FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sales Overview

Shipping Guidelines

Returns & Cancellations

Technical Overview

Sales Overview

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 gruppo has a default parts configuration. Our complete bike pricing is derived from this Standard Build Kit.

What are the advantages of our Standard Build Kit? Given that we're fortunate to sell a good number of beautiful 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 Build Kit. Given that it's loaded with the lightest, most durable, highest quality components made -- SRAM, Thomson, Easton, Selle Italia, Mavic, Hutchinson, and Vittoria just to name a few -- many folks feel no needs to make any substitutions to it whatsoever.

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.

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 look as though it's ready for a parade lap around the Champs Elysées.

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

Please install Adobe Flash.

Do you offer a military discount?

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 until I see my order?

If you're ordering a bike or a frameset, we strive to ship it within 2-5 business days after you've placed the order. Depending on the season, it takes a bit longer, sometimes it takes a bit less. We will always ensure and stand behind our quality, so in some instances this could mean an extra day or two for the build. We can give you a rather reliable estimate when you place your order.

If you're ordering components, clothing, or accessories, we'll ship your order the same day you place it provided the items are in stock.

If delivery of your order is time-sensitive, please let us know in the "Comments" section of your order 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 1 801 736 6396. The only exception is Australian callers, who'll need to dial us at 0111 1 801 736 6396.

Note: For a list of brands we cannot ship outside the U.S., please click here.

Do I have to pay sales tax?

Utah: If you live in Utah, you will be charged sales tax if you are shopping in our Retail Store or Shipping an order to a Utah address.

Arkansas: If you live in Arkansas, you will be charged sales tax if you are shipping an order to an Arkansas address.

Virginia: If you live in Virginia, you will be charged sales tax if you are shipping an order to a Virginia address.

Colorado: We are not required to collect Colorado sales taxes on your purchase from this website. However, beginning March 1, 2010 we are required to notify you, as a Colorado purchaser, that your purchase from this website may require you to file a sales or use tax return and pay the appropriate sales or use tax directly to the State of Colorado. The application of sales or use tax to your purchase may depend upon the type of product that you purchased and your status as a taxpayer. Please consult a tax professional or the Colorado Department of Revenue if you have questions.

Oklahoma: We are not required to collect Oklahoma sales tax on your purchase from this website. However, beginning October 1, 2010 we are required to notify you, as an Oklahoma purchaser, your purchase from this website is subject to Oklahoma use tax unless it is specifically exempt from taxation. The tax may be reported and paid on the Oklahoma individual income tax return [Form 511] or by filing a consumer use tax return. [Form 21-1]. The referenced forms and corresponding instructions are available on the Oklahoma Tax Commission website, available here.

South Dakota: We are not required to collect South Dakota sales taxes on your purchase from this website. However, beginning July 1, 2011 we are required to notify you, as a South Dakota purchaser, that your purchase from this website may require you to file a sales or use tax return and pay the appropriate sales or use tax directly to the State of South Dakota. The application of sales or use tax to your purchase may depend upon the type of product that you purchased and your status as a taxpayer. Please consult a tax professional or the South Dakota Department of Revenue if you have questions.

Vermont: We are not required to collect Vermont sales taxes on your purchase from this website. However, beginning July 1, 2011 we are required to notify you, as a Vermont purchaser, that your purchase from this website may require you to file a sales or use tax return and pay the appropriate sales or use tax directly to the State of Vermont. The application of sales or use tax to your purchase may depend upon the type of product that you purchased and your status as a taxpayer. Please consult a tax professional or the Vermont Department of Revenue if you have questions.

Do you match prices?

We do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. But if one of our competitors goes lower, don't hesitate to ask us to match the price. Our answer won't always be "yes", but we'd at least like the opportunity to consider it.

Keep in mind that in terms of complete bike purchases price-matching isn't always as simple as it appears. We like to make sure we're comparing apples-to-apples. There can be great variance in the cost, for example, of a Red-equipped Pinarello Dogma Carbon based on the choice of bar, stem, wheels, seat, etc. Our Standard Road 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!

