FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sales Overview

How can I compare the bikes that interest me?

Our Kit Calculator system allows you to customize any of our bikes as extensively as you'd like. Go to the page of any of the bikes that interest you and click on the "Configure/Buy" icon. You can choose the size, color, and component gruppo that interest you. Click "Continue", and you'll be taken to our Kit Calculator where you can dial in your component choices. As you revise your choices, the weight total and the price of your bike are also revised.

Our Kit Calculator is designed to empower you to make educated decisions about your bike. Using it doesn't obligate you to purchase anything, but you have the option to submit an order directly from it if you so wish.

How is your complete bike pricing configured?

We encourage you to build your bike with all of the customization you desire. You can mix and match componentry to your heart's content.

As you go through our on-line bike buying process, you'll note that each component group has a default parts configuration. Our complete bike pricing is derived from this Standard Mounain Kit.

What are the advantages of our Standard Mountain Kit? Given that we're fortunate to sell a good number of beautiful mountain bikes every year, our parts suppliers are keen to earn our business. We leverage the competition among our suppliers to drive down our wholesale prices on the most popular componentry we sell, which in turn allows us to offer the lowest possible prices to you. Your final complete bike price is simply a function of the extent to which you choose (or choose not) to modify our Standard Mountain Kit. Given that it's loaded with the lightest, most durable, highest quality components made -- Shimano, SRAM, Race Face, Easton, Fi'zi:k, Mavic, and Hutchinson just to name a few -- many folks feel no need to make any substitutions to it whatsoever.

Will my frame be prepped?

Every frame that comes through our doors will be fully prepped at no additional charge. We chase/face the bottom bracket, we face the headtube, we hone the seat tube if necessary, and we chase the threads of the derailleur hanger and the water bottle bosses. We also check the alignment of the frame.

Will my bike be assembled?

When you purchase a complete bike from us, we assemble it at no additional charge. We prep the frame, and then build it with an extreme eye for detail. You can be assured that your bike is not being manhandled by some frustrated bike racing college kid who's doing time as a seasonal, minimum-wage employee. Rather, our staff of service personnel will treat your bike as though it's their own. Our level of commitment to an impeccable build of your bike is reflected in the number of bike industry certifications our service staff has received. Competitive Cyclist is not a sweatshop in which we "crank out" bike assembly. We take a patient approach to every bike we build -- combining our years of experience with your specific needs to deliver a bike that will shift crisply, brake solidly, stay in adjustment, and be ready to tackle the trails.

If your preference is to build your own bike, we welcome you to do so. We'll still prep your frame and check its alignment before shipping everything out to you. If you prefer to do your own build and you purchase a frameset and a complete component kit from us (this means everything except pedals, bottle cages, and computer -- with no other deletions), we will deduct $75 from the price of the bike. Please note, however, that once this $75 deduction is made, we will charge for any labor we perform on an item-by-item basis (i.e. installing a bottom bracket or installing headset cups).

Please note that Swobo bikes will require a small amount of assembly on arrival.

Watch our video below on How to Unpack Your New Bike:

 

Do you offer a military discount?

We're so close to the Little Rock Air Force Base that we can feel the rumbling of low-flying C-130's as they skim the roof of our warehouse. We've earned the business of scores of cyclists stationed at the LRAFB. And in the years we've been in business, we've been lucky enough to befriend members of the US military all across the globe. We're deeply grateful for their daily sacrifices in defending our freedom. We want to show our appreciation by offering a 10% discount everyday on every purchase for active duty members of the US military. The discount is valid whether you're stationed in the US or overseas. Proof of service will be required. Please note that our military discount cannot be combined with any other discount.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards -- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept Paypal, direct bank wire payments, and certified check payment.

If you're planning on using your debit card, please note that debit cards typically have a daily limit not exceeding $1000. Please discuss this limit with your card-issuing bank, as they will often give you a brief window to make a charge over this daily limit at your request.

Card-issuing banks are very eager to prevent fraud, and they oftentimes decline cards for your protection. As such, it assists us greatly in getting your bike out the door if you proactively call your card-issuing bank to inform them of the impending charge.

Please note that Paypal funds will be transferred on the same day you place your order.

How long will it take 'til I see my order?

If you're ordering a bike or a frameset, we strive to ship it within 5 business days after you've placed the order. Some times of the year it takes a bit longer, some times it takes a bit less. We can give you a rather reliable estimate when you place your order.

If you're ordering components, clothing, or accessories, we'll do our best to ship your order out the same day you place it. Depending on our shipping volume and other factors, though, it might take as long as 2 business days for such orders to ship.

If delivery of your order is time-sensitive, please let us know in the "Comments" section of our order form so we can do our best to live up to your expectations and coordinate with you in case there is a problem.

Do you accept international orders?

Absolutely yes. We strive to provide our international customers with the same quality of service for which we're so highly regarded here in the US. For non-oversized packages (i.e. almost everything except wheels, frames, and bikes) we ship internationally via the US Postal Service. For larger packages we ship via UPS. In addition, we must ship liquids and powders via UPS since USPS will not ship these.

Please note that you will inevitably have to pay duties, customs, taxes, etc, on your order once it arrives. Given that these costs vary based on your country of residence and the value of your order, we are unable to provide you with any information or estimates of these expenses. If you refuse a package due to sticker shock over the amount of these fees, you will be charged for both outgoing and incoming shipping fees, and you will also be responsible for any refused shipment charges.

We are unable to provide any currency conversion information, as your bank or credit card will have its own methodology for such a currency exchange. You can use websites such as XE.com to get a good guess as to current exchange rates.

