Cyclocross - 1" versus 1 1/8" fork

I am contemplating having a Habenaro cross bike built for me. One of the questions they have is 1 or 1 1/8" stem. Do I limit my choices of forks (both now and in the future) by going with a1" steerer? I have seen quite a few cross forks that come in both sizes, but just want to make sure that I dont order something that will be obselete in 5 years.

Hi,
They still make bikes with one inch steerers. You do have fewer choices, but there's plenty of choices. $100-Surly $200-Gunnar or Winwood $400 -Alpha Q or Wound Up all have one inchers. If you do, this is the headset I use, and for the price it's a steal. http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=7238&storetype=&estoreid=
Btw,
I have a Ti Cross/tourer. If you intend on racing, you might want to look at a pure cross bike; and not a dual purpose machine.

Hi,
They still make bikes with one inch steerers. You do have fewer choices, but there's plenty of choices. $100-Surly $200-Gunnar or Winwood $400 -Alpha Q or Wound Up all have one inchers. If you do, this is the headset I use, and for the price it's a steal. http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=7238&storetype=&estoreid=
Btw,
I have a Ti Cross/tourer. If you intend on racing, you might want to look at a pure cross bike; and not a dual purpose machine.


Thats what Mark at Habanero does unless you specify otherwise. I just wanted to make sure that I wanst going to limit myself by going with a 1". He offers the Winwood Muddy for $195 with the complete bike package. I have no intentions of racing seriously but might enter one down the road if available in my area. I just want a bike I can ride pretty much anywhere and with two wheelsets I can "go play in the dirt" or ride with a club.

I got the idea from another member here after I asked what road bike would you get for 2K. DetroitDan recommended a cross bike because it would be more comfortable and versitale that a true "racing" bike. Since I have looked and researched it I'm addicted. I have a MTB that doesnt get ridden and the cross bike will get me out and riding. Also at Habanero I can get a custom fit bike to my specs, and since I'm 6'4 235lbs, I want a bike that will fit and last forever. :lol:

Thanks for your input.

I test rode a Habanero roadie at Harris Cyclery once. Nice bike, classic Ti ride, sounds like a good plan.

I got the idea from another member here after I asked what road bike would you get for 2K. DetroitDan recommended a cross bike because it would be more comfortable and versitale that a true "racing" bike. Since I have looked and researched it I'm addicted. I have a MTB that doesnt get ridden and the cross bike will get me out and riding. Also at Habanero I can get a custom fit bike to my specs, and since I'm 6'4 235lbs, I want a bike that will fit and last forever. :lol:

Thanks for your input.


I did the same thing. I just hate pounding out road miles by myself, although I like riding with Clubs. I sold my road bike, bought the cross bike, and usually train on cross tires. All of my racing is either dirt roads or technical MTB, but the distances are usually 80-100 miles, so road riding is good training.

I end up getting more base miles, because I can now reasonably ride to the mountain bike trails (all 20 miles from my house), then ride the trail, then ride home. Plus the hucksters with 9" of suspension freak out when they see you tooling along on your "10-speed".... :)

Do I limit my choices of forks (both now and in the future) by going with a1" steerer?

Nothing wrong with choosing a 1" steerer. But it will narrow your choice of upgrades/replacements (forks, stems), since the industry seems to have adopted the 1 1/8" 'standard'. This applies to the 'road' catalogues, don't know about the cross world.

Recently, I friend of mine bought an excellent Morati road frame. The seat tube measures 27mm. Finding a seatpost to match was quite difficult. That would have been a lot easier with a 27.2mm tube.

Good luck with the Habanero! Let us know how it proceeds.

I have a 27.0 Titec Ti seatpost :) I used a shim to adapter it to a 30.8 seat tube (now find that size) I would go with 1 1/8" just for future upgrade possibilities. There is nothing wrong with 1" but when you are talking cyclocross you are looking at ALOT smaller market then let's say road bikes. So you have smaller option of forks as is, and right now it's not hard to find a 1" Cyclocross fork but in 5 years it might be since 1 1/8" is most common standard now.

First, there are millions of bikes out there with one inch headsets. They alone would
keep options open. Second, there are a bunch of bike companies that make bikes with one inchers. Bianchi,Habanero,Gunnar,Rivendell, and those are just off the top of my head. If we have WW3, then forks will be hard to find, and spoons, and food....

Always take 11/8 if it´s offered as there are no down sides and a lot of ups , plus most stems are now made for this size and shimmed down for 1 inch forks .

Baloney,
people keep saying things like that, but it's not true. My fork is a bit heavy. I am considering several alternatives. In stems the choice is even better. Salsa makes a one inch stem that looks like it was made for my frame. There are many other one inch stems (not shimmed) to be had. My LBS has a Gunnar Sport I would like to buy. It has a one inch headset. You really have only one argument. If you would rather be trendy than traditional; then 1 1/8" is your size. Personally, I have had 1 1/4. 1 1/8 and 1". Up to the time I came to this forum; I never gave it a thought.

My choices for sus forks is limited as I have a 1 inch steerer- I would think the 1 1\8 would be better for upgrades ect in the future.

I'm afraid it is true.

There is always industry hype, but 1" is by no means traditional. Go to a quill stem if you want to be traditional. Get 1 1/8 if you want to have the most options. Use 1" if you have it.
You will always have more options with 1 1/8 over 1", at least until the much over hyped and largely useless OnePointFive "Standard" gets jammed down our throat.


Baloney,
people keep saying things like that, but it's not true. My fork is a bit heavy. I am considering several alternatives. In stems the choice is even better. Salsa makes a one inch stem that looks like it was made for my frame. There are many other one inch stems (not shimmed) to be had. My LBS has a Gunnar Sport I would like to buy. It has a one inch headset. You really have only one argument. If you would rather be trendy than traditional; then 1 1/8" is your size. Personally, I have had 1 1/4. 1 1/8 and 1". Up to the time I came to this forum; I never gave it a thought.

I'm not sure I'd worry about fork upgrades when spec'ing out your cross bike. It's not like a suspension fork that is going to get tired and outdated in a few years. A rigid fork won't "wear out" and there will always be quality cross fork options available in 1".

-s

I am contemplating having a Habenaro cross bike built for me. One of the questions they have is 1 or 1 1/8" stem. Do I limit my choices of forks (both now and in the future) by going with a1" steerer? I have seen quite a few cross forks that come in both sizes, but just want to make sure that I dont order something that will be obselete in 5 years.

1" if you are going to always use a steel steerer. 1-1/8 is stronger for carbon or alum steerers.