Fox is seamlessly combining electronics and suspension, starting with the announcement in spring that it would be integrating electronic control into a selection of its own forks and shocks. "iRD" or Intelligent Ride Dynamics is the name of the new division at Fox, in which the suspension elements are controlled electronically. To make it easier to adjust the new 2013 suspension elements, the US suspension specialist is once again relying on the "iRD" brand and is presenting an app for the iOS and Android platforms to support suspension adjustment.

Here's how it works: download the application, during the initial setup the procedure asks for a four-letter identification code for the first time, which is new on the 2013 suspension elements. When checking these numbers, the application can hang up, but once this hurdle has been overcome, the appropriate information on installation dimensions, air chamber size and construction version of the shock or fork loads automatically.

By querying the body weight, the application then suggests an air pressure to the mountain biker. With this first setting, the device's camera comes into play, which locates the position of the O-ring and then outputs the current negative suspension travel or sag. If this sag is not yet suitable, the user is given suggestions for adjusting the air pressure and advice on the appropriate rebound setting. Once the adjustment is complete, the app provides a setup overview that can be saved.

The conclusion from Ride: adjusting and tuning the suspension is not child's play, even with the electronic dropper post. For mountain bikers who have little to do with technology and have never heard of negative suspension travel or rebound speed, the app can provide good help. However, the physical balancing act of reading the sag so as not to falsify the negative suspension travel on the O-ring when getting on or off the bike remains part of the setup program.

App or not, testing several air pressure variants as well as compression and rebound settings on the trail remains the way to perfectly functioning suspension. Manufacturers are still required to develop truly customer-friendly systems that make suspension adjustment child's play.

The Fox app is designed for the 2013 Float and DHX Air shocks, the 32 and 34 Float forks, as well as the 32 and 34 forks of the Talas series. The app is available to download free of charge for Apple and Android devices.

www.ridefox.com