We are sometimes asked to minimize the declared value of international shipments in order to minimize your exposure to duties, taxes, and customs. Please don't bother to ask. We will not comply with such requests for two reasons: (1) Governments scare us. Our belief is that lying to a government is something to be saved for special occasions. We don't do it as a regular business practice. (2) The insured value of an international shipment cannot exceed its declared value for customs.

If necessary, international callers can reach us at 00 1 5015370875. The only exception is Australian callers, who'll need to dial us at 0111 1 5015370875.

Do I have to pay sales tax?

Competitive Cyclist operates in the lovely state of Arkansas. If we are shipping your purchase to a destination outside of Arkansas, you won't be charged sales tax.

Do you match prices?

We do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. But if one of our competitors goes lower, we'll be more than happy to match their price. Keep in mind, though, that price-matching isn't always as simple as it appears. We like to make sure we're matching apples-to-apples when we compare prices. There can be great variance in the cost, for example, of an XTR-equipped Turner Flux based on the choice of bar, stem, wheels, seatpost, seat, etc. Our Standard Mountain Kit is loaded with the very highest end componentry. Some retailers choose to cut corners by using second-rate kit. When comparing prices, please make sure to keep an eye out for such details!

Do you offer price protection?

Yes we do. If you purchase a product from us, and we reduce the price of that item within 60 days of your purchase you are welcome to contact us and we will issue you a Competitive Cyclist gift card for the difference. This policy only applies if we have the same size and color of the item that you originally purchased in stock.

Please note that our Price Protection policy will not be applicable to promotional discounts. Promotional discounts are not applicable to previous purchases.

What is the warranty on my frame?

For all of our brands, the standard caveats about warranty coverage are applicable:

1. It is at the discretion of the manufacturer to repair or replace your frame as they see fit. It is also at the complete discretion of the manufacturer to determine whether your frame is warrantable or not.

2. You are responsible for all shipping and labor costs associated with warranty evaluation and warranty repair/replacement.

3. The warranty evaluation and repair/replacement process takes a bit of time. As much as we'd like to rush the process through as fast as we can, we're oftentimes at the mercy of the process. Please bear with us as the process runs its course.

BMC: Three year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike for carbon fiber frames and five year coverage for aluminum frames. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered.

Ibis: Three year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. Irreparably damaged frames can be replaced at a discounted cost through Ibis' No-Fault replacement program. You can activate the warranties for these frames on-line by clicking here.

Intense: Two year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. Irreparably damaged frames can be replaced at a discounted cost through Intense's crash replacement program. You can activate the warranties for these frames on-line by clicking here.

Santa Cruz: Two year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. Irreparably damaged frames can be replaced by the original owner at a discounted cost through the Santa Cruz Limited No-Fault Replacement program. You can activate the warranties for all Santa Cruz models on-line by clicking here.

Santa Cruz also guarantees all pivot bearings for life, on all bike models, to the original owner. They offer free replacements in exchange for proof-of-purchase AND your old bearings. This offer is retroactive for all customers with all models.

You must cover the cost to get your bearings to Santa Cruz, but they will pay to send replacement bearings to you. However, Santa Cruz Bicycles will not be liable for any labor costs involved in swapping out the bearings. If you want to get your new bearings fast, include a description of your frame (size, model and serial number) and how long you had your bearings. We suggest that you buy one propack (bearing/hardware) or bearing kit in advance to avoid down time, then send in the old bearings to start the cycle. Please mail your bearings to the following address:

Santa Cruz Bicycles
Attn: Bearing Replacement
104 Bronson Street #22
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Scott: Three year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike that can be extended to five years by adhering to a maintenance schedule as set forth in the owners manual - all work to be completed and documented by an authorized Scott dealer. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered.

Turner: Two year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. You can activate the warranties for these frames on-line by clicking here.

Ventana: Two year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. One year warranty coverage from paint and bearing defect.

Yeti: Two year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike (303 R DH and DJ). Five year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike (ARC, AS-R, AS-R 5, AS-R 5 Carbon, 575, and AS-R 7). One year warranty on all frame finishes. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. Irreparably damaged frames and parts can be replaced at a discounted cost through Yeti's No-Fault replacement program.

Can I backorder a frame or item that isn't in stock?

Backordering a frame is no different from placing an order for an in-stock frame. Simply call in your order or place it on-line. At the time of order placement we will authorize your credit card for the purchase, but we will not capture funds. We capture funds ONLY when your frameset or bike is ready to ship to you. (Please click here to read more on the difference between credit card authorization and capture).

Our customers tend to know what they want with great certainty and they're normally willing to wait as long as it takes for a frameset to arrive. You are welcome, however, to cancel your backorder at any time with no penalty to you. There is no re-stock fee or anything similar. You are in control of your order.

The only exception to this policy is the placement of a custom frame order. Just like a normal backorder, we will authorize your credit card in full upon placement of a custom frameset order. But unlike a stock frame backorder, we cannot and will not accept a cancellation of a custom frame. Once an order for a custom is placed, it is final.

Can I visit your store?

If you're ever passing through central Arkansas, we welcome you to visit the Competitive Cyclist HQ. We’re located just a few miles south of I-40, within a stone's throw of excellent road riding and singletrack. Our address is 5050 Northshore Lane in North Little Rock. (Click here for a map.) We're open from 10am-6pm Monday-Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturday. We encourage visitors & in-store shopping.

Take a video tour of our headquarters.

What are your hours of operation?

