NAU Bike Suspension Team

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Project Description:

Mountain bike suspension lacks the capabilities to quickly and easily adjust for different terrain on the fly and needs to have a tuning option to allow for a more comprehensive system. Mountain bike suspension can be adjusted but can sometimes be difficult to understand for the average consumer. So, the team needs to create an easier way to help even beginner mountain bikers be able to alter their suspension settings.

Goals:

  • Create a mathematical model to optimize damping in full suspension mountain bikes over various terrains
  • Analyze mathematical model with physical testing of a shock and mountain bike
  • Develop an easy to use, suspension tuning device that allows for mountain bikers to adjust their suspension on the trail

 

Project Schedule:

1st Semester:

  • Research bicycle suspension and general terrains for mountain biking
  • Create a mathematical model that can optimize suspension damping over different terrains
  • Start testing mathematical model with actual dynamic bike riding and adjust model accordingly

 

 2nd Semester:

  • Continue testing mathematical model and relate model outputs to shock dampening adjustments
  • Design a physical device that can adjust suspension on the fly

Image: Gantt Chart outlining team goals for the year

 Test Bike:

For this project, the team needed a modern, full suspension bicycle in order to get proper measurements and data for the mathematical model as well as the proof-of-concept device. The team’s budget allowed for a relatively midrange bike but buying a bike off the budget wouldn’t leave much room for getting vital testing equipment and materials for the design. Midway through last semester, the team started reaching out to major bike manufacturers, asking them if they were willing to let us borrow a bike for testing. Niner Bikes responded and agreed to send the team a top-of-the-line bicycle for the project. With the bike, pictured below, the team will be able to gather key data for the mathematical model and be able to design a device specific to the bike. The team has also stayed in close contact with the engineers at Niner in order to help facilitate what is learned about the bike.

Image: Niner Bikes Rip9 RDO 29

 

Second Semester Breakout Groups:

At the start of the second semester, the team decided to form two subgroups in order to expedite the design process and finish the mathematical model efficiently.

Mathematical Model Team:

  • Members: Tyson, Erik, and Austin
  • Responsibilities: Tidy up the model by implementing new variables and gather data with the bike provided by Niner.

 

 Suspension Device Team:

  • Members: Jacob, Suliman, and Dylan
  • Responsibilities: Go through the design process to come up with a device that can adjust suspension on the fly and come up with a working prototype