Front forks for bicycles: the principle of operation and selection criteria. Bicycle shock absorbers for bicycles

Cycling offers a huge selection of differentvariants of bicycles designed for certain driving styles (aggressive, fast, quiet, trial, etc.), and depending on this, manufacturers equip the units for comfort and maximum pleasure.

The most common options that haveEuropean quality and high comfort (within the bicycle) - models equipped with vibration dampers on the front fork, but there are even more comfortable models - with rear shock absorbers. Naturally, for comfort you need to pay, and in the case of the presence of rear shock absorbers, the cost of this (not Chinese counterfeit) bicycle will be prohibitively high.

Best forks for bicycles: hard or shock

Bicycle forks are divided into two main categories: rigid and amortized, but each of these models has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of forks with shock absorbers aresmoothness of overcoming various bumps and a high degree of control of bicycle control. Due to the shock absorbers, the forks press the tire firmly against the road surface and allow for a constant control of the control.

Rigid forks for bicycles also have their ownThe positive side: low cost, simplicity of design, inexpensive maintenance, as well as light weight. This type of front bicycle forks is mainly used in low-cost or high-speed models.

Disadvantages of the front forks for bicycles

Disadvantages of this type of plugs are a large(when compared with conventional) weight and damping, which extinguishes the efforts of the cyclist when you press the pedal. To the category of consoles with shock absorbers also include periodic maintenance of shock absorbers, which will have to purchase additional keys and screwdrivers, but the ideal is a set of tools.

Iron bicycle forks have some disadvantages: they do not create damping during a ride on a bad road, which has a bad effect on the whole structure and the bicyclist.

Principle of amortization fork

Most plugs with shock absorbers work forthe principle of telescopy, based on two tubes, one of which is of smaller diameter, and the other is larger (inside it there is a shock absorber that extinguishes sharp changes in a tube with a small diameter).

Depending on the layout, the bicycle shock absorbers are divided into three groups: conventional, inverted and specific.

The usual layout consists of an upper tube of smaller diameter and a lower one - an enlarged size, in which the shock absorber is located.

Inverted forks work on exactly the sameprinciple, as usual, except that the piston (a tube of small diameter) is not on top, but from below. This type of fork for bicycles is uncomfortable due to constant contamination of the cylinder, but, among other things, its cost is much higher than normal.

Specific front forks are based on the same piston function as conventional ones, but in comparison they are equipped with several pistons and levers, and this group includes one-legged forks.

Standards of forks for bicycles

Regardless of the design and availability of shock absorbers, the front forks are divided into four main groups according to the diameter of the pipes used:

Inch.
1 inch and 1/8 inch.
1 inch and ¼ inch.
1 inch and ½ inches.

For a different riding style, three types of piston stroke in the front wheel fork are used:

A short move - from 2.5 to 3 centimeters (used for walking and speed).
The average stroke length is from 5 to 7.5 millimeters (the main application in tourism).
Long piston stroke from 12 to 30 centimeters (used for mountain descents).

Front forks for bicycles by shock absorber types

Spring fork shock absorbers - the cheapestoption initial cost of 600 rubles. This is the category of the most short-lived shock absorbers, suitable only for the simple riding of adolescents. Springs for this type of forks are divided according to the price category: inexpensive (from 600 to 1500 rubles) and expensive (from 1500 to 3000 rubles).
A fork on a spring with an elastomer element that extinguishes serious bumps. The price category is from 2000 to 3500 rubles. A practical model for a normal ride, quite high quality in relation to the price.
Shock absorbers air principle. The price starts at 7500 rubles. This is one of the most common models of forks for bicycles due to quality and resistance to stress.
Air-and-oil shock absorbers. The cost starts from 10 000 rubles. A wear-resistant model that requires constant monitoring of the oil cartridge.
Spring-oil shock absorbers fork. The price range is from 7500 to 10 500 rubles. This type of forks is most popular among fans of aggressive bicycle driving styles.

Maintenance of the front forks

Front forks on shock absorbers do not requirerepair, but behind them (in contrast to iron forks), one must constantly observe and check the condition of the anther, which both helps and can do much harm. Initially, the rubber gasket is installed to contain dust and dirt, but it may happen that the dirt will be clogged under the dust cover and will scratch the "piston", which will lead to premature failure of the plug.

To inspect the shock absorber, you should inspect the anther and the "piston" (small diameter tube) for scratches and chips.

If an insect is detected at least a smalla hole due to wiping, it should be cut off and continue to monitor the condition of the shock absorber without it, otherwise the dirt will get inside and it will not be possible to notice this trouble in time.

Note. With a constant wiping of the shock absorber cylinders and a captious control of the state of their cleanliness, you can significantly extend the service life.

At full shock absorber output, it will be easierto replace it, but there are workshops that can take care of repairing the front fork of a bicycle, the only complication may be the availability of spare parts for a broken shock absorber. Repair in most cases is inexpedient due to high costs, it will be easier to replace the bicycle fork entirely than to wait for the result of repair and the arrival of original spare parts from the manufacturer.