This is a question with 3 answers:

You can place an order on our website 24/7. We've worked really hard to provide content -- both text and photos -- that gives as much detail as possible about the products we sell. We describe products anticipating your questions, and we strive to be as thorough as possible on the web. If you have all the info you need, please feel free to place an order on the web anytime day or night.

In case you have questions, you're always welcome to email us. We strive to have staff members answer email on a quick basis 16 hours a day -- typically 6am-10pm CST. We confess this is our best method of communication, because it allows us to be the most thoughtful with our answers. If you send an email, you can be sure that you'll hear back from us very, very shortly.

If your preferred method to ask a question or make a purchase is via the telephone, we certainly welcome you to contact us this way. We answer our phones from 8am-6pm CST Monday-Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturday.

Is ordering on-line safe?

The information you give us stays at Competitive Cyclist. We maintain strict security over the information you give us and use it only in the following ways:

  1. To send you information you request and to update you on the status of that request.
  2. To monitor the traffic on our site to help us design the best, most efficient site we can.
  3. To occasionally send you free promotional materials.

We maintain your information in-house at Competitive Cyclist. If you want to remove your information from our database, call us at 1-888-276-7130 or email us at sales@competitivecyclist.com.

We have appropriate security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of information that we have collected from you so you can feel comfortable and secure when shopping. We use industry-standard encryption technologies when transferring and receiving your personal information. On the Internet, when you see either a solid key icon or a locked padlock icon at the lower portion of your browser window, this indicates that the site is secured through Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). If you do not see one of these icons when entering personal information, please contact us to complete your transaction over the phone by calling 1-888-276-7130.

Shipping Guidelines

What method of shipping do you use? What is the cost?

For domestic US shipments, we ship exclusively via UPS. We can ship either to your home or office -- in fact most folks prefer having us ship to their office, as there is always someone there to sign for the package. Please note that we instruct UPS to drop off all packages without a signature unless you request otherwise.

Customers who purchase complete bikes from us are (understandably) quite concerned about our ability to ship their bikes safely. We have designed a rather ingenious system for shipping bicycles that makes them nearly impervious to damage in transit. On very rare occasions, though, such damage can occur. Please note that if damage occurs to your bicycle in shipping, we must file the claim on our end. You MUST keep all original packaging.

Our customers frequently opt to purchase a Tri All 3 Sports Velo Safe case or a Sci-Con Aero Tech Evolution travel case when they order their bicycle. Both options are ideal for UPS shipping and airline travel. We sell dozens a year and haven't heard a story yet of bike damage inflicted in transit. You can find these in our Accessories section under the "Seat Bag/Travel Cases" tab.

We offer an alternative shipping service called the "Ready to Ride" service. Ready to Ride bikes are shipped in a custom box that allows us to send them 100% built and ready to ride. The box is sized 73" x 26" x 47", so every component will be in place, and nary a bolt will need to be turned before your first ride. Your handlebars will be centered and leveled. Your wheels, seatpost, and pedals will all be installed. You simply need to remove the bike from the box and off you go. Except for fine-tuning your seat position, there is no re-assembly or mechanical work required whatsoever. These bikes are shipped via UPS Freight. Click here for more information about our Ready to Ride service.

Given our central location in Little Rock, AR, transit time for your order rarely takes more than 4 business days. We'll be glad to provide you with your tracking number so you can go to UPS.com to determine your estimated day of delivery. Please keep in mind, though, that this is only an estimate. The only guarantee offered by UPS Ground is that your package will arrive within 7 business days from the day it was shipped. If transit time exceeds 7 days, you will be refunded your shipping costs. Please be advised that unforeseen delays can occur, and any orders cancelled due to such shipping delays are subject to a restocking fee as described in our Returns Policy.

Please note that UPS chooses to observe certain holidays but not others. On some holidays they deliver/pick up both ground and air packages, and on other holidays they only pick up air packages. There are holidays, too, when they take the day completely off. Due to the volume of orders we receive, we cannot individually notify our customers when they will experience a one-day delay in receiving an order due to UPS' observance of a holiday. You can review UPS' holiday delivery schedule by clicking here. If you have any questions regarding UPS' delivery schedules, please consult this schedule and/or ask us for additional information before/while placing your order in order to avoid an easily preventable disappointment.

Once we ship your bike, an automated e-mail will be sent to you. The sender will be "ship-confirm@competitivecyclist.com". This e-mail will contain your UPS tracking number for your bike. Keep your eyes peeled for this e-mail, and you can watch as your bike makes its way to your front door by tracking it at ups.com.

Can you Express ship my bike to me?

The short answer is "yes". The long answer, though, is that you don't want to. The box we use to ship bikes is 44"x30"x11". A box of this size is weighed by what is known as "dimensional weight" -- in other words, UPS doesn't weigh the box, they measure its girth and charge their fees accordingly. A bike box is charged as though it is an 88 lb. package. A UPS Express shipment of a bike will cost somewhere between $140-$200 based on your location.

Can you ship to an APO box?

Shipping to an APO is not a problem, we do it all the time. The USPS, though, has very strict package size limitations that come into play if we're shipping a complete bike. Complete bikes will have to be shipped in two boxes -- one with the frameset and parts, one with the wheelset. The shipping charge for a complete bike to an APO is $210. The shipping charge for a frameset alone or a wheelset alone to an APO is $49.95. The shipping charge for products smaller than these will be the current USPS Priority Mail rate.

Returns & Cancellations

What is your NQA Returns/Exchange policy?

