Simons.Lab on Dampers, Tuning, & the New Zeta

Simon Reiberg’s journey into fork damper design began with him modifying a RockShox Yari to feature a shimmed rebound circuit, and after stints at Trickstuff and Intend, he just launched Simons.Lab and the Zeta aftermarket fork damper. So we sat down with Simon to talk about his take on damper design and what sets the Zeta apart; how he learned about damper design in the first place; what the biggest challenges were in bringing the Zeta to market; and a whole lot more. And we’ve got a Zeta on the way for review, so stay tuned for a rundown on its design and performance, coming very soon on the site. Note: We Want to Hear From You! Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on Bikes and Big Ideas. Email us at info@blisterreview.com to weigh in. RELATED LINKS: DraftKings.com - code: Blister Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide Get Our Free Newsletter & Gear Giveaways BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered BLISTER Access Pass TOPICS & TIMES: Simon’s background (1:40) Modifying stock dampers (3:21) Testing & analysis (6:34) Value (and limitations) of suspension dynos (15:44) High-speed adjusters & the Zeta concept (24:16) Packaging challenges (19:43) Hydraulic bottom-out (31:00) Adjustment ranges & tradeoffs in tunability (35:01) Launching Simons.Lab (40:24) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: The Blister Vault Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Blister Podcast