RT

I am always on the prowl for components for the next cross/commuter build, and came across this Fuji FC-770 fork at Bike Wagon. I have done business with them in the past and they are very pleasant to deal with, ship quickly, and have a great return policy.

The fork I am upgrading came with the bike and is as flexy and bouncy as a child hopped up on sugar at Discovery Zone (welcome back to the 90's).

Hard to go wrong for $80. The appear to be cut already (223mm), which actually helps, and at less than 800g. I just now saw they have a 230mm cut for $90. Less than a centimeter difference, so hoping 223 is not too short for my needs.

Will post a review the instant I install it and ride the wilderness.

RT

Well forget this idea. I measured both of my bikes' headtubes, and the 223mm steerer makes this a no-go.

What a drag.

flargle

An IRD straight-blade steel CX fork weighs the same and you can get one for $120. For a fork of that weight, I'd prefer steel.

RT

I am intrigued. Only looking to replace a really flexy carbon fork that came with the bike. All I could find online was a Soma disc-only fork and no weight was listed.

flargle

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...ork-cantilever

RT

Ok, that looks cool, but tell me why IRD is better than carbon for road chatter? I am not a racer and would say most miles will be commuter on this bike. I am having a hard time finding anything on the Google about the advantages or even properties of IRD steel.

Thanks.

flargle

I never claimed steel was better than carbon for road chatter. Best thing for road chatter IMO is a nice wide tire, like Challenge Parigi-Roubaix.

I do think steel has better characteristics over time and in collisions. Specifically, it bends and dents, and doesn't just shatter ("mode of failure").

I'm pretty sure the IRD fork is the same Tange Prestige fork used by Soma. Or at the very least, made from some other high-quality chromoly. In my experience, IRD doesn't sell crap. My thought is that if you aren't paying a weight or money penalty, wouldn't you go with steel?

RT

Your point is well taken. I guess it boils down to which I value more - durability or plushness. I decided to go with plush, since I don't race this bike (or fall over often) and the roads around here in spring are pretty brutal after the winter. Perhaps my next CL flip will include a steel fork.

BKJimmy

I just received that very IRD fork today. It's Tange Infinity. The weight is nowhere near 790 grams--I put it on the digital UPS scale (properly zeroed!) in the mailroom at my job: 1.10 kg.

RT

That is significant. What are you mounting it on?

GrayJay

When you cut the monster long steer tube to size it will likely loose a chunk of weight, maybe not enough to get down to 790gr but the steer tube can be a very hefty chunk of metal.

BKJimmy

It's for a budget beater/commuter/winter training bike--I'm going to try out a Pake C'mute frame. I wanted something that I won't get too precious about, but decided I need to avoid the rabbit hole of a vintage road frame.

BKJimmy

At 5'10" I'm no giant, so I might be able to lop off enough of the steerer to make a difference. Not that I'm all that worried about weight on this build, but might as well try to keep it reasonable. Anyway, I guess it was silly of me to believe that I'd find a decent steel fork under two pounds for a hundred bucks.

RT

I never did update this thread with what eventually happened.

Bike Wagon had a Ritchey cross fork without eyelets (I don't need 'em) for $79. It rides better than my Winwood Dusty ever did, and has made my cross bike the favored ride of the two bikes I own.

Tonight I am updating the brakes with some black mini-V's.