We call it our "NQA Returns Policy", as in No Questions Asked. Buy something and if it falls short of your expectations in any way, just send it back. This policy is good for 60 days after you receive a product, and it has virtually no restrictions. Bikes, clothes, components, and stuff on sale. No Questions Asked, and no fine print. We want you to be happy, simple as that.

The only exceptions to our NQA policy are special order items and custom frames (i.e. frames with non-stock paint or custom geometry).

Our address for returns and exchanges is:

Competitive Cyclist
Attn: Exchange/Returns Dept.
5050 Northshore Lane
North Little Rock, AR 72118

If you'd like to make an exchange, you can do so in either of 2 ways:

A. You can place another order on-line for the replacement items. You will be billed for these items. You can then ship us the items you don't want from your original order, and upon delivery of them here we will credit you for those items. Please use the returns form on the back of your receipt and include a copy of it with your return shipment.

B. You can ship us the items you'd like to exchange. Please include a copy of your receipt and write instructions detailing the exchange (i.e. "These Medium Assos shorts are too tight, exchange for size Large", etc.) Upon receiving your original items we'll issue a credit within 1 business day. Your replacement items will ship out within 1 business day and will be charged as a separate transaction. (We mention this detail for one reason: Our experience is that some card issuing banks are a bit slower in issuing credits to your account than they are in debiting it. As such, two charges might appear on your account for a brief period of time while your card-issuing bank goes through the credit-issuing process.)

If you'd like to make a return, please ship the items to the address above and include a copy of your receipt. We'll issue a refund to the credit card you used for the original purchase within 1 business day.

What happens to my credit card when I place an order on-line?

A credit card transaction has two steps:

(1) Authorization. When you place an order on-line, the full dollar total of your order is "authorized" on your credit card. Authorization is the process of checking for adequate funds in your credit card or bank account. A positive authorization reduces your available balance and reserves the funds for capture. Please note that an authorization does not actually deduct funds from your account.

(2) Capture. A "capture" is the process of converting an authorized transaction amount into a transaction that is debited from your credit card or bank account. In effect, a capture is our request to finalize the transaction. We can only capture authorized transactions, and it cannot exceed the authorized amount.

Our general practice is to capture funds only when your order is ready to ship out. Nevertheless, submitting your credit card information to us constitutes order placement. Once an order is placed, we reserve the right to capture funds in full. Given the fact that there is anywhere from a 3-10 day lead time on the shipment of built bikes, and anywhere from a 1-3 day lead time on accessory, component, and apparel orders, this means that we may capture funds in advance of shipping your goods.

Please note that if you check your credit card activity on-line, you will see authorized, but non-captured, transactions on your statement. These transactions will possibly be noted as "Pre-Authorized" or a "POS Purchase". However, some credit card companies do not distinguish between authorized and captured transactions. This being the case, the amount that appears to be debited to your account may in certain circumstances appear on your statement as an amount different from that of the final captured amount.

We have serious respect for the sanctity of your credit card and bank accounts. We greatly appreciate the trust you implicitly place in Competitive Cyclist by making a purchase with us. If you'd like further clarification of our credit card policies or of the basic definitions of e-commerce we've provided above, please feel free to contact us.

Technical Overview

Do you offer in-person fitting services?

The precision and the thoroughness of our Fit Calculator should reflect the seriousness with which we approach bike fit. And while our Fit Calculator can provide some excellent sizing guidelines, an in-person fit is best for revealing your body's quirks and all-but-guarantees that you'll learn what frame geometry will best suit your body.

We're glad to provide in-person fittings. Our staff has many years and thousands of fitting experiences on which to draw from. We fit bikes to riders that range from beginner to pro. We'll first do a physiological profile, including flexibility tests then (if possible) look at your position on your current bike, and lastly we can use our Retul 3D motion capture tool to analyze the synergy of you and your bike. The Retul motion capture system is the most advanced method of assessing biomechanics in 3D space.

A Retul fitting is $350. You can contact us by phone, or e-mail us at fit@competitivecyclist.com. to arrange an appointment. Conventional in-person fittings that do not include Retul 3D motion capture are included with each bike purchase.

What travel/model fork do you recommend for my frame?

Frames are designed with a specific amount of travel in mind -- in most cases, hardtail frames being one exception, the choice in fork will balance the travel of the bikes rear. That is, if you are riding a frame with 100mm travel in the rear, it is likely that the recommended fork is also 100mm. Should you not abide by the manufacturers specifications, you are effectively changing the intended handling characteristics, not just in terms of travel, but head angle, wheelbase, etc. These are the recommended ranges for front suspension for our manufacturers' frames:

BMC:
Fourstroke 01 - 100-120mm
Speedfox 01 - 110-140mm
Trailfox 02 - 110-140mm

Ibis:
Mojo Carbon - 140-160mm
Mojo SL Carbon - 140-160mm
Tranny Carbon - 100-120mm

Intense:
Spider 2 - 120-140mm
Tracer VP - 140-160mm
Uzzi VP - 160mm-180mm
SS Slopestyle - 160-180mm
951 FRO - 180-200mm
Tazer VP - 100mm

Santa Cruz:
Chameleon - 120-160mm
Superlight - 100-125mm
Juliana - 100-125mm
Heckler - 140-170mm
Bullit - 160-203mm
Blur XC - 80-105mm
Blur XC Carbon - 100-120mm
Blur LT - 140-160mm
Nomad - 160-180mm
V-10 - 180-200mm

Scott:
Genius 10 - 150mm
Scale 10 - 100mm
Scale 29 - 100mm
Spark RC - 120mm

Turner:
Flux - 100-120mm
Sultan -100-120mm
5 Spot - 140-160mm
RFX - 160-180mm
DHR - 180-200mm

Ventana:
El Saltamontes - 100-120mm
X-5 - 120-140mm
El Ciclon - 140mm
El Rey - 80mm
El Comandante - 80-100mm
El Chiquillo - 80mm
El Padrino - 80-100mm
El Toro - 80mm

Yeti:
ARC - 100-120mm
AS-R - 100-120mm
AS-R 5 - 120-140mm
AS-R 5 Carbon - 120-140mm
575 Carbon - 140-160mm
AS-R 7 - 160-180mm
303R DH - 180-200mm
DJ - 100mm

What is a FIT Cartridge?