In order to consider a price matching request, we will require proper documentation: (1) A link to a webpage showing the lower price. (2) A forwarded email with the price quote, including the name of the retailer in order to ensure that they are an authorized dealer of the products they're promoting.

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.

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

Backordering an item is no different from placing an order for an in-stock item. 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 item, including frames and bikes, 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 it 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.

How do you handle warranty issues?

A few manufacturers prefer to handle warranty claims directly with the consumer. If that's the case for your claim, we'll be glad to supply you with the contact information you need.

For most brands, we're your point of contact for warranty claims, and we're happy to serve in that role on your behalf. 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 item as they see fit. It is also at the complete discretion of the manufacturer to determine whether your item is warrantable or not.

2. You are responsible for all shipping costs (and labor costs for wheel & bike builds) 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 your item through, we're oftentimes at the mercy of the process. Please bear with us as it runs its course.

As it pertains to frame/bike warranty coverage, here's news you can use:

BH: Frames are warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for the life of the frame, for the original owner. Paint and decals are covered for a one-year period on bikes manufactured after 2011.

Bianchi: Five year coverage from manufacturing defect for all models.

BMC: Five year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike, on the condition that you register your new frame on BMC's website within 30 days of purchase. You'll get the standard 3 year coverage if you don't register. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered.

Civilian: Sixty-day, no-questions-asked return period, and a three year warranty on the frame.

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.

Litespeed: Frames are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects in material and/or workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner. Litespeed branded forks, paint and decals are warranted for 1 year against defects in material and workmanship. Alignment and water bottle bosses are warranted for 30 days from date of purchase. Click here for more details. And remember: register your new Litespeed within 30 days of purchase to activate your factory warranty.

Niner: Five years coverage on all carbon fiber frames, forks, and components. Two year warranty on all non-carbon fiber frames, from the date of purchase, and for the original owner only.

open: Three year warranty from manufacturing defect, five years if registered online.

Orbea: Lifetime frame warranty upon activation (for all frames after 2009), and two year warranty on all components.

Pinarello: Standard two year coverage from manufacturing defect, and one year coverage on the finish. However, by registering your frame within 10 days of purchase, you will get an additional year added to your coverage (3 years total). You can activate the warranties for these frames on-line by clicking here.

Pivot: Three year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike. Crash and abuse-related damage is not covered. Proof of purchase from authorized Pivot dealer is required.

Ridley: Five year coverage from manufacturing defect for all models.

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

Wilier: Two-year warranty from manufacturing defect.

Yeti: Yeti: One year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike (303 WC and DJ). Two year coverage from manufacturing defects for the original owner of the bike (AS-R 5C / AS-R 5A / AS-R Carbon / SB66-A / SB66-C / SB95 / 575 / ARC / Big Top 29'R). 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.

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 MST. 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 6am-10pm Mountain time Monday-Friday, and 8am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

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?

We provide free UPS Ground shipping on all orders over $50. Whether it's a complete bike, or a handful of tires and tubes, we will ship any order greater than $50 at no charge. Sorry, some restrictions do apply:

  • Contiguous United States (Lower 48) only
  • Excludes Freight items (i.e. indoor bikes, rocket boxes, & car racks)
  • No PO Boxes

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's always someone there to accept it.

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, a Sci-Con Aero Tech Evolution travel case, or a Biknd Helium Air-Cushioned bike 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 "Bike Cases/Travel" tab.

We offer an alternative shipping service called "Ready to Ride". 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 maiden voyage. Your handlebars will be centered and leveled. Your wheels, seatpost, and pedals will all be installed. You'll 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 location in Salt Lake City, transit time for your order rarely takes more than two business days for the West coast or four for the East coast. 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 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 also holidays 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@mail-competitivecyclist.com". This e-mail will contain your UPS tracking number for your bike. Keep your eyes open 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.

What is your international shipping policy?

Due to contracts with the following brands, we are unable to ship any of their products outside the US. If you attempt to order one of these brands and have it shipped outside the US, we will contact you and cancel the order. However, it is OK to purchase any of these products with an international credit card and have the product shipped to a US address.

