New Bike Suspension Adapts to Terrain in 7ms
Whoever said making things more complicated was a bad thing?
Say goodbye to those bump-worn knees, dear bikers! At least in the next few years.
The Cannondale Simon is the first bike-suspension fork that's completely computerized. It's basically a bike shock that automatically adapts its resistance and clearance depending on the terrain.
An accelerometer and optical sensor update the computer 500 times a second. Based on speed and the bumpiness of the ride, the software directs an electric motor to adjust the valve size of the hydraulics.
Smaller valve sizes means less oil goes through, creating more support and less shock movement. This maintains the wheels' grip on the terrain, allowing more pedaling power to propel the bike forward on flat surfaces. A more open valve provides more cushioning for those rocky trails.
The Cannondale Simon is accurate enough to make adjustments amounting to 1/1000 of a millimeter, within a seven millisecond period. This, according to manufacturer, allows changes faster than the human brain can react.
Will this becoming a necessity for mountain bikers? Or another premium item that will add to the cost of entry for any would-be enthusiast? Whatever the case, Cannondale promises the Simon will hit retail "within a few years".
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Now all we need is a bike that hovers and dosnt need pedals...
Back in my day, a good bike ruined your fertility.
Hmmm, an unpredictable front fork. I think I'll take consistency of response over adaptablility.
I like the concept, but...
Will we need to change the oil on this suspension?
What about the battery from this computer, how long will it last, does it needs to be replace?
What about cost?
Now all we need is a bike that hovers and dosnt need pedals...
Right on! Also, add maybe a device that drives the wheels for you like an engine, add two more wheels to increase stability, a radio for entertainment, and an air bag in the steering wheel...wait, I suppose they would need to install a steering wheel first. If there was only a mode of transportation that already incorporated such things...a guy can dream...
Aren't Canondale bikes expensive to begin with? How much will this add to the purchase cost?
Right on! Also, add maybe a device that drives the wheels for you like an engine, add two more wheels to increase stability, a radio for entertainment, and an air bag in the steering wheel...wait, I suppose they would need to install a steering wheel first. If there was only a mode of transportation that already incorporated such things...a guy can dream...
We have that, but it doesn't hover
Hmmm, an unpredictable front fork. I think I'll take consistency of response over adaptablility.
Maybe this should be aimed at bikes that people cycle to work on and such, as I'm sure people would prefer comfort when going over cobbled roads, up and down curbs, etc.
I like the concept, but...Will we need to change the oil on this suspension?What about the battery from this computer, how long will it last, does it needs to be replace?What about cost?
Cost? Considering the name and type of suspension, I wouldn't be surprised if the msrp is $3000 cad
You know what's funny? I read about this in Popular Science MAGAZINE 2 weeks ago. Who says the internet is faster?
I hope this won't be too expensive!! Although it probably will be. This is still an AWESOME idea, something that I haven't thought of but it's a genius idea, like a "oh, DUH!" moment.
Any chance this tech becomes available for my 1973 opel ascona?
I mountain bike all the time. It sounds nice but you'd certainly lose some of the predictability jet ws talking about. But you lose that with any shock and 90% of people (myslef included) ride dual suspension bikes now and are much happier.
The number one enemy on a bike is weight. If this system/shock weighs 5 pounds vs. the usual 3 (I don't know I just ride them) then anyone hardcore isn't going to buy it. This sounds like a rich mans toy more than anything practical. I don't think you'll see it in a race.
Awesome tech though. I'd love to try one out. Maybe it's worth any additional weight for amatures like me.
It's cool, but as an avid cyclist, I don't see this as a big seller. Weight and reliability are huge things in the biking world. A good cannondale bike already costs well over $2000. The people that spend that kind of money on bikes are not techies. The best bet for cannondale would but to cheaply license the tech to others so it shows up on middle of the road commuters and comfort bikes.
"Will this becoming a necessity for mountain bikers?"
Do you knowing the proper tense for your sentences? (lol)
Hmmm, an unpredictable front fork. I think I'll take consistency of response over adaptablility.
yeah, can imagine making a huge jump and it deciding you are on the flat and stiffening the suspension LMAO
Cannondale makes awesome bikes. But it's becoming ridiculous - we're getting to the point where these bikes cost as much as a good used car.
Two questions. What if there's a wall in 6ms? But can it run Crysis?
Cannondale is not the first. The first computerized bicycle shock was done in 1998 by K2 called the Smart Shock. It ran on 9v battery and used a peizoelectric valve.
this is retarded, its only possible for consistent terrine and would still fail if you have a dip or some unpredictable pot hole.
