Methods and apparatus for suspending vehicles

A shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:

• a gas spring having first and second gas chambers, the chambers divided by a partition, wherein the first chamber has a first end and an opposing end that move towards each other as the chamber compresses during a first portion of travel of the shock absorber, and wherein the second chamber is not compressed during the first portion of travel and the first and second chambers are both compressed during a second portion of travel;
• a fluid path between the first and second gas chambers;
• a valve and valve shaft mounted on a wall of the partition with the valve shaft extending toward the opposing end of the first chamber and the valve mounted at a base of the valve shaft, the valve shaft constructed and arranged to contact the opposing end of the first gas chamber at an end of the first portion of travel, thereby opening the path;
• and
• a damper, fluidly isolated from the first and second gas chambers at all times, the damper for regulating the speed of travel throughout both portions of travel and having a piston shaft extending through the first gas chamber, parallel to the valve shaft.