Bell, BH, BMC, Camelbak, Catlike, Castelli, CW-X, CycleOps, Deuter, Fox Racing, Fox Shox (except when assembled on bike), Garmin, Giro, GoPro, Ibis, Icebreaker, Leatte, Louis Garneau, Niner, Oakley, Open, Orbea, Pivot, POC, Polar, Santa Cruz, Smith, Storck, Speedplay, Thule, Vans, Wilier, Yakima, Yeti (OK within USA, Mexico & Canada), Mavic (except when assembled on bike).

Returns & Cancellations

What is your Unconditional Lifetime Returns policy?

We call it our Unconditional Lifetime Returns policy, as in no questions asked, in perpetuity. Buy something and if it falls short of your expectations in any way, for any reason, just send it back, for as long as you own it. Bikes, clothes, components, and stuff on sale. We won't ask any questions, and there's no fine print. We want you to be eternally happy, simple as that. Just send your item(s) back and include the information below. As soon as we receive the item(s) we will post a credit to your original form of payment. Be aware that it can take your credit card company 5-7 business days to refund the amount to your card.

To manage the returns process in the most effective way, we ask that you return your product to the following address:

Competitive Cyclist Returns
2607 South 3200 West, Suite A
West Valley City, UT 84119

Please be sure to include the following information along with your warranty or return:

  • Order number
  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Mailing address
  • Reason for the return or warranty

With regards to exchanges, the most convenient process is to follow the returns policy above, and to then place an order for the item you prefer either online or with one of our CSRs. When returning bikes, we ask that you please take great care in the packaging process so that frames and components are not compromised during shipping.

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. Note: During the authorization step, we may also conduct a Small Charge Verification. See below for details.

(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.

Credit Card Verification

If you use any type of international credit card, or if we are having trouble verifying your billing information, we will conduct what’s known as a Small Charge Verification.

What we do:

  • We charge your credit card an amount greater than $0, but less than $3.00 USD. We will refund this amount once the small charge is verified.
  • Contact you via phone or email informing you that we have assessed the small charge.

What you do:

  • Contact the bank associated with that credit card to learn the exact amount of the small charge. It will show up as a charge by either Competitive Cyclist or our parent company Backcountry.com. It does not have to be in US dollars; we can perform the conversion.
  • Call us at (888) 276-7130 to confirm the charge and finish processing your order. You can also send an email sales@competitivecyclist.com. Please include the following in your message: your name, order number, and small charge amount included in the body of the email.

Why we do it:

This process is the easiest way to confirm that you have the credit card in your hands, know your account number and bank information, and are in good standing with your bank. Once we have confirmed your card, you won’t be asked to go through this process to place future orders with that card. We reserve the right to use this same process to verify additional cards that you use.

Technical Overview

Will my bike come with an Owner's Manual?

Yes. All complete bikes purchased from Competitive Cyclist will come with all manufacturer-supplied documentation. Additionally, we will provide you with our comprehensive Owner's Manual in PDF format on a CD that will come with your bike. You can also find this Manual on our website here. We are also happy to mail you a printed copy of the Manual. Please submit a request via email and we will happily furnish one.

How high will you stack my steerer tube?

Quill stems and threaded headsets have long been phased out in favor of threadless steerer systems, known best as "Aheadset" systems. From a maintenance standpoint, threadless systems are a charm -- you can perform all elements of assembly/disassembly with a 4mm or 5mm Allen wrench. The only downside to threadless systems, though, is that it's not as simple to get your bars comfortably high. Many people settle by positioning their bars a bit lower than they'd prefer, which ultimately keeps them from spending time in the position they prefer -- either the drops of their bars, or in an optimal aero position on their aero bars.

With a little bit of patience, it's not too difficult to elevate your handlebars to a comforable position. You can stack spacers between the top headset cup and the stem. By using somewhat thin spacers, you can move the spacers above or below your stem to dial in your ideal bar height. It might take a bit of time, but such efforts should result in a quality of fit that makes riding your new bike that much more pleasureable.

