The Juliana Bicycles Joplin full suspension mountain bike mounted to a workstand in a garage

Setup Guide

So you’ve got yourself a shiny new Juliana, now it’s time to make it truly your own. From suspension setup to saddle height, this guide will show you the basics of bike setup — without any mansplaining.

The Juliana Bicycles Joplin full suspension mountain bike mounted to a workstand in a garage

Setup Guide

So you’ve got yourself a shiny new Juliana, now it’s time to make it truly your own. From suspension setup to saddle height, this guide will show you the basics of bike setup — without any mansplaining.

Juliana athlete Delilah Cupp riding her Juliana Bicycles Furtado off a rock drop
Juliana athlete Delilah Cupp riding her Juliana Bicycles Furtado off a rock drop

Tools of the Trade

Before we start, one tool makes finding the perfect pressure much easier—a digital tire pressure gauge. Use it before every ride to check your pressures, as tires can quickly lose a few PSI, taking you from perfect to too little pressure.

A mountain biker riding the Juliana Bicycles Joplin over a leaf covered trail
A mountain biker riding the Juliana Bicycles Joplin over a leaf covered trail

Tire Pressure Calculator

So, where to start? A good way to get started is to head to a reputable tire pressure calculator like SRAM’s. While calculators like these give you a good starting point, they aren’t the end-all-be-all. Conditions and riding style will significantly affect these numbers, so start on the high side and lower from there.

Juliana Rider Hailey Elise riding her Juliana Joplin full suspension mountain bike
Juliana Rider Hailey Elise riding her Juliana Joplin full suspension mountain bike

Perfect Pressure

To dial in the pressure, bring your new digital gauge along for a ride. Pick a section of trail that you know well and represents the riding you usually do, start with a high pressure, and go for a lap. Then, drop the pressure by one or two PSI and repeat. You’ll know you’ve let out too much when your tires squirm under hard cornering or burp (when the tire's bead breaks away from the rim, letting air out) on landings or if you’re constantly pinging your rims on rocks and roots. Conversely, if your bike starts to skate around, and you feel like you don’t have much traction in loose or muddy sections, you’re likely over-pressured.

Juliana Rider Brookyly bell riding a berm on a singletrack trail

CAVEATS

Selecting tire pressure has many variables. SRAM’s calculator is a good place to start, but you may need to go up or down in pressure depending on your riding style, the trails you ride, or if you use a tire insert.

Juliana Rider Brookyly bell riding a berm on a singletrack trail

CAVEATS

Selecting tire pressure has many variables. SRAM’s calculator is a good place to start, but you may need to go up or down in pressure depending on your riding style, the trails you ride, or if you use a tire insert.