We know that when you find out that FIT stands for Fox Isolated Technology, you feel no smarter. We feel the same. The term "isolated" is representative of the fact that the oil in the damper is sealed inside a cartridge, which means less oil volume is needed, which means the fork is lighter. It also means that since it is inside the inside, it is even less prone to leakage. And sealed also means that the oil won't mix with air when it's hard at work, which could change the viscosity of the oil.

And, when you read that it has been "redesigned" you're no smarter, either. "Re-designed" means that Fox went back to the drawing board and figured out a way to make the range of damping basically twice as wide as it was before. So, now it goes from totally active to almost totally rigid with one adjustment on one fork, encompassing both the old ProTune and TrailTune. That way, the same fork that holds its place on hardpack when jamming out of the saddle can also be the squish-meister when you want a ride that's the smoothest side of plush.

What is a Horst Link?

The "Horst Link" is a term for a four-bar rear suspension which attaches the rear axle to the seatstay instead of the swingarm. Horst Leitner, the link's namesake, discovered that this design separates braking and pedaling forces from the rear suspension. Instead of chain tension and braking, causing "brake jack" or pedal "kick back", the Horst link allows the wheel to move freely in a vertical path. In fact, the Horst link will cycle up and down with the rear tire locked nearly as well as it will when it is rolling, because the axle is on the seatstay and the seatstay is "decoupled" from the suspension. A Horst link design is often referred to as a "fully active" system, meaning it's free to compress and rebound at all times, both when the rider is in the saddle and standing up. Not only is the suspension independent from chain forces under pedaling loads, but it allows you to maintain an efficient pedal stroke since the suspension action has no effect on it.

What is dw-link?

dw-link is anti-squat, optimized. Anti-squat isn't some made up marketing term -- it's real physics. When you're shredding the singletrack, your mass is supported as a load at the bicycle's tires. When the bicycle accelerates, more of the rider's center of mass moves rearward, and the load at the rear wheel increases, creating an unbalanced suspension. Anti-squat is the force that dw-link carefully manipulates to counteract that load transfer and keep the suspension in balance. The dw-link is the most balanced suspension used in bicycles today, and a balanced suspension system delivers the most traction, efficiency, and acceleration possible.

Dave Weagle (the dw of the dw-link) has worked to manipulate the anti-squat curve and all other suspension parameters to his partners realize their ultimate vision for suspension bikes. dw-link deals with acceleration in a smarter fashion than any other suspension design because it focuses on, and optimizes, anti-squat in addition to braking squat, wheel rate, pedal feedback, and leverage ratio. Many other designs counteract inherent squat through increased compression damping -- however, when you aren't accelerating (coasting), you're overdamped, effectively muting small bump sensitivity and reducing traction.

dw-link bikes accelerate without compromise and their traction will astound -- all without sacrificing one iota of small bump sensitivity. The dw-link's simplicity is elegant, if there's a load transfer, dw-link counteracts it. If there's no load transfer, dw-link does nothing. There is no compromise. dw-link is like the smartest and best performing pro-pedal lever ever made.

What is VPP?

Take a look at the swingarm of a VPP frame like the Intense and note the dual pivot coupling at its main pivot point. This coupling allows the two adjoining pivots to rotate around each other as the suspension compresses, which causes the rear axle to follow a backwards S-path distinctly dissimilar to the vertical path taken by a traditional 4-bar linkage. This helps give a VPP bike the same level of "activeness" as a 4-bar, but it does so while causing pedaling forces to drive the rear wheel downward rather than up. On most full suspension designs, pedaling forces result in unwanted suspension compression. The VPP's link configuration and axle path counteract this tendency towards compression without limiting or deterring bump absorption. Provided that you take the time to calibrate your sag, a VPP bike provides truly active suspension, meaning the suspension compresses and extends with rises and dips in the trail. You'll ride in a suspended "pocket" with ample positive and negative travel available to maintain traction and momentum in all trail conditions, even while pedaling.

What is a single pivot design?

A single pivot suspension is one which has a swingarm which has only one main pivot point. Because it is attached to the end of the swingarm, the path of the rear wheel is an arc around the main pivot, much like pressing the point of a pencil as it lays on a desk, causing the eraser end to rise.

What is ICT?

ICT is a patented concept around which most Ellsworth frames are designed, allowing Ellsworth engineers to create an extremely efficient suspension design. ICT aligns the Instant Center on the chain torque line, so a rider’s pedaling motion won't activate the suspension. To understand why, you must first understand the following three items:

1) Instant Center (IC) -- The IC is the point at which the suspension is balanced at any specific point in the suspension cycle. At that instant, forces are neither working downward nor upward. As a suspension moves through its cycle, so does the IC. The IC is located at the intersection of two imaginary linkage lines: in the case of an Ellsworth suspension frame, the first line is drawn from the Horst pivot through the BB pivot into infinity in front of the bike; the second line is drawn from the rear rocker pivot through the seat tube pivot out into infinity in front of the bike.

