The perfect suspension setup for everyone? – Mondraker introduce the new MIND telemetry system
Are you not using all of your travel through rough sections, or does your suspension bottom out on small drops? Mondraker claim to have found a solution for all your suspension woes with the MIND telemetry system, taking the guesswork out of dialling in your suspension. Read on to find out how it works.
To find the correct mountain bike suspension setup requires a certain level of know-how and dexterity. Suppose you don’t have experience with setting up suspension. In that case, you will have to do countless test runs using trial and error until you find the right setup, or refer to our suspension setup guide, which gives you a step by step explanation of how to go about correctly setting up your suspension.
According to Mondraker, the barriers to finding the correct suspension setup need to be lowered. After three years of development, the Spaniards are ready to present the new MIND telemetry system, as featured on their flagship models – the analogue Foxy Carbon and the electronically assisted Crafty Carbon eMTB. The system should allow everyone to find the perfect setup without any prior suspension know-how or experience. Similar to the Quarq ShockWiz, the suspension is fitted with sensors that record its movements on the trail to provide easy to use values to help you determine the best setup.
The system consists of four components that remain on the bike. At the front, a sensor in the steerer tube measures the distance to a magnet installed on the casting. The movements of the rear end are also measured by a sensor and a permanently fitted magnet. The sensor is positioned at the top of the rear linkage and measures the distance to a magnet on the main pivot. Every millisecond, both sensors measure the relative position of the suspension to within a millimetre. When you’ve finished your ride, the collected data gets sent to your smartphone and displayed on the MyMondraker app. In addition to the app, you also have the option of evaluating your ride data on your PC at www.mymondraker.com. With air suspension, the app then tells you whether you should increase or decrease the air pressure for the optimal amount of sag. The app includes the rider’s weight and riding style in the recommendation and then suggests the ideal compression and rebound setting.
All components only work on the bike on which they were factory fitted by Mondraker and can’t be swapped around, even across the same model. In addition to the Foxy Carbon and Crafty Carbon, other models featuring the new MIND system should follow soon, covering every discipline from XC to DH.
Another exciting component of the MIND system is a built-in GPS receiver. As such, the latest MIND equipped Mondraker bikes will be able to independently record your rides, without the need of a smartphone or other external device. With the data collected from the GPS receiver, the MIND system also works out the total travelling time, distance, average speed and elevation-gain of your rides. Your ride data can be viewed in the MyMondraker app and synchronised with Strava and Facebook. Mondraker claim that the combined data from the suspension and the route is detailed enough to help weekend warriors and even pro racers with their line choice or to adapt the suspension to suit a specific route.
Bonus feature: the moment you lose contact with the ground, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the system is capable of telling you how long you were airborne and how far you flew. Thanks to the integrated GPS, every jump along the route gets recorded and displayed on the map of the MyMondraker app. When landing, the system also records how much travel you used and even counts all the times you bottom-out.
The MIND system uses its own rechargeable batteries, and one full charge should be sufficient for 20 hours of continuous riding. In standby mode, the batteries should last for over 15 days. Even on an e-bike, the sensors require their own batteries. The recorded data can be automatically synchronised with your smartphone after a ride so you can leave your smartphone at home.
Additional features
In addition to helping riders set up their suspension, the MyMondraker companion app offers other useful features for an improved user experience. The app has a built-in anti-theft system, alerting you as soon as the bike gets moved. If your bike does get stolen, the app will help you to locate the bike so that it can be returned to the rightful owner. The app also allows you to register the bike in case of a warranty claim, contact your nearest Mondraker dealer, and gives proud Mondraker owners access to the latest news and updates.
Conclusion
When we first tested the Quarq ShockWiz in 2017, we wondered if we would see a permanently integrated version of it in the future. Now it’s here. The MIND telemetry system certainly sounds promising. Besides helping you find the perfect suspension setup, the integrated GPS module and other app features promise to keep adding value, further promoting connectivity in suspension. We’ll have to do more testing to tell you whether Mondraker’s new MIND system can deliver on its promises.
For more information, visit mondraker.com
