Funn has just released a little product that could help some riders who suffer from pre-ride nerves. The NOS Air Fork Valve Cap, where the “NOS” stands for Neural Overload Soother, helps to address all of your pre-ride woes. It’s a simple and clever idea.
Here’s how simple and clever: the machined aluminum valve cap replacement features a rotating tactile dial. The rider, when feeling a lil anxious, can turn that dial and feel the clicks, in turn soothing a troubled mind.
Although turning the dial provides zero mechanical adjustment to your fork’s air pressure or damping settings, it does offer something potentially more valuable: a ritual for managing pre-ride anxiety. I love me a good ritual.
Do You Even Placebo, Bro
All kidding aside (kinda), the concept centers on channeling nervous energy into purposeful action. When you’re sitting at the trailhead questioning your line choice or staring down a feature that looks bigger than remembered, the NOS Cap simply gives you something to do with your hands.
The smooth rotation mimics the feeling of making a technical adjustment, creating a sense of preparation and control even though no actual changes occur to your suspension setup.
This tongue-in-cheek approach to rider psychology comes in a RockShox version and a FOX version.
The NOS Cap serves as a physical reminder that sometimes the mental game matters more than mechanical tweaks you make to your steed. While your fork’s performance remains unchanged, the act of “adjusting” something before a challenging section can help settle nerves and create a more focused mindset.
NOS Air Fork Valve Cap Retail & Detail
Retail: $30
- Weight: 22g
- Adjustment Range: Infinite
- Suspension Effect: 0%
- F-Type: Compatible with Fox 36 and 38 forks.
- RS-Type: Compatible with RockShox 35mm and 38mm stanchion forks featuring a splined top cap
Look, here’s the bottom line: the NOS Cap represents a playful take on the gear-heavy culture of mountain biking, where sometimes, riders look for gear upgrades as solutions for confidence issues.
At its core, it’s a simple and gentle reminder that sometimes the best upgrade happens between your ears rather than on your bike. Get your peace of mind at the link below.