2) Chain Torque Line (CTL) -- The CTL is an imaginary line that follows the chain from the top of the middle cog on a cassette over the top of the middle chainring on the crank out into infinity in front of the bike. As the name suggests, this is the line at which the rider is placing torque on the chain.

3) The Intersection -- When the IC and CTL consistently intersect or track the cycle of the suspension, this is the Ellsworth patented zone known as ICT. Because these lines intersect, the chain torque has no effect on the suspension through its cycle. Thus, rider’s pedaling motion does not activate the suspension

What is "trail"?

Illustration of the definition of Trail and OffsetJust the nomenclature of this term lends itself to confusion, but it is one of the more important measurements that help to determine how a bike handles. The measurement is distance between the following two points: 1/ the exact center of the contact patch where the front tire meets the ground. This is found by drawing an imaginary line through the hub center perpendicular with the ground; 2/ the point where the steering axis intercepts the ground, found by drawing another imaginary line through the steering axis until it intersects with the ground.

Generally speaking, the shorter the trail measurement is, the lighter/quicker the steering. Conversely, the longer the trail measurement is, the slower the steering. While one isn't necessarily better than the other, it illustrates the effects that fork selection might have on the performance of a given frame. For example, by choosing a fork with a larger offset measurement than your current fork (assuming axle-to-crown measurement remains the same), the trail measurement becomes smaller, causing your bike handle quicker.

Looking at our diagram to the right, you'll notice that the head angle of the frame, and the fork offset will have dramatic effects on the trail measurement.

What is "offset"?

The distance between the hub center and steering axis at the front of a bicycle. This is sometimes referred to as "rake."

What is damping?

The process of absorbing the energy of impacts transmitted through the fork or rear shock on the compression stroke, and the process of absorbing the energy of the spring on the rebound stroke.

What is sag?

Sag is a measure of the suspension compression when a rider is in a neutral position - like sitting on the bike at rest or riding on smooth pavement. Depending on the bike and the rider, Sag will be roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of the way into the travel of the suspension.

What is the International Standard Chain Guides Mount (ISCG)?

The ISCG mount is the three tabs you often see around the drive side of the bottom brackets on many free ride and downhill bikes. By hard mounting chain guides to these tabs, setup is simplified and spacing and twisting issues are virtually eliminated.

Why measure mountain bikes in inches?

As mountain biking was born in the “metric-phobic” United States of America, it is only natural that most everything appears in inches.

How do I tune my suspension?

When you purchase a bike from Competitive Cyclist, please be sure to provide your weight, and we will set up your fork to manufacturer specifications for you. As each person prefers a slightly different feel to his/ her shock, we'll leave the fine tuning up to you. To make life easier, we've provided links to each of the manufacturers' websites to make downloading tuning tips and manuals easy as well as videos demonstrating how to set-up your Fox RP23 Shock or 32 series fork:

Fox - See quick set-up videos below!
Manitou
Magura
Marzocchi
Rock Shox
Romic
White Bothers

RP23 Shock Set Up: Correct set up for your RP23 shock is essential to get the best ride out of your new frame. Follow these basic steps and hit the trails!

If you are seeing this message you either have javascript disabled or do not have a browser with flash installed or a recent enough version of flash installed. To get the latest flash go here.

Fox 32 RLC Fork Set Up: Following these steps to get your fork ready to ride and familiarize yourself with the fine tuning adjustment on your new fork.

If you are seeing this message you either have javascript disabled or do not have a browser with flash installed or a recent enough version of flash installed. To get the latest flash go here.

What maintenance is required on my Turner pivots?

Turner pivots are engineered to provide long life with easy maintenance. Each pivot is fitted with a custom made seal to help prevent contamination inside the bushing and pivot shaft surface. Turner has a grease port on each of its five pivots allowing you to grease without disassembling the bike.

Suspension Glossary

All Travel - Rock Shox forks using All-Travel are able to change their travel with the use of a spacer.

AVA (Air Volume Adjustable Spring) - Because not everyone wants the same spring rate, Fox uses an adjustable volume air canister to tune the suspension to both the rider and the terrain. When the canister is fully open, the shock provides a linear, coil-like spring rate. Conversely, when the AVA adjustment is screwed down, compressing the volume, the spring rate becomes progressive, resistant to bottoming out.

Boost Valve - Featured only in Fox's DHX shock, Boost Valve allows pedal platform adjustments between the efficient ProPedal, fantastic square edge bump absorption, and the feel of a bottomless shock stroke. This can be done separate from your bottom out setting by either twisting a knob or using a hex tool.

Climb-It Control - Climb-It Control is an on-the-fly compression adjuster with lockout mounted to the top of the fork leg featured on the Rock Shox SID Team and SID World Cup Forks.

DOHC - Dual-OverHead-Cam refers to the lever on Fox rear shocks like the Float RP3 which allows the rider to adjust the ProPedal and Rebound on the fly.

Doppio Air - Marzocchi's Doppio Air is a positive and negative air spring system that is tunable for riders of all sizes. Each valve has an external adjuster to make the fork more plush or firm at the top of its stroke. An air valve at the bottom of the system allows riders to adjust the progression of the shock, increasing the bottom out resistance.

Dual Air - This Rock Shox technology offers an infinitely adjustable spring curve. Positive air pressure is used to support the rider’s weight and control bottoming force. Negative air pressure is used to control the ride characteristic. Increase negative air pressure for a ride that’s supple and active over small bumps (with no change to bottom out force). In addition, by changing the position of spacers internally, the travel of Dual Air forks can be changed.