I fail how a sensor can see and adjust ahead as a human can... this is only good for consistent terrine that change... not unpredictable, and plus this would never work good for mountain bikes... and i dont bike
even if they had sensors that could scan ahead as they are doing for vehicles, this is quite unpredictable for a mountain bike
for something to do what a human does, there would have to be massive sensors that pretty much map out the terrain around you constantly and take into account the continues position of the bike.. then i could say something like this would work... but WHY? when you do this auto with your brain
Maybe this is just my road-biking oriented mentality, but how much does that thing weigh?
Cannondale makes awesome bikes. But it's becoming ridiculous - we're getting to the point where these bikes cost as much as a good used car.
...worth it IMO. I'm just pissed off that they dropped their freeride/dirt-jump/downhill mountain bikes for 2010. I just hope they make a big comeback in 2011 with some good revisions. Right now I own a Cannondale Chase and I'm just waiting for them to release the Chase Soft-tail (For non-bikers, right now I have a front-suspension only bike, the soft-tail is a short-travel dual-suspension bike with 70-80mm or 3" of travel for those really big drops and jumps)
About the cost though, I personally would have no problem dropping $4000-5000 on a new bike when the Chase Softail comes out. It's all about your priorities. I would rather have a REALLY REALLY nice bike for $4000 right now and keep it for 4 years, than have a $2000 PC right now and then another one in 2 years when this one can't max out the latest games. A sub-25lb (that is still strong) dirt jumper simply sounds way sexier to me than 60fps in _____________.
The suspension in the article could be VERY useful if they keep the weight down (under 4lbs for the XC forks and under 5.5lbs for the All-mountain forks) However, I think they could save money and keep the suspension simpler if they just made some tough, reliable suspension for Downhill bikes and added a remote compression adjuster/lock-out. Something like that would be GREAT for the straights and hole-shot, while allowing the rider to flick a switch to make the suspension plush for the actual trails/rock gardens.
Yeah, but for 200 year old + technology, they sure manage to improve the bikes every year, making you want to replace a perfectly good bike. I bought a hardtail Caad 2 bike in '95 and almost immediately, the softtails came out, which made me want to buy them. Except I couldn't justify tossing or selling my perfectly good bike. Then every few years, brake technology improves and again, another couple grand to replace a frame that won't take disc brakes. Kerplunk!
Yeah, but for 200 year old + technology, they sure manage to improve the bikes every year, making you want to replace a perfectly good bike. I bought a hardtail Caad 2 bike in '95 and almost immediately, the softtails came out, which made me want to buy them. Except I couldn't justify tossing or selling my perfectly good bike. Then every few years, brake technology improves and again, another couple grand to replace a frame that won't take disc brakes. Kerplunk!
You could say the same thing about any enthusiast level technology (cars, computers, bikes, boats, etc). If you want to have cutting edge stuff, you have to pay for it, repeatedly.
That's actually pretty cool.
Yeah, but for 200 year old + technology, they sure manage to improve the bikes every year, making you want to replace a perfectly good bike. I bought a hardtail Caad 2 bike in '95 and almost immediately, the softtails came out, which made me want to buy them. Except I couldn't justify tossing or selling my perfectly good bike. Then every few years, brake technology improves and again, another couple grand to replace a frame that won't take disc brakes. Kerplunk!
I actually don't like my disc brake. 0.o
I always have to readjust the cable, POS...
Hmm, I could go for a new bike. But then again, I could go for a car.
That's actually pretty cool.I actually don't like my disc brake. 0.oI always have to readjust the cable, POS...Hmm, I could go for a new bike. But then again, I could go for a car.
I have hydraulic disc brakes on my bike. No adjustments needed after about the first month (once the lines stretch).
Yeah, but for 200 year old + technology, they sure manage to improve the bikes every year, making you want to replace a perfectly good bike. I bought a hardtail Caad 2 bike in '95 and almost immediately, the softtails came out, which made me want to buy them. Except I couldn't justify tossing or selling my perfectly good bike. Then every few years, brake technology improves and again, another couple grand to replace a frame that won't take disc brakes. Kerplunk!
Frames don't evolve nearly as fast for dirtjump bikes though. In the last 3 years, frames have gotten probably 300-500 grams lighter, and the geometry has tightened up a little (shorter chainstays mostly) but other than that, there isn't much that would make me pay a premium for a 2010 frame now when my 2008 frame is still pretty good. Brakes and suspension, however... i guess you can say that they are constantly evolving and quite expensive ($150-300 for a brake and $500-1000 for a great fork). But let's say that hypothetically, I bought a Fox Float 36 fork in 2006, a 2006 or 2007 model. Now that the 2011s are coming out, I still do not believe that the old forks are obsolete simply because I paid SO MUCH for the first one. (Fox has mostly just gotten more reliable, not really much lighter though, since they were already light.)