Another popular way to improve the performance of a bicycle is to sub- stitute lighter weight “racing” components. Lighter wheels, tires, handle- bars and so on can enhance the performance of your bike; but you must always keep in mind that light weight racing components are not intend- ed to have the life expectancy of their heavier counterparts, and you must therefore exercise extra care in checking for signs of stress fatigue (See Section 7.4)
Suspension forks are also a popular component upgrade. Before installing a suspension fork on a
WARNING: Suspension forks, particularly the “double clamp” and “triple clamp” designs favored by downhill racers, put extraordinary
! stresses on the head tube and front part of the bicycle frame which the frame’s design may not be able to handle. Such stresses can result in sudden, catastrophic frame failure, which can cause serious injury or death.
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