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===== Front Shock Absorbers =====

Suspension, which has been fitted to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocipede|velocipedes]] since at least 1891, needs shock absorbers to dampen the recoil or it risks turning the bicycle into a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_stick|pogo stick]].  Mountain bikes initially borrowed suspension inspiration and hardware from motorcycles. 
The trick was to make something light weight which could handle going down [[https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7000867/repack-road|Repack]], or more pertinently for 1988, the [[https://www.twowheeledwanderer.com/posts/mammoth-mountain-bike-park/|Mammoth Mountain]] Kamikaze Downhill.
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The first mountain bike suspension fork was made by RockShox, designed by [[bontrager:start|Keith Bontrager]] and [[http://mombatbicycles.com/Rock_Shox.htm|Paul Turner]].  A non-working concept fork was mated to a fully carbon, rear suspended Kestrel Nitro and shown at the January 1988 Long Beach bike show.  Unfortunately, the Nitro was just a prototype and Kestrel wouldn't release a fully suspended mountain bike until [[https://www.kestrelbicycles.com/|1995]].  ((Kestrel did sell a fully carbon, //rigid// mountain bike in 1988: the [[https://www.oldschoolracing.ch/mountainbike/1988-kestrel-mxz/|MX-Z]].  The first all-carbon mountain bike.))  RockShox would go on to great success, selling $100M annually by 1996.  ((Competition became fierce in the late 90's and RockShox sold itself to SRAM in 2002 for //only// [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RockShox|$5.6M]].  It continues [[https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox|today.]]))((More RockShox history can be found at: [[https://www.oldschoolracing.ch/archiv/rock-shox/|oldschoolracing]].))
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After the debut of RockShox all makers of motorcycle shocks saw the light and immediately jumped into the market.
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{{manitou.jpg?200|1990 Manitou Fork}}
{{marz.jpg?200|1990 Marzocchi}}
{{prostop.jpg?200|1990 Mountain Cycle Suspenders}}
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  - 1990 Manitou Fork |[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/manitou-fork-timelines.290684/|retrobike]]
  - 1990 Marzocchi Star [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/Marzocchi-Forks-Through-the-Years-2013.html|pinkbike]] 
  - 1990 Mountain Cycle Suspenders [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/now-that-was-a-bike-mountain-cycle-san-andreas.html|pinkbike]]
1991 saw the introduction of mono-shocks.
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{{canon2.jpg?200|1992 Canondale HeadShok}}
{{actiontec.jpg?220|1991 Action-Tec}}
{{leader.jpg?190|1991 Lawwill Leader}}

  - 1992 Canondale HeadShok [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/should-you-ride-a-lefty-fork|theoproscloset]]
  - 1991 Action-Tec Pro Shock [[http://mombatbicycles.com/Suspension.htm|Aaction-Tec]]
  - 1991 Lawwill Leader [[http://www.vintagesteelrider.com/index.php/2015/04/27/amazing-mountain-bike-innovations-that-didnt-stand-the-test-of-time/|vintagesteelrider]]

Canondale's HeadShok used a single air/oil damper with needle bearings to eliminate twisting.  Twisting (and oil leakage) plagued early RockShox RS-1 and Mag-20's, requiring heavy brake braces for stability.  The Lawwill Leader linkage design weighed about 3.5 pounds.
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And, somehow just before mechanically complicated shocks hit the market, a number of very simple flex stems became available.
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{{flex.jpg?170|1988 Offroad Flex Stem}}
{{soft.jpg?210|1989 Softride Suspension System}}
{{ahead.jpg?170|1994 Softride Ahead Stem}}
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  - 1988 Offroad Flex Stem [[https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/flexstem-offroad-mountain-bike-25659016|worthpoint]]
  - 1989 Softride Suspension System  [[http://sscycleworks.com/components/stem-suspension-SoftRide.html|sscycleworks]]
  - 1994 Softride Ahead Stem [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1995_Ritchey_Lite_Beam.html|mombat]]

^ Year ^ Make/Model ^ Type ^ Travel ^
| 1988 | Offroad Flex Stem | stem | 10mm |
| 1989 | Softride Suspension System | stem | 63mm |
| 1989 | Rock Shox RS-1 | fork | 48mm |
| 1990 | Manitou | fork | 38mm |
| 1990 | Mountain Cycle Suspenders | fork | 63mm |
| 1991 | Action-Tec Pro Shock | mono-shock | 44mm |
| 1991 | Lawwill Leader | mono-shock | 63mm |
| 1992 | Canondale Headshok | mono-shock | 50mm |
| 1994 | Softride Ahead Stem | stem | 76mm |

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<div column 45%>
{{kestrel.jpg?300|1988 Kestrel Nitro}}
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1988 Kestrel Nitro
[[https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/repack-rwanda-origins-evolution-and-global-reach-mountain-bike/gallery#8|sfomuseum]]
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The 1988 Kestrel Nitro was ground breaking.  The first all-carbon, fully suspended mountain bike frame. Equipped with a prototype RockShox.


{{hb.jpg?300|1989 Greg Herbold}}
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1989 Greg Herbold
[[https://issuu.com/mtb-vco.com/docs/catalogo_sram-rockshox-avid-truvati/66|issuu]]
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In 1989, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Herbold|Greg]] won at Mammoth using a prototype RockShox RS-1.  RockShox went into production in [[http://mombatbicycles.com/Rock_Shox.htm|August 1989]].


{{rs1.jpg?300|1990 RS-1}}
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1990 RS-1 ad, when they first became widely available.
[[https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/feature/Sneak-Peek-Inverted-RockShox-RS-1-Fork,230|vitalmtb]]
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