Originally Posted by
BlarneyHammer
I'm planning a two-month bikepacking trip on a hardtail. If I'm usually comfortable with a certain amount of pressure in my front suspension, would it be reasonable to set it beforehand and leave the shock pump at home all summer?
Most of the riding is going to be dirt/gravel roads, with some easy-moderate trails mixed in. XC-style riding. Probably my worst enemies will be washboard and sand.
Like anything else dependent on air pressure for proper function, air shocks typically depressurize with use/time, thus the need for a pump. Some require pumping before each use, depending on use/user. Ride your bike unloaded a few times and observe the shock pressure change, then you can estimate an interval for pumping/repressurization.
Going the whole summer without needing to pump up seems highly improbable.