Lefty Bikes
04-02-08, 07:59 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Lefty Bikes
Anyone heard of, or own a "lefty bike"?? Saw one last week at a LBS. It was a Cannondale, had only the left side of the fork on the front of the bike, there was no right front fork. I talked to the technician as I thought that this must put a lot of stress on the left front causing a lot of problems with the tire getting out of true etc, or worse.
He gave me a lengthy technical explanation that I didn't quite get. At the end he stated " and you can change a flat without taking the wheel off."
Would like to know if anyone has been riding one and if so, is this just a gimmick or what? Price was about $2k!
He gave me a lengthy technical explanation that I didn't quite get. At the end he stated " and you can change a flat without taking the wheel off."
Would like to know if anyone has been riding one and if so, is this just a gimmick or what? Price was about $2k!
04-02-08, 08:24 AM
#3
the bike made me do it
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Not a gimmick, they have been around for ages. As far as I am concerned they are one of the best suspension forks going. They have great lateral stiffness, easy lock out and function great. The last 2 years Cannondale has been having issues with the high end Lefties though. There quality control has not been the best on the high end stuff. That being said, Cannondale has an amazing warranty and repair depertment.
04-02-08, 08:52 AM
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one way of using a lefty fork 
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Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
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shameless POWERCRANK plug
Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
Don't run red lights, wear a helmet, use hand signals, get some cycle lights(front and rear) and, FFS, don't run red lights!
04-02-08, 08:53 AM
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I talked to a guy once who was dropping off one of those at the LBS. He said it took him a few
minutes of re-learning balancing when it was new, but other than that he really liked it.
minutes of re-learning balancing when it was new, but other than that he really liked it.
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The first rule of flats is You don't talk about flats!
The first rule of flats is You don't talk about flats!
04-02-08, 09:32 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Not a gimmick, they have been around for ages. As far as I am concerned they are one of the best suspension forks going. They have great lateral stiffness, easy lock out and function great. The last 2 years Cannondale has been having issues with the high end Lefties though. There quality control has not been the best on the high end stuff. That being said, Cannondale has an amazing warranty and repair depertment.
04-02-08, 10:19 AM
#7
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Ha Ha ,Not really.
Anyone heard of, or own a "lefty bike"?? Saw one last week at a LBS. It was a Cannondale, had only the left side of the fork on the front of the bike, there was no right front fork. I talked to the technician as I thought that this must put a lot of stress on the left front causing a lot of problems with the tire getting out of true etc, or worse.
He gave me a lengthy technical explanation that I didn't quite get. At the end he stated " and you can change a flat without taking the wheel off."
Would like to know if anyone has been riding one and if so, is this just a gimmick or what? Price was about $2k!
He gave me a lengthy technical explanation that I didn't quite get. At the end he stated " and you can change a flat without taking the wheel off."
Would like to know if anyone has been riding one and if so, is this just a gimmick or what? Price was about $2k!
04-02-08, 10:35 AM
#8
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Been around for ages my local bike shop swears by them
04-02-08, 10:44 AM
#9
Homey
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Your car is a lefty. And a righty.
My friend has one and he said when he first got on it, visually it felt funny. He felt as if the wheel was going to fall off and kept trying not to put too much weight on the unsupported side. When he took it out with a bunch of his gonzo kamakaze friends up in the mountains, he had no choice but to trust it (or look like a pansy!) He said it performed well and that going there with the guys helped him to get over his fear.
The shock is extra burly too, by the way.
My friend has one and he said when he first got on it, visually it felt funny. He felt as if the wheel was going to fall off and kept trying not to put too much weight on the unsupported side. When he took it out with a bunch of his gonzo kamakaze friends up in the mountains, he had no choice but to trust it (or look like a pansy!) He said it performed well and that going there with the guys helped him to get over his fear.
The shock is extra burly too, by the way.
04-02-08, 10:51 AM
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Some Monoblade fork bikes
The science bit it that if you take all the metal on the right side of the fork and add it to the left side, then increase the diameter of the monoblade, you will end up with a structure that is much stiffer, so stiff that you can dump some of the extra metal. The axle diameter is increased to prevent bending and the axle to fork connection can be fairly permanent, no QR required.
The science bit it that if you take all the metal on the right side of the fork and add it to the left side, then increase the diameter of the monoblade, you will end up with a structure that is much stiffer, so stiff that you can dump some of the extra metal. The axle diameter is increased to prevent bending and the axle to fork connection can be fairly permanent, no QR required.
