Originally Posted by
kingkonger
I'm looking to make the ride of an aluminum tandem more forgiving ...
What size tires are you running and with how much air pressure? One of the least expensive ways to make what may feel like a harsh handling tandem more compliant is to use a larger diameter tire or to drop about 10 psi if you're presently running them at the max psi. Obviously, you'd want to guard against getting the rear tire too soft, lest you invite pinch flats.
1. Does a carbon fork really make a difference?
They tend to be much lighter, more compliant, and dampen vibration better than the very heavy-duty tandem-rated steel forks they are used to replace so, yes, you can usually detect quite a few changes to the ride feel and in some cases handling when one of the super-light tandem forks is used, e.g., Alpha Q X2 comes immediately to mind. The Reynolds Ouzo Pro Tandem and Wound-Up forks are both a bit heavier but also have less lateral deflection which makes for a more precise steering feel, particularly during aggressive steering inputs. There are also some heavier cross-based cantilever carbon forks on the market as well that provide similar benefits in terms of modest weight reductions / vibration dampening and the like.
2. I need to have Disc Brake mounts on it as it is for a CDALE R2.
Well, it would probably be more accurate to say that you'd need a disc-compatible fork so that you can keep your current hub and disc brake. Alternatively, and if you don't 'need' the front disc you instead go with a fork that has cantilever bosses or that works with a caliper brake... both of which will work with your asymetrical front wheel... and/or have your front wheel re-laced to a new non-disc hub as part of the fork conversion project. However, if you want to retain the disc than the Wound-Up Duo carbon fork mentioned by uspspro is about the only tandem-specific fork being marketed with disc tabs
3. How do I ensure that a new carbon fork doesn't change the geometry from what seems like the tried and true 73 degree head angle of my CDale?
Your Cannondale uses a fork with 53mm of rake and the closest carbon to that spec. would be the Reynolds Ouzo Pro Tandem @ 55mm. The others from Wound-Up (45mm) and True Temper's Alpha Q (44mm and 41mm) would both yield what would best be characterized as "sportier" handling which may or may not be a bad thing. Now, you might want to send a PM to WheresWaldo as he fitted a Nasbar/Winwood Cross fork when he made some updates to his Cannondale which you can read about
HERE. I don't fully recall the entire discussion on forks well enough to cite the rake or "tandem-rated" nature of the fork; however, it's probably in the archives and/or WheresWaldo can elaborate.