Bicycle suspension system with automatic venting

A bicycle suspension system comprising:

• a first tube comprising a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, wherein the first exterior surface is exposed to an ambient environment at atmospheric pressure;
• a second tube comprising a second interior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein the second tube is telescopically disposed in the first tube with at least a portion of the first interior surface facing and overlapping at least a portion of the second exterior surface, wherein the first and second tubes are telescopically moveable relative to each other between at least an at-rest position, a compressed position and an extended position, and wherein the first interior surface and the second exterior surface define an interior chamber therebetween having a chamber pressure, wherein the difference between the chamber pressure and the atmospheric pressure defines a pressure differential;
• and
• a bi-directional flow pathway defined between the interior chamber and the ambient environment when the first and second tubes are in at least one or more of the at-rest position, the compressed position and the extended position, wherein the bi-directional flow pathway automatically provides for (1) a first flow of air from the interior chamber to the ambient environment when the pressure differential is greater than a first predetermined pressure differential, and (2) a second flow of air from the ambient environment to the interior chamber when the pressure differential is less than a second predetermined pressure differential,
• wherein the first tube comprises a seal engaging the second exterior surface of the second tube and the seal comprises spaced apart first and second lips, wherein the first lip is momentarily aligned with a by-pass volume as the first and second tubes are moved between the at-rest position to one of the compressed and extended positions.

A bicycle suspension system comprising:

• a first tube comprising a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, wherein the first exterior surface is exposed to an ambient environment at atmospheric pressure;
• a second tube comprising a second interior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein the second tube is telescopically disposed in the first tube with at least a portion of the first interior surface facing and overlapping at least a portion of the second exterior surface, wherein the first and second tubes are telescopically moveable relative to each other between at least an at-rest position, a compressed position and an extended position, and wherein the first interior surface and the second exterior surface define an interior chamber therebetween having a chamber pressure, wherein the difference between the chamber pressure and the atmospheric pressure defines a pressure differential;
• a bi-directional flow pathway defined between the interior chamber and the ambient environment when the first and second tubes are in at least one or more of the at-rest position, the compressed position and the extended position, wherein the bi-directional flow pathway automatically provides for (1) a first flow of air from the interior chamber to the ambient environment when the pressure differential is greater than a first predetermined pressure differential, and (2) a second flow of air from the ambient environment to the interior chamber when the pressure differential is less than a second predetermined pressure differential;
• and
• a bushing disposed between the first interior surface of the first tube and the second exterior surface of the second tube, wherein the bushing comprises a bushing flow pathway defining in part the bi-directional flow pathway.