The present invention is an air shock absorber having a multiple stage design. The design includes a first algorithm for determining the compressed and extended lengths of the air shock based on the lengths of the parts for each stage. The first algorithm offers the air shock an extended length that is greater than twice its compressed length, an optimized extended length, and a construction capability based on adding stages. In particular, the extended length-compressed length relationship is a quality inherently unobtainable by current shock absorbers. The design also includes a second algorithm for determining the spring rate. The second algorithm offers the capability to both set-up the air shock with a relatively linear spring rate and make the relatively linear spring rate more linear.