Given that most of the road forks we sell have carbon fiber steerer tubes, we are restricted by industry standards to a limited "stack height" of spacers. We can only stack a steerer tube as high as it is wide. In other words, for a 1" fork, we are permitted to stack the fork with 2.5cm of spacers. For a 1-1/8" fork, we can stack it 3.0cm. Unless instructed otherwise, on new bikes we always stack your steerer to its maximum allowable height. After all, it's always preferable to start too high and eventually cut down the steerer tube than to start too short and have to buy a new fork.

Do you have touch-up paint for my frame?

Frame importers generally don't stock touch-up paint. Why? The small, expensive bottles of paint that importers supplied us in the past was no better in quality or durability than what you can acquire for yourself at your local retail hobby shop (the kind that sells scale models & RC airplanes). Look for the brand Testor's or Tamiya. A small bottle of paint is only a few dollars. You can put as little or as much work into it as you'd like -- whether you just want to protect a flaked-off spot, or if you want to go crazy wet-sanding and making it look like new. Testor's and Tamiya make an abundance of finish options. You'll have no problem matching up any color, gloss or matte.

My bike is making clicking/squeaking noises. How do I fix it?

Pro-quality bikes shouldn't make noise. Period. Silence is one of the things you're buying when you purchase a high-end bike. Nevertheless, the reality of modern bikes is that they're made from thin, oversized tubes and they resonate clicks and squeaks like a thousand dollar set of stereo speakers.

We have a standard checklist for trying to fix noise problems, and we encourage you to follow the same steps we do:

1. Pull the BB. Remove your bottom bracket from the frame. Clean the threads on the BB cups and clean the threads in your frame. Put a liberal amount of grease on the threads and re-install the cups with a nice bit of firmness. BB shells have torque settings, and you should follow them. But if you're not exactly sure how tight those cups need to be you can follow one rule: make it tight. Riding in the rain will wash this grease out, so this is something that you'll likely need to do on an annual basis.

2. Pull the seat collar. Remove the seat collar and seat post from the frame and liberally grease the collar and the bolt. If you're running an aluminum post, you want to make sure there's a thin layer of grease on the post. If you're running a carbon post, do not grease it!

3. Try different skewers. We've seen our share of noisy rear skewers. This has been the cure many times for us.

4. Grease bar/stem hardware. Make sure the stem bolts are greased, and make sure the bolts holding the stem to the fork are greased.

5. Grease headset cups. Remove headset cups and clean them, also clean your headtube. Re-grease the headset cups and re-install. This works on both integrated and non- integrated headsets.

6. Tighten the water bottle riv-nuts. Occasionally a creak can come from the water bottle riv-nuts installed in the frame. We recommend that you remove the water bottle cages and bolts and take the bike to the bike shop in your area. Most bike shops will have what is called a riv-nut gun and they can tighten these riv-nuts in your frame. Your bottle cages might not seem loose, but just a touch of looseness in those riv-nuts can create serious racket when the bike has pressure on it. Again, bolts and cages must be removed as this tool threads directly into the riv-nuts, you can't just tighten the water bottle bolts.

One final note: If your bike is titanium, use Anti-Seize (aka Ti-Prep) instead of grease. You can buy Anti-Seize at any automotive parts store such as Auto Zone or Pep Boys.

What measurements from my old bike would be helpful to determine the best fit on my new bike?

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Do I grease my carbon fiber seatpost?

No! You'll note that most every carbon post out there has a slick, clear-coated finish to it. If you grease the post, it makes this already- slick surface even slicker, meaning your post will slip in the frame, which means you'll overtighten it, which means you'll exceed its torque setting, which means it might very well crack.

Rather than greasing the post, you might very well have to take some Scotch-Brite or some fine grit sandpaper and lightly rub the lower portion of the post to give it some roughness to make it "grippier" to your seatclamp. You'll notice that Colnago carbon seatposts are rougher at the bottom part of the post, something done for this exact reason.

