Shock: Keep nice and clean either by cleaning
it often or by using a shock boot like the Lizard Skin one for under £10 these
tend to keep the dirt out quite well. Set up depends a lot on your weight, for
average riding (tracks, roads, trails) set it so you sitting on you saddle makes
the seat move a little but not too much because this will mean you will get lots
a pedal bounce. This is were the shock compresses as you pedal and means your
pedalling energy is being used for other things. For jumping you would need your
shock set nice and hard to stop the rear of the bike being flicked up and landings
being hard to control. For downhilling you should set the shock quite hard so
you can go faster ignoring more roots and rocks.
