Technique
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Parent Category: Technique
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Category: Cannondale
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Published on Tuesday, 29 September 2009 12:23
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Written by Luca Salvatelli
It is still a prototype but is preparing to mark the new era of Mtb
Cannondale has submitted a new version of Lefty fork called Simon. This is still at the prototype stage, but now virtually defined in every detail and ready for subsequent industrialization. The particularity of this new model is the electronic control of the fork itself and its calibration. The heart of the system is a CPU, which analyzes and processes the information from two sensors, one located at the base of the fork and one on the stem of the fork itself. These two sensors indicate the position of the fork and the speed at which it moves. This information is processed by the CPU which then will send the command to an electronic valve that regulates the passage of hydraulic oil inside the fork. The CPU processes the information coming from the sensors at a rate of 500 times per second and the electro valve regulates the oil with the fork at the speed of adjustment every 2 milliseconds. The sensitivity of electro-adjust the valve of the oil with a variation of 1 cent a millimeter of the hole in which the hydraulic fluid flows. The whole system is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-Cobalt that allows an autonomy of operation of approximately 8 hours. Both the drums and CPU are housed inside the fork and precisely in the headstock. The sistem "dialogues" with the rider and through a regular computer, through which you can program the CPU is via a display located at the top of the fork and which can be activated through a swich located on the handlebars. Through this command you can lock the fork or switch to one of the 4 maps of the same regulation already set. The CPU has already stored 10000th calibration profiles, which can be chosen individually by the user, or let the CPU choose the appropriate profile. The fork has a travel of 130 mm, but through the CPU can be lowered by 40 millimeters. All cables and sensors are shielded against interference. The total weight of the fork is 1826 grams. The new fork, borrowing experience that is already established for years in the automotive sector, thus enables a continuous and optimal adjustment of the same, changed without interruption to the various funds of land, but also driving style and speed. An advantage not just for this increase in weight, compared with a traditional fork, it is quite negligible. Cannondale has not yet decided the date of marketing of the fork, nor his price, a factor that could decree or less success. Another point of doubt may be the reliability of the whole system, this Cannondale is a more reliable and we believe that already from the beginning, the ranges will have a reliability comparable to traditional systems. From a strictly technical point of view, we are facing a new step forward in the development of Mtb bike, with a new technology is not absolute, but that the first time is applied to the bicycle industry, with a product designed for the large marketing.
