Suspension Summary
Bicycle suspension refers to the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle in order to protect them from the roughness of the terrain over which they travel. Bicycle suspension is used primarily on mountain bicycles, but is also common on hybrid bicycles and can even be found on some road bicycles.

Bicycle suspension can be implemented by one of the following or any combination of:

• Suspension front fork
  
• Suspension stem (although these have fallen out of favor)
  
• Suspension seat post
  
• Rear suspension

Bicycles with suspension front forks and rear suspensions are referred to as full suspension bikes. Additionally, suspension mechanisms can be incorporated in the seat or saddle, and/or the hubs.

Besides providing obvious rider comfort, suspension systems improve both safety and efficiency by keeping one or both wheels in contact with the ground and allowing the rider's mass to move over the ground in a flatter trajectory.
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