ECC5 - Marzocchi's Extension Control Cartidge limits the fork extension with a 5 click control -- the fifth click locks out the rebound and the fork stays in a compressed position. As it virtually eliminates the climbing wheelie syndrome, the 5th click puts the rider in a more desirable hill climbing position. The middle settings are great for rocky climbs where some suspension action is desired without the excessive "bob".

ETA - Marzocchi's Extension Travel Adjustment allows the fork to stay locked in the compressed position and still deliver 30mm of travel. Ideal for climbing, this setting drops the front end of the bike providing superior traction. Thinking about ripping up a fire road, rocking the bike -- all the while without any "bob".

Evil Genius Seals - Manitou's Evil Genius Seals decrease stiction and help retain the fork's semi-bath lubricant, essential to the durability of the fork.

Floodgate - Floodgate is one of two adjustments within Rock Shox Motion Control. The first adjustment activates the compression circuit -- on or off. The second adjustment (Floodgate) tunes the amount of compression damping, once the aforementioned circuit is turned on. So with the circuit shut off, there is no compression damping. With the circuit activated and Floodgate backed off (away from the plus sign), the fork is slightly damped during the compression stroke. With the circuit activated, Floodgate increased (toward the plus sign), the compression damping is increased. Once the floodgate is fully activated (turned completely toward the plus sign), the fork is in its "locked" position. To be clear, the lock on Motion Control is a little different than the Pure Damping, in that it still has a little movement, even when the lock is fully adjusted -- ideal for small bumps during climbs or sprints. But, it's not so much travel that your pedaling efficiency is robbed.

Fluid Flow Damping - Similar to the TPC Damping system, Manitou's Fluid Flow is a twin piston design, with separate rebound and compression damping pistons. FFD uses a piston and ring design and has adjustable rebound. This can be found on Skareb, Axel and Stance forks.

Hex-Lock Thru Axle - A Manitou proprietary hex axle locks the lower fork legs in place, providing essential tortional stiffness. On the Sherman fork, replaceable screw inserts eliminate the possibility of damaging the fork's casting.

HSCV - High Speed Compression Valve damping by Marzocchi utilizes a series of wafer thin shims that regulate the flow of oil through the bottom of the cartridge. The shims flex as the fork compresses taking into account impact, speed, force and rider weight, instantly dialing in the compression damping. HSCV is the choice of many top riders largely because of its ability eliminate bottoming out and help the rider maintain control. It is found on most of Marzocchi's high end cartridge style forks.

Infinite Travel (IT) Adjust - This lightweight IT system by Manitou works by transferring air between the positive and negative air chambers when a handlebar mounted travel adjust lever is depressed. This allows the fork to be set anywhere in its travel range without changing the spring rate. This is ideal for rides on varying terrain and climbing situations, allowing the rider to lower the front end of the bike and still have a small amount of travel to handle the bumps. IT can be found on Black, Skareb, Minute and Nixon forks.

Integration - To further improve the function, reliability, and upgrade potential of the Motion Control Damping system, Rock Shox provides all Reba and Pike forks with cable stops integrated into the crown to accommodate the PopLoc Remote and PopLoc Adjust Remote.

Maxle - The Rock Shox Maxle is a quick release 20mm axle that provides incredible torsional stiffness. With the Maxle system, the axle is first threaded into the lower leg (with the quick release mechanism open). Once secured, the quick release lever is closed. By closing the quick release lever, expansion wedges are driven into the axle, causing the axle to expand against the lower leg.

Motion Control Damping - New for 2005, Rock Shox introduces a super light damping system that is highly tunable. Riders are given the ability to control the fork's Floodgate blow off, Compression, Rebound, and with the PopLoc remote can lock or open the system on the fly.

Onepointfive Interface Standard - The increased onepointfive inch interface standard for headset, cups, stem, and steerer tube diameter improves strength, control, steering precision and durability. With onepointfive, designs are now possible that are 44% stronger and 138% stiffer at a similar weight to 1 1/8" designs. Ideal for extreme freeride bikes, onepointfive allows for the existence of a lightweight single crown fork with up to 170mm of travel. Onepointfive is featured on Sherman Breakout Plus.

PopLoc - PopLoc is a handlebar mounted lockout by Rock Shox that allows the user to rapidly switch between ‘Open’ and ‘Lock’ suspension settings. It features an ‘Instant Off’ feature, which returns the fork to an open and active setting with the touch of a button.

PopLoc Adjust - The Rock Shox PopLoc Adjust is a premium handlebar mounted lockout that allows the user to rapidly switch between ‘Open’ and ‘Lock’ suspension settings and control compression settings with a twist of the blue dial. It features an ‘Instant Off’ feature, which returns the fork to an open and active setting with the touch of a button.

ProPedal - is Fox technology that is able to differentiate between low speed and high speed bumps. By helping to stabilize the bike during low speed compression, Fox all but removes rider induced "bob" without sacrificing mid-to-high speed damping.

Pure Damping - Rock Shox Pure Damping is a dual piston design with an internal floating piston (IFP) allowing independent adjustment of rebound and compression, which in turn, includes the Climb-It Control Lock Out.

Pure Delight Damping - Rock Shox Pure DeLite Damping uses a single piston chamber with an adjustable IFP pressure. By changing the IFP pressure, the fork's damping threshold is changed.

RA (Reverse Arch) Casting - Reverse Arch Castings provides tortional stiffness to the Manitou's forks due to increased arch wrap in key areas. This allows for a shorter, stiffer and lighter arch, producing improved steering.

