British Professor Invents a “Better” MTB Shock

Dr. David Batterbee, a Sheffield University boffin (look it up) will be awarded $62,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering to develop a prototype for a new mountain bike suspension system he invented. Batterbee basically developed a rear shock that “electronically monitors the severity of the terrain and optimises the bike’s performance automatically.” No more …

Green electronic board

Dr. David Batterbee, a Sheffield University boffin (look it up) will be awarded $62,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering to develop a prototype for a new mountain bike suspension system he invented. Batterbee basically developed a rear shock that “electronically monitors the severity of the terrain and optimises the bike’s performance automatically.” No more reaching down to lock out your shock on long climbs – this shock has an electronic brain that finds the right compression setting based on real-time trail conditions. Batterbee and his supervisor are serious about bringing the system to market and we’ll be watching to see what they come out with.

This raises a question, though, about just how far power-assisted technology should be allowed to go with mountain bikes. It’s one thing to use an electronic spedometer or an electric light but what about electronic shifters or even small motors to help you get up the hill? At some point a mountain bike becomes an electric bike and I think most of us can agree that ain’t right. So where should we draw the line?