A bicycle rear shock absorber, comprising: a damper tube defines a first diameter; a piston rod defines a second diameter, where said piston rod carries a piston , said piston and said piston rod capable of telescopic movement with respect to said damper tube , wherein said piston cooperates with said damper tube to at least partially define a variable volume compression chamber and at least partially define a variable volume rebound chamber ; a reservoir tube that is separate and remote from said damper tube , wherein said reservoir tube defines a reservoir chamber of said shock absorber, wherein fluid is displaced to said reservoir chamber from said compression chamber during compression movement of said shock absorber , and wherein fluid returns to said compression chamber from said reservoir chamber during rebound movement of said shock absorber; wherein a ratio of said first diameter to said second diameter is between about 1.05:1 and about 2.5:1, and approximately 50% or more of compression damping during said compression movement of said shock absorber is accomplished by a compression damping circuit located in said reservoir tube , said compression damping circuit comprising a pressure-activated valve and an acceleration-activated valve , said acceleration-activated valve comprising an inertia mass slidably supported on a shaft , characterized in that a compression fluid flow of damping fluid, generated by compression movement of said piston and said piston rod relative to said damper tube , can pass through and be regulated by said pressure-activated valve without passing through said shaft . a damper tube defines a first diameter; a piston rod defines a second diameter, where said piston rod carries a piston , said piston and said piston rod capable of telescopic movement with respect to said damper tube , wherein said piston cooperates with said damper tube to at least partially define a variable volume compression chamber and at least partially define a variable volume rebound chamber ; a reservoir tube that is separate and remote from said damper tube , wherein said reservoir tube defines a reservoir chamber of said shock absorber, wherein fluid is displaced to said reservoir chamber from said compression chamber during compression movement of said shock absorber , and wherein fluid returns to said compression chamber from said reservoir chamber during rebound movement of said shock absorber; wherein a ratio of said first diameter to said second diameter is between about 1.05:1 and about 2.5:1, and approximately 50% or more of compression damping during said compression movement of said shock absorber is accomplished by a compression damping circuit located in said reservoir tube , said compression damping circuit comprising a pressure-activated valve and an acceleration-activated valve , said acceleration-activated valve comprising an inertia mass slidably supported on a shaft , characterized in that a compression fluid flow of damping fluid, generated by compression movement of said piston and said piston rod relative to said damper tube , can pass through and be regulated by said pressure-activated valve without passing through said shaft . <EOS>