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Letter of the Month
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Dear MBT:
I’m new to mountain biking after 17 years. I recently ordered an Ibex Alpine 650 (hardtail) equipped with a Marzocchi MX LO fork. I'll have to put the bike together upon arrival and know I'll get a manual from Marz but any recommendations on a site with very basic VISUAL how-to set up a fork would really be appreciated. Sag, rebound, lockouts, etc. are all brand new to me. Thanks for any help you can give.
Steve Welty
Steve,
Great question. We’ll start with the basics. Your fork is going to have the following settings:
Preload: This is the amount of tension on the fork’s internal spring (even at rest). It is the preload dial that sets up your fork’s sag (Sag is the distance the bike settles on its suspension when subjected to load; namely when you climb into the saddle. The term free sag is used to express the compression of the suspension under the weight of the bike alone.)
Compression:
This dial controls the damping which prevents the shock from bottoming out when it moves through its stroke. Too much compression will make the fork feel too stiff, too little will cause the fork to bottom out harshly.
Rebound:
This setting controls how fast the shock will return to its full extension after it compresses. Too much rebound will have your fork feeling springy and bouncy, too little will cause the fork to ride low and feel sticky.
Lock Out:
Activating the lockout sends the fork’s oil through a super-stiff damping circuit to make it feel nearly rigid. Most modern suspension systems have a blow-off valve which releases the fork to move (even while locked out) so that you don’t jar your wrists should you smack a rock or a steep g-out.
Once you fully understand what each of the suspension settings accomplish, it’s time to refer to said Marzocchi owner’s manual to figure out what they recommend for your specific weight and riding style.
Your fork in particular features Marzocchi’s RV (Rebound Valve) System which basically allows external adjustment of the damping system based on the fork's compression and rebound speed as well a the fork's position in travel. Rebound is externally adjustable.
As far as the visual site you’re looking for, our best advice would be to use Marzocchi’s site to download the free tech manual for your particular fork through the following link:
A href="http://www.marzocchi.com/Template/listSPAManualsMTB.asp?IDFolder=126&IDA=55897&LN=UK&Sito=usa-mtb" target="_blank">Marzocchi tech manuals
For making us think, we’re going to send you a $20 gift certificate to spend at Evomo. Go get yourself a kick ass shirt, and send us a snapshot of you rocking it out: www.evomo.com/
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Dear MBT:
I have an opportunity to pick up a Ventana El Patron frame for $1500. What’s your take on this one?
Barry Kucciono
Barry,
While we haven’t logged any saddle time on the El Patron specifically, we have tested and were delighted with the Ventana X5 that graced our offices a few seasons ago. Based upon Ventana’s reputation for quality and top notch customer service, it isn’t difficult for us to give the thumbs up on anything that Sherwood and company feel deserves to wear the Ventana badge.
Dear MBT:
I won’t lie; I am often guilty of neglecting simple maintenance on my bike. During my last trip to the LBS, the mechanic told me that my chain and cogs needed replacing because dirt had managed to find its way in and wear down teeth. He recommended that I consider a Scottoiler system that supposedly keeps the chain lubricated at all times. Ever hear of it and does it work?
Hector Santos
Hector
The Scottoiler system doesn’t actually keep the chain lubricated at all times. It does, however, allow the rider the ability to give his drive train a squirt of lube on the fly via a small finger pump. The system is unique because it actually comes with its own jockey wheel (the plastic guide-cog below the rear derailleur) that acts as the distributor for the lubricant. The entire concept appears very novel on paper but would have to prove quite beneficial to justify its $85 price tag. Regardless of how you do it (we have always used a simple spray-on chain wax) we probably don’t need to harp on you about the benefits of keeping your expensive drive train components clean and lubed.
Dear MBT:
I was at a local Trek shop and some other customers were talking up the Fisher Genesis 2 geometry with the guy behind the counter. They agreed that it was the best they’d ridden! Is it really that remarkable (and if so why) or were they all just hyping it up like I suspect?
Paul Hamilton
Paul,
Interesting question. Obviously the best of anything is a very relative unit of measurement. What works for some doesn’t necessarily work for others. Certainly the fact that the Gary Fisher brand is a division of the Trek line influences the shop employees to sway potential buyers into the benefits of their product. That said, let’s take a moment to dissect the Genesis 2 (or G2 as it is often referred) frame geometry. The original Genesis line of thinking was pretty straight forward: Sharp handling and chassis stability could be balanced out by combining a long top tube with a short stem. The system was a relative success except for an occasional tendency for the front tire to push (rather than rail) on tight switchbacks. The G2 setup attempts to remedy this action by placing the rider’s weight slightly more toward the front (through a change in fork offset). Is it better than the original Genesis? Yes. Is it the best configuration for everyone? Probably not.
Dear MBT:
Everyone I talk to says to steer clear of buying a used downhill bike. I’m only 15 and have very little money but want to try racing. What’s the problem with used bikes if they are well taken care of?
Jeffery Blakke Jr.
Jeffery,
The problem with used bikes (especially in the case of a downhill bike which takes on massive amounts of stress during hard landings and get-offs) is that most of the time fatigued materials appear perfectly acceptable to the naked eye. It would be very easy to walk away from a bike that is covered in dings, dents, and scratches but metal fatigue is often invisible. The sad news is that by the time you would be aware of a stress point, it would be too late. Risking a frame failure (or component failure such as your bars, cranks, stem or post) would be catastrophic if it occurred during a run. Many resorts offer rental programs. Our advice is to look into renting a bike to get your feet wet in the downhill process. If you then determine that this is in fact the sport you would like to pursue wholeheartedly, make your purchase at the end of the season when many outlets offer deep discount pricing on current models to make room for the upcoming model year.
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