Another option -- one much easier to perform than the gentle art of sanding -- is to apply a light coating of Tacx Dynamic Assembly Paste to your post. We sell this in the lubricants area of our site, and it's a compound especially formulated to give anything carbon added "bite" when it gets torqued. It prevents over-torquing and component slippage. Try it -- you'll swear by the stuff. We use it by the boatload here.

Are carbon handlebars safe?

The short answer is "yes", although the longer answer is a little more complicated. For some reason, as an industry we've become fixated on the weight of handlebars. It's as though breaking the 200g barrier will allow an average rider to suddenly contend for an alpine stage of the Tour de France. This, of course, is not the case. It's an irrational obsession that has serious ramifications in regards to the care and feeding of your bike.

A lot of very nicely made & very thoroughly tested carbon bars exist today. We need to accept the fact, though, that carbon bars have their Achilles heels. For example, you clamp aero bars to only one or two carbon bar models on the market today. Most aren't built to withstand such clamping force. And while carbon bars can handle unbelievable forces pushing downward on the tops or the drops, they aren't as robust in terms of the side-loaded forces a bike has to withstand during a crash.

If you're trying to build a tricked-out, superlight bike are carbon bars appropriate? Yes indeed. But ask yourself something: Why is it when you watch the video of the Tour de France you don't see a single rider with carbon handlebars? The answer is rather easy: Pro mechanics are big believers in due diligence. They know that if one of their riders crashes (and they all do), or if they accidentally drop or tip over a bike when loading it or unloading it, the handlebar takes the brunt of the force. In either situation prudence requires at the very least that you unwrap the bars, remove the STI or Ergo, and remove the stem to closely inspect the bar to ensure that no micro-cracking occurred as a result of the mishap. Such due diligence, of course, is an enormous pain in the ass, and sticking with an alloy bar that weighs in at 20g heavier is the sensible solution.

An engineer at FSA summarized the carbon bar situation very succinctly. He said that if the consumer demands F1-quality componentry, they need to have an F1- type mentality about it. How expensive are the composite components on an F1 car? Outrageous. How many races do most of those components make it through? Oftentimes one only. The notion that such components are built to last as long as a well-made carbon or alloy frame is simply wrong and misses the point entirely. Carbon bars, like carbon rims, are made with pure performance in mind, i.e. durability isn't paramount.

So, to answer the question, are carbon handlebars safe? Yes they are. But if you crash them, or otherwise submit them to odd side loaded forces (such as having your bike tip over when leaning against your car or garage wall), do everyone a favor and replace them.

What travel/model fork do you recommend for my frame? (Mountain Bike)

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
Team Elite: 100-120mm
Trailfox 02: 110-140mm

Ibis:
Mojo HD Carbon: 140-180mm
Mojo SL Carbon: 140-160mm
Tranny Carbon: 100-120mm

Pivot:
Point: 80-100mm
Mach 4: 120mm
Mach 429: 120mm
Mach 5: 140mm
Mach 5.7: 150mm
Mach 5.7 Carbon: 150mm
Firebird: 170mm
Phoenix: 200mm

Santa Cruz:
Bullit: 160-203mm
Butcher: 140-160mm
Blur LT: 140-160mm
Blur LT Carbon: 140-160mm
Blur XC: 80-105mm
Blur XC Carbon: 100-120mm
Driver 8: 180-200mm
Chameleon: 120-160mm
Heckler: 140-170mm
Jackal: 100mm
Juliana: 100-125mm
Nickel: 120-140mm
Nomad: 160-180mm
Nomad Carbon: 160-180mm
Tallboy: 100-120mm
Superlight: 100-125mm
V-10: 180-200mm

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

What is a FIT Cartridge? (Mountain Bike)

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 ? (Mountain Bike)

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 ? (Mountain Bike)

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? (Mountain Bike)

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? (Mountain Bike)

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 "trail"? (Mountain Bike)

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"? (Mountain Bike)

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? (Mountain Bike)

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? (Mountain Bike)

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)? (Mountain Bike)

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? (Mountain Bike)

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

RP23 with Kashima Coat Shock Setup

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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!

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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.

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Suspension Glossary (Mountain Bike)

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 RockShox 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 RockShox 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 RockShox 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 RockShox 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.