Cyclocross - Best 2nd division cyclocross fork

Hi all,

I'm building my own cyclocross bike, and I was wondering which fork do you guys recommend: price, value, braking, etc. It's for cyclocrossing (and light mountainbiking), commuting and light touring. I don't intend to compete, and I don't need to put racks in front.

I am considering one of this options:

- Easton EC70X (220€)
- Ritchey Pro Cyclocross (225€)
- Ritchey Comp Cyclocross (195€)
- Columbus Tusk Cross (160€)
- Kinesis Pure CX (165€)

Also, is the difference noticeable with the "1st division" forks? I can get the Ritchey WCS Cyclocross fork for 269€ or the Easton EC90X for 319€ so may think about it...

Thanks,
Eneko

I have a Easton EC70x that I got for $90 (awesome deal off pricepoint). I've been really happy with it, and have experienced no brake shudder or anything like that. Pretty lightweight, shaved over a pound off my ride by upgrading. Looks nice too.
FWIW. All anecdotal.

I have a Easton EC70x that I got for $90 (awesome deal off pricepoint). I've been really happy with it, and have experienced no brake shudder or anything like that. Pretty lightweight, shaved over a pound off my ride by upgrading. Looks nice too.
FWIW. All anecdotal.

I searched Price Point and this fork comes up over $200 US? I just put in my order for the Nashbar Cross Fork for less than $100, but the OP appears to be in Europe.

Given the uses you describe, I'm not sure I would even get a carbon fork. The big gotcha with carbon cyclocross forks is flex. If the fork flexes, you're likely to get brake shudder unless the fork allows you to mount the cable hanger on the fork itself. I've watched races where you could see people's forks (even expensive ones) flexing back and forth nearly and inch during hard braking.

I don't know a lot about particular carbon forks. The only one I've ever had is the AlphaQ CX20 (which is great, but no longer made). I've got that on one of my CX bikes and steel forks on the other two. The steel forks are heavier, but the ride isn't noticeably worse. I've got a Civia Bryant fork with Avid BB7 road disc brake on the Kona Jake that I use as a commuter, and I couldn't be happier with that setup. Before that, this bike had Kona's Project 2 steel fork, which is also nice and never had problems with brake shudder. My Cross Check has the stock fork. I did have a bit of brake shudder with that, but I was easily able to get rid of it with proper brake pad adjustments.

The solution for canti chatter is mini V brakes ;-) The Winwood I had was great.

Yeah, the deal was for a older model ec70x, I only ordered it a few weeks ago so I must have snapped up one of the last ones.

For what it's worth, as far as second tier price-wise, the Pedal Force website has a carbon cross fork in the $150US range.

Ridley Aluminum fork?