm a stupid cretin.
Rick

[dicks42000]

AK et al;
And the local Marzocci shop/rep is my next door neighbour and Cove Bikes is across the street, so that's how close to the "action" I am where it all began up here. BTW the boss at cove bikes & I keep our boats at the same marina....and I have a bunch of work I really should get done at his new place...We spent Sat. afternoon chasing some pieces of a dock around after a big windstorm here....I'm starting to hate boats and marine stuff.
Nice work on the dyno, by the way. The ultimate over 45 power sources are found at www.boyzofsummer.com and www lori-annspeed.com. He is the hammer king (at 44) and also can do long distances with out whining. She is old like me (48) and still can crack off 70 - 100 Km on the road bike (and is hot to ride behind, but I'm a pig.....) That's a glympse into my little perverted cycling world.

Rick again

[M_C]

I take it from this that you are UK, correct?

Do you see many folks riding Moultons? And do they have trouble with the front suspension?

Scotland to be a bit more precise.

Although I know what a Moulton is, I can't ever consciously remember seeing one, so can't honestly tell you.