Rapid Travel II - Rapid Travel II allows the rider to change the fork's travel by 40mm with the flip of a top-mounted external switch. This can be found on the Manitou Sherman fork.

RLO TPC Remote Lockout - The TPC remote lockout upgrade is a remote push lever mounted on the bar (for left or right mount).

RTWD - Rapid Travel Wind Down is a Manitou top-mounted coil spring travel adjust allowing the rider to change the fork's travel by up to 30mm without changing the spring rate. RTWD is featured on Axel, Splice, Black, Minute, Nixon and Stance forks.

SPV Damping - Manitou's Stable Platform Valve is the original platform damping valve. It features an externally adjustable pedaling platform, adjustable damping progressiveness, and a stabilizing valve for bump control -- enhancing a bike's cornering and climbing abilities. Because SPV is able to determine the difference between high frequency and low frequency bumps, it effectively does the thinking for the rider by eliminating unwanted suspension movement, and thus, the need for any sort of lockout device. SPV is available on Swinger Shocks.

SPV Evolve - SPV Evolve is the latest edition of Manitou's industry revolutionizing SPV technology. While still providing a stable platform, SPV Evolve differs from standard SPV in three ways:

1. It utilizes Teflon piston rings rather than standard "O" rings in the SPV assembly to help the damper initiate more easily.
2. It features a small bleed-by circuit which helps the suspension initiate more quickly off of the platform.
3. While 35psi is still the minimum SPV pressure you should run in your forks, SPV Evolve's 35psi yields less platform (more plushness) than standard SPV's 35psi. This way you can set up your fork with as much or as little platform as you prefer.

SPV Evolve is available on Sherman, Nixon, Minute, Black and Skareb forks.

SSV - Marzocchi's Speed Sensitive Valving uses five damping circuits to deliver unparalleled consistent damping. Each of the valves allows varying amounts of oil to flow through the system depending on the force and the speed of the given impact. SSV is configured two ways in Marzocchi's front forks: (1) as a non-adjustable SSV system, or (2) as an SSV system with internal rebound adjustment. Rebound is adjusted by removing the top cap and inserting a hex wrench to allow more or less oil to flow through the system.

SSVF - Marzocchi's Speed Sensitive Valve Floating utilizes a floating valve that initially allows oil to flow without resistance to provide greater small bump sensitivity. As the bumps get larger, oil flow increases in both volume and speed, which closes the floating valve. This creates more oil flow resistance and thus, more damping performance.

TALAS - Fox's Travel Adjustable Linear Air Spring can be adjusted with a simple turn of a cap on the top of the left fork leg. TALAS is a separate air chamber controlled by an independent floating piston creating a linear spring rate like that of a coil. Spring rate adjusts automatically as you adjust the travel setting -- spring rate increases in shorter travel settings for better bottom out resistance, while it decreases in longer travel settings for more active performance. All the while, the initial air pressure setting remains static. TALAS is available on the fork of the same name or the "36."

TAS - Travel Adjustment System offers riders a 20mm travel adjustment by simply flipping an external adjuster on their Marzocchi fork. This can be used to fine tune the ride height or balance the rear suspension. This can be found on all SL fork models.

Terralogic - Fox's smart lockout system. You may also hear people refer to it as an inertia valve or platform valving. Fox's Terralogic does the thinking for you, locking itself out on the flats, yet maintaining a fully active personality in the rough. Terralogic is fully tunable and is found on the F80X and F100X forks.

TPC Damping - Manitou's Twin Piston Chamber damping is a low pressure, high oil volume system featuring independent damping pistons - one for rebound, the other for compression. Each piston features independent adjustability allowing the rider to tune with respect to his/ her riding style. TPC Damping can be found on Nixon and Sherman forks.

TPC Lockout - Utilizing similar technology to the TPC damping system, Manitou's TPC Lockout has one piston optimized for rebound, but instead uses the other piston for compression/ lockout. The external Quick Range damping adjustment takes the rider from minimum to maximum damping in just a half-turn of the knob. Push it just a bit further, and you engage the lockout. TPC Lockout can be found on Black, Skareb, Axel and Splice forks.

TPC+ Position Activated Damping - Manitou's TPC+ Damping features a three piston design - the first two, like its TPC and TPC Lockout brethren, are earmarked for rebound damping and compression damping respectively. TPC+ adds a third piston to automatically change damping according to the fork's position in its travel. This position activated damping provides initial low-resistance for small bump sensitivity and adds more damping through the progression of the fork’s stroke to resist bottoming. Manitou also uses a low pressure, high oil volume system to help prevent cavitation and heat related problems. This is found only on Dorado and Stance model forks.

TST - Marzocchi's Terrain Selection Technology controls the compression damper settings. These settings can be dialed in to specific terrain by turning the top mounted knob between the high and low speed compression settings. This technology can be found on the Marathon Race, XC, SL, All Mountain SL and All Mountain 1 forks.

U-Turn Air - The Rock Shox U-Turn Air external travel adjust system allows the rider to adjust both travel and spring rate simultaneously with the turn of a knob. As travel is changed, the low speed air volume decreases slightly. This minimizes adjustment force. Higher speed input causes a “choke” at the secondary air piston, reducing volume size for appropriate bottom out force.

U-Turn Coil - The U-Turn external travel adjust system by Rock Shox allows the rider to adjust both travel and spring rate simultaneously with the turn of a knob. As the knob turns, a helix moves up and down the coil spring limiting or expanding travel.