Mountain Biking - Hey! a2psyklnut. Please explain this...

You mentioned somewhere else a couple of times, that Cannondale's Lefty is a strut and not a fork, so it has in common with aircraft landing wheels. Can you explain what the differences are between them?

I mean, both compress when you push on them. They both rebound, and both make nice squishy noises. The differences are where, in the design, function, engineering?

Doesn't a fork have to... well... fork? That is, I would assume a fork need to have two blades, at least, no?

That's what I thought, though I think he did mention once before that the difference is other than having two alone?

Correct, a Fork has two blades a strut is single sided. Simple as that!

There was a strut in the BMX circles that came out a bunch of years ago that just wasn't successful. The design was rigid and I guess it couldn't handle the stresses imposed by BMX.

I was super skeptical when the LEFTY came out. I thought that it would be weak and easily destroyed. I was wrong. The R&D at Cannondale did their job very well. I used mine for 2 years and had 0 problems with the Lefty. I'm not featherweight either.

L8R

A strut it is, then!

Are there any other internal differences that distinguish it from a a conventional fork? I know there are different forks and RockShox and Zocchi, for example, probably have similar-ish internal designs, but does a strut need anything radical doing to it that a conventional fork does not require?

Glad to hear you have positive feedback about the Lefty. I notice it will now be offered as a standard option on the new 2003 Geminis?

Cannondale has partnered up with Manitou to help design the internals for the new LEFTY's. Haven't seen any details yet, just that they're now working together.

I didn't know that Lefty's were being offered on the new Gemini's. Where did you hear that? I just spoke with C'Dale last week and got the latest specs for the 2003 bikes and the Gemini spec was nearly identical to the 2002. Paint scheme's are different. They're coming out with a "Team Replica" and a "Real Tree - Camoflague" (sp?)

Maybe the European models are different???:confused:

L8R

I'm looking at a supplement that came in the UK magazine MBR. It describes what's new for 2003.

One page 8 is dedicated to a number of photos for what Cannondale is unveiling. They have a photo of the headtube and a bit of the Gemini decals.

The comment they have is: "All bikes are now 1.5in fork ready, and there's now an additional Gemini available with 'Lefty Max' spec."

They also have a singlespeed hardtail called the Optimo.

What interests me as well, is that the sh1t-awful rear lock-out lever that my Gemini came fitted with (Shimano) is now replaced with what the lbs told me a while back, was a Cannondale in-house design. It looks much nicer and could be less obtrusive and easier to use. My baby goes in for a service tomorrow, so I'll find out if they can upgrade me.

Hey Bokkie you are absolutely correct. Here's a link I just got http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/03/cusa/model-3VG1.html or if you want the details on the MAX: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/innovation/03/leftymaxtpc.html
I'm still debating whether or not I need this much bike.

L8R

I'm still debating whether or not I need this much bike.

Chief Sitting Down speak "It's better to resent what you have but don't want, than to yearn for what you miss after you have but cannot get."

Go for it. Be the best you can.:)