Here is one method of front suspension for a bicycle that came out in 1889! This was patented by J. S. Copeland. When the front wheel hits a bump, it can travel up in relation to the frame. It also has a cool spoon brake, which was the norm before caliper brakes were invented.
It is the same idea as shown in the Softride shock absorber stem above, which is also a parallelogram with a strong spring, to cushion some shock from hard bumps. But in the Softride version, the wheel doesn't travel up, the handlebars travel down. My friend Kurt inUtah really likes his Softride stem, and has used it for years. If you like bicycle technology, be sure to check out the bicycle technology category.
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