asabike

hello,I'm strugling to enter the 1990's, and get a carbon fork. the problem is that I'm 6'8" and weigh about 220.My bike is a 1973 schwinn paramount, 66 cm,62 cm tt.I love the bike, but am starting to develop pain in my arms,sholders etc.I can't try out bikes with various forks, because the bikes are always to small
any ideas? Thanks Asa

djbowen1

You should really write-off the 90's and skip right to 2006. I am not sure you have too many options on that bike for a fork. Why would you upgrade the fork anyway, it seems you have other issues like stem height, Nevermind, i just realized this thread can not be real, 6'8'', riding a '73 bike looking for a carbon fork..... i am a dumbass.

mpearson76

So now you have a steel fork, no? Carbon is certainly an improvement in ride quality over aluminum forks, but it will hardly improve the ride over a steel one (there is some debate about this question). If you are only wanting to improve the ride and are not concerned about weight, I would look elsewhere for improvements. Some suggestions are fatter tires (your bike could probably handle 28s or 30s), some gel pads under the bar tape (fizik makes a nice set up here, but Cinelli gel cork would probably be almost as good without creating a bulge in the bar), or Bontrager buzz-kills (I have not tried them, but the improvement they provide is debated in another forum).

I am also assuming that the pain is indeed caused by road buzz and not a poor fit on the bike. Make sure it is not the case that you have too much weight on your hands, too narrow handlebars, saddle too far forward, stem too short, or something else related to fit.

alanbikehouston

By far, the best fork for a Paramount is the Paramount fork. In the 1970's, Schwinn mixed and matched tube sets from Reynolds for each size of Paramount to get the best performance for the size and weight of the rider. As a result, not only was a size 62 Paramount much larger than a size 52 Paramount, it had heavier and thicker tubes. The larger sizes often used a straight gauge downtube for greater strength.

And, the forks were also matched to the size of the bike, and the geometry of the bike. Schwinn dialed in the fork for the best blend of shock absorption, stability, and handling.

Carbon forks are a bit lighter. They are also much, much more fragile than a steel fork. All carbon forks can fail instantly under the stress of a hard crash. Other carbon forks have failed during routine riding, sometimes causing injuries or death.

If you buy a 2006 road bike, you are likely to be stuck with a carbon fork. They are the current fashion. To get a steel fork of the quality of a Schwinn Paramount fork, you would need to buy a "high end" steel bike, and pay thousands of dollars for the privilege of riding a bike that may not be as nice as the one you already are riding.

You already have the best possible fork for your bike. Don't "downgrade" your Paramount just to look fashionable. The causes of hand and wrist pain can be just getting older, or riding too narrow a tire at too high a PSI level, or riding with your hands lower than the top of the saddle.

Try these changes. Raise your bars so that the top of the bars is level with the top of the saddle. Replace your bar tape with a cushy gel filled tape. Put on 25mm or 28mm tires and ride at about 90 PSI front and 100 PSI rear. Your bike will ride as if you traded in a Miata for a Mercedes limo.

Patriot

If you are having pain in your arms now, when you weren't before, there is a possible reason for it. A reason that I myself don't like to admit, yet it's true....

Age.

I have found in the last couple of years, I just need to run my bars a little higher, no matter what fork or frame I am riding. My posture and reach as I age is getting higher, and shorter. So, I adjust to make my ride more comfortable. My arms and lower back have thanked me.

If you are running your bars pretty low, then you may just need a newer stem to raise them up so they are more level with your saddle, instead of way down below. I generally run my bars 1-2" below the saddle, when most guys on here run them up to 6" or more below their saddle. If you want to give it a shot with a new stem, I recommend the Nitto Technomic. They have longer quills to raise up the bars higher.

If you are thinking of a new bike in the future, finding one to fit your height will be difficult. If you are thinkng of making a long term investment, I would almost always recommend a Titanium frame (steel is always good too). Titanium will never rust, provide a great ride, and last forever when properly taken care of. A newer frame of this type will come with a modern carbon fork to fit it properly with appropriate stack height and rake. They are major $$$$, but they are a lifelong investment.

rufvelo

I second that great suggestion.

Nitto Technomics come in 225mm lengths. Probably everything you'd need to help your situation, definitely not a carbon fork/bike. Will also probably be the best $30 you've spent on bike parts, besides new slightly wider tires/tubes (e.g. 28s over 23s) !

asabike

thank all of you for your replies, i've had a fit kit done,and raised the bar heighth to 1 inch below the saddle, i've used double bar tape for several years, changing it every season at least,I will try gel bar padding under the tape. I will also try 25 or 26's for tires,I just switched to 23's last year from 20's.the reason I asked about the carbon forkis that 2 or 3 riders lately have suggested the change, but It does not look like a good idea. Again thanks.