Full Suspension in winter?

[SloMoJo]

What are the chances for damaging shocks in below freezing conditions?

Reason I'm asking is...
I have a that Titus FS frame, and I was planning to wait until spring to ride it and just stick with the KHS for the winter.

My back is a little soar after yesterday's ride, which makes me anxious to try the new frame.

The FS frame has the air shock in back and that Manitou oil\elastomer shock up front.

You see where I'm going here. I see many folks riding their FS bikes in winter, and I'm wonder if any risk for problems?

[MMcG]

SloMo,

Is the Locomoto build up complete?? If so, you gotta post some photos!

I bet you are jonesin to ride that rig. At least once even though the weather is crappy!

Please post some pics to the list when you can so I can live vicariously through your rig for a little bit at least! ;D

Cheers,

Mark

[AA]

This is my 3rd year riding my fs rig in the winter (fox float air shock). Aside from the cold making the air shock squishy I dont think that there is any risk of damage. I do know that in some shocks the cold can make the seals shrink and you can experience air loss that way. I believe that PK had that happen on a Fox fork he was testing. I say ride the new bike, it's going to be a long winter.

AA

[SloMoJo]

Thanks guys.
Will do then.

Sorry Mark, I still have not done a thing with the new frame yet. Too busy fixing all the breakage on the KHS!

I'll start to put some time into getting the FS rig together.
Cheers

[Adam]

Life's too short not to ride your FS rig in the winter!
I have 2 winters in on my Tracer frame & haven't had any weather-induced issues so far. The key is keeping it clean & lubed between rides. I also periodically re-greased my bottom bracket & headset when riding in extreme (muddy/snowy/salty) environments. The only day-to-day thing I noticed is that wax-based chain lubes don't work that well when it's cold, wet, and muddy. I change to a wet, teflon based lube in the winter.
-Adam

[gungywump]

You may need to add a little air pressure to your rear shock once it has acclimated to the outside air temperature.
The elastomers in your fork however are likely to get harder in cold weather and can even shrink slightly causing a loose headset like, freeplay feeling.
Just remember "Cold causes shrinkage!"

[johnbryanpeters]

I'm on my third winter with coil and oil dualies and have not had a failure that I was willing to attribute to weather.

J

[radair]

To echo what these guys have been saying - ride it. At least 5 winters with a combination of air & oil shocks, no real problems. And like Adam, I change to an oil-based lube in winter.

Stay out of the salty snowbanks on the side of the road, salt is bad for everything on a bike.

[SloMoJo]

Good deal!
Thanks guys.

I'll get crackin and build this thing then.

[AGENTGRAPE]

to be a broken record ride the f/s i the winter spring summer fall i ride both of mine all year. when the ground is frozen like rippled concrete a f/s is worth its weight in xtr parts. i have never had any cold related problems. i also clean my bikes after every ride and lube moving parts.

[C.P.]

I must have the worst luck, (those Sinister Ridge frames are looking better every day - I'm sick of the (shock) problems I'm having with FS.)
Last winter I blew the fox float R/C two times on my 01 SantaCruz Superlight, and both times it was at most 20degrees F.
I thought it was b/c I was a big guy - 218lbs - afterall I was pushing the envelope with that frame anyways(I've since sold that bike)
Now I'm a little suspect that it was the cold ???, and not my weight. Last night (it was no more than 20 degrees) I blew the rebound on the Progressive Technologies 5th Element Shock that came with my new Santa Cruz Heckler...oil all over the place by the end of the ride >:(. Now I'm confused and frustrated to say the least. Any shop mechanics out there have any insight?? (its already in a box waiting for my RMA for warranty)...bummer. :'(