kpfeif

Cross posted in Gravel/cross.

Hey everyone, I've been looking for a carbon fork to replace the anchor on my steel touring/cross bike. I found this:

Carbon Fork Trekking Cyclocross,TR-FK020CF, View Carbon Fork Trekking Cyclocross, OEM Product Details from ArchTeks Tech Co., Limited on Alibaba.com

It's a 700c carbon fork, claimed weight 740g, aluminum crown/steerer/dropouts, with both canti studs and disc mounts. It also has midblade eyelets, which I can't find anywhere else and would be nice to have. The cost with shipping would be about $80, plus shipping from me to you.

There's a 5 piece minimum. I'm following up with some questions about tire clearance, the opportunity to mix the order between canti/disc and disc only options, and shipping cost. If there's any interest from forum members that would allow me to meet the 5 piece minimum order, I would be interested in trying this thing out.

Cue opinions about exploding OEM carbon... NOW.

fietsbob

Knock your self out. buy all 5 and take the risk no one else wants to buy any as you re sell them in the US..

what Trail dimension are you trying for ? how are you going to get that Dimension ?


By The way This is the Group Buy Forum section-> https://www.bikeforums.net/group-buy/

kpfeif

Their spec is 50mm offset. For my 73 degree head tube and 40mm tires, that should give me 58mm trail, which should be fine.

kpfeif

Update from the supplier: the clearance at the crown is 50mm. Should do 40mm tires with tons of room to spare.

seeker333

Before buying, you may want to determine where they locate mid-leg bosses relative to dropout - there's no universal std for this location, it varies from 150-180mm IME.

Also, you need to determine if the axle-to-crown distance is suitable for intended bike. You can usually go +/- 15mm from original spec without any major handling issues, although it does affect trail, HTA and STA, about 1 deg per cm of a-t-c change.

kpfeif

I'm happy to send the blueprints out to anyone who wants the exact specifications. Mid-fork bosses are 176.6mm north of the dropout.

Axle to crown is 405mm. That's pretty typical for a 700c cross/touring bike, although individual preferences will abound.

spinnaker

"Anchor"?? How much weight could you possibly save over your steel fork? Sorry but I would much rather stick with a solid steel fork than risk strapping something to carbon that might fail at any time.

robow

If we are talking about touring with a front rack, I'm with Spin, I'm not sure a carbon fork really gives you any advantages over a modern well designed steel fork, but for other bikes and other intended uses, it might be neat.

veganbikes

Agreed on both counts! There is a point where saving a little bit of weight doesn't make sense for the losses you will accrue.

wheelinthai

Yes, different strokes for different folks. There are also folks who do light touring 720 - Trek Bicycle

rm -rf

The Whisky no7 fork comes in cantilever or disk. It has eyelets for fenders, but no rack mount. Lots of clearance for larger tires, maybe close to 50c. It's more expensive, of course, at around $400. Carbon steerer, and about 440 to 500 grams. For a light touring, or gravel grinder bike.

saddlesores

really? you wanna put a "delicate" carbon fork on a touring bike,
run some steel bolts (okay...titanium...) through the middle
of the blades, and hang a bunch of camping gear off it? and
then maybe zoom down a mountain on your carbon rockit?

i would've advised against that, until i saw you were gonna
order a no-name chinese fork from a no-name chinese
importer. since the chinese are world-renowned for high-quality
products and their concern for product safety, i'd say go for it.

i like the group order angle, buy 5 get one free darwin award.

kpfeif

Haha. I guess the old "YOU CAN TOUR ON ANYTHING" ethos has its limits. Pray for me, forum.

veganbikes

lol!

seeker333

OP, if you're ordering and intend to resell some of these forks, you may want to try specifying a longer steerer.

295mm is only long enough for touring frames up to about 54cm. You need more steerer to get the handlebar level with saddle on larger frames (unless you use a long 35 deg stem and can accept greater reach).

MassiveD

The Columbus Tusk fork has midway mounts, is a lot more expensive, but it comes with more cred, and probably is made in the same factory...

105 UK pounds

Columbus Tusk Trekking Fork

MassiveD

Here is a video of a carbon bow riser being run over and ground on by a truck. Carbon arrows have a great reputation for strength, and hit targets with the energy of a 22, about 100 foot pounds in some cases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQJ3Qa4Pkq0

I'm still mostly on the why bother side.

kpfeif

Interesting. Thanks for the link!

MassiveD

When I said made in the same factory I was joking, but I have friends in the biz and stuff like that isn't unheard of...It doesn't seem to mater whether the company claims it is made in wherever rather than China...

fietsbob

Taiwan is an Island off the mainland , Lots of the Bike Biz comes out of Taipei Harbor ,

and more out of the Mainland's Shanghai harbor 2 different Governments. ROC & PRC..


But, yes a Contract Factory builds for Multiple Client Importers .. applying the customers Logo is part of the work.

3speed

Did you get your 5 for the order yet? Do they indicate any sort of safe weight rating for a front rack on this fork? For me, It would Need to be able to carry 10lbs on each side for a very long life span. I don't carry quite that much weight on the fork, but I also don't like to ride the edge of fork failure. I've looked for an AL touring fork with disk, canti, and mid-blade mounts for hours and I've never found one. I'd Much prefer this fork in AL, but since I can't seem to find that, I'd be willing to take my chances with the carbon version if it will safely carry the weight. I'd take one in flat black.

3speed

I'm pretty sure that's ~3/4lb savings compared to the standard Surly LHT fork. Then another couple pounds for the frame going AL versus steel(depending on the frames, of course) and you could be looking at saving almost 3lbs just in bike weight. Do that with all of your gear and you're only peddling 40lbs over that mountain rather than 60. Yes, please. An extra 20lbs uphill for a straight mile+ makes a difference.
Haha! Didn't you know carbon isn't allowed outside of the "roadie" forum?

MassiveD

On a seriously designed fork, like the columbus 10 a side is nothing, they could have that and more in body weight. My biggest concern with carbon is the aluminum load take-offs, if that is what they are. There is a far greater chance of just fatiging those, or stripping them tightening something than I would worry about the carbon, properly designed carbon is super tough. Touring uses alone are normally short distances. A Trans am is a life changing thing for a lot of people, and yet only about 4-5K riding.

Evidence seems to be that weigh savings on frames are exagerated. If you ask people how much they will save they assume the total material weigh difference, but the lighter materials need to be used in larger sections or for a more armoured effect, and the total weight savings are less than assumed.

mdilthey

Myth. Myyyyth.

Philly Tandem

If you have a threadless steerer setup and must have a carbon fork, consider having two forks. One carbon for everyday use, and one steel for touring. Pretty easy to swap out when you are going to tour if you install a second crown race on the "alternate" fork and a set of cantis/v-brakes.

Modern carbon forks are plenty strong, but I'd still be reticent to use them with front panniers and a rack. Failure is not likely, but if it happens it would be pretty ugly.