JAMIE’S CANNONDALE HABIT CARBON 3
MONTH 5: Amazon Prime has nothing on Fox suspension’s turnaround times
Thank goodness for Uk-based service centres. Last month I was having trouble with the shock on my bike – it felt notchy as it sank into its travel and not at all like the DPS shocks I’ve ridden on countless bikes. I tried doing a full air-can service, but I couldn’t fix it, so I posted it off to the Fox Service Centre under warranty and almost by return of post I had it back in my hands – my Habit didn’t even have time to leave the workstand. I know from experience it can take two weeks to return something to Germany, for example, and that’s without anyone even opening the box at the other end. Yes, Fox knows I’m writing about my experience, but this is standard procedure for anyone sending something in for a service – I’d give it a high five if the pandemic would allow, so for now it’ll have to settle for an elbow bonk.
Fox isn’t sure what the trouble was with my Float DPS shock, but what we do know is that it’s working well after being stripped down and rebuilt, and I’ve sussed out how to get the most it. The first thing is that it needs more air than you’d think – I’ve found measuring 11mm of sag on the shock body gives me the optimum ride height, which equates to 170psi for me. Anything less than that and the bike wallows, gets hung up on things and generally feels like a sack of spuds. I also added a few extra clicks of rebound to slow it all down, 11 clicks of 15 available – naturally, adding more air always means you need more rebound, but this bike feels particularly active and without it I felt bounced on drops. Finally then, I have the Habit riding just how I’d like it… just as winter looms.