Suspension Lockout studies
I'm interested in reading results from some proper studies of open vs locked in various situations on various frame designs and across different terrain, both FS and hardtail.
having a hard time finding anything beyond the normal marketing and evangelist guff...
I am well aware of what they do, how they work, pros and cons, personal opinions etc so please dont turn this thread into an argument/discussion about platforms/propedal/lockout/air/coil/blah blah blah
Thanks
Scientific Study?!!!?
Use of empirical data to try and accurately ascertain the true benefit of a Bicycle part?
Surely you don’t doubt the Word of MBR/MBUK & Co?
They read the Brochures cover to cover, and rode round the car park at Afan at least twice, before declaring a “Winner” What more could you want?
I think the problem is that many of the Studies that pop up on Tire or Brake efficiency are either self funded academic efforts or cheap on the hoof Pseudo Science cooked up by certain magazine publishers to lend the facade of genuine objectivity and method to their “group test” articles...
While it’s relatively cheap to acquire a load of tires or a few different brake pads and lash up a rig to test one theory or another, it’s quite another thing to buy several pairs of very pricey forks for a bit of impartial research...
I doubt you’ll find a study for this group of products and very much doubt if you do it will be Impartial…
But your question is an interesting one, the benefits seem obvious, but I think any theory should be tested before it’s accepted as “fact”...
exactly my point, I've yet to find anything useful.
I already have my own opinions and I'm not looking for verification, I just genuinely curious to see if anyone has done any proper studies and what they found.
Even a semi-scientific same-bloke-same-bike-round-same-loop-locked-and-unlocked with discussions on traction, comfort, raw speed, perceived speed would be nice.
I think you're probably right though about the cost of proper research. I mean a proper test would involve a multitude of frame designs, shocks (both front and rear), bar mounted vs shock mounted lockout levers, over a wide variety of terrain, in different conditions all while trying to keep things like rider skill, fitness and energy levels at some kind of constant.
(And for the record - I normally treat most magazine reviews as 'entertainment' and insight into the reviewers tastes rather than as any kind of definitive answer - but a background in science will do that to you....)
Write to Fox - they could help you
I think lockouts are great 🙂
I dunno if any amount of scientific study will help, some people love lock out and hate suspension induced bob, others fail to notice any problem whatsoever. What is more important is that in a race, when you feel comfortable and haven't got some annoying feature on your bike stealing your mojo then you will likely perform better. I have lockout on one of my forks and I really cannot tell the difference when climbing. I'm not saying it doesn't have an affect, it's just I don't notice a problem with bob when climbing , and yes I lock my forks out and they lock, and then I climb and it really doesn't make an difference to me, but it might to you...
Try this chaps blog may have something of use, haven't got time to look.
Otherwise, K9 for a few days data logging should answer your question but it'll cost you.
I've long wondered about the "8% stiffer bottom bracket" type quotes that come up regularly in magazines, has anyone ever really bothered to check them out?
Thanks Loco, will have a read 🙂
Like I said, I know what I think/feel, I'm not after any verification I just want to read some proper tests and discussions from the scientific side rather than the emotional side.
I've long wondered about the "8% stiffer bottom bracket" type quotes that come up regularly in magazines, has anyone ever really bothered to check them out?
There's an old article about FEA here which suggests that the pedalling losses in a rigid frame are up to 4% total, so 8% of that isn't a lot, let alone 8% of a fraction of that.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/fea.htm
For uphill stuff you could test the bikes over a selection of fixed courses with a power meter and the cyclists pedalling splits so the speeds are equal.
but surely how it makes you feel is going to impact how it makes you ride?
There's no real way to carry out a blind test, is there?
but surely how it makes you feel is going to impact how it makes you ride?There's no real way to carry out a blind test, is there?
That was a succinct 2 line way of saying what I said in 8 lines. Chapeau..