In our Tech Q&A series, we tackle cycling queries – from workshop mysteries to trailside worries – with help from the BikeRadar team and trusted industry experts. Next up, a reader wondering how often they should reach for the shock pump.
“How often should I check the air pressure in my fork? Every ride, week, or longer intervals? I know it will lose a bit of air over time, but how long should I leave it between checking, and what’s a normal drop in pressure between rides?”
Sam Richards
In short, your fork shouldn’t really be losing air at all.
Unlike tyres, which naturally seep small amounts of air through their casings and valves, the air spring inside a suspension fork is designed to be a sealed system. If everything is in good condition, the pressure should remain stable for a very long time.
Neil Cousins – media and sponsorship manager at Fox distributor Silverfish, and a former TF Tuned suspension mechanic – says frequent checks simply aren’t necessary for most riders.
“Forks don’t need to be checked all that regularly,” he explains. “Every couple of months is plenty if you’re riding regularly, or only when the fork starts to feel soft or you’re bottoming out more than usual.”
Bottoming out – when the fork reaches full travel with a noticeable hard stop – can be a sign the pressure has dropped slightly, or that your riding has simply become more confident.
“Sometimes, familiarity with a favourite trail means naturally using more of the travel,” says Cousins. “A little extra pressure may be needed to support a more confident and exuberant riding style.”
