Originally Posted by JeStOnE
05 bianchi pista
Ok, the 2005 pista has a 74/74.5 degree head tube angle, one inch threadless headset, and 28mm of fork rake. (When you get the chance, measure the top of the crown to center of the axle of the fork.) I will assume its ~368mm.
Using one of the standard carbon forks like reynolds or TT will raise your front end just bit and slacken your angles. Using the Advanced composite fork might lower your front end and steepen your angles. Maybe not enough for you to notice, but then again maybe so.
Your fork rake is 28mm. I would try to get as close to this as possible.
Going with a carbon fork with a rake of 40mm or more will cause your bike to be way too twitchy. Most available carbon forks come in rakes of 44, 45mm. Depending on the height of the fork and how its affect your head tube angle, your end result trail might go as low as 5.0cms or lower. This is dangerous territory.
Your current trail is 6.6-6.9cm, depending on what size frame you ride. A very stable ride.
Then there is the problem of your 1" threadless steerer. Most manufacturers of carbon forks will only have forks with rakes in the 45mm range with 1" steerers. The wider range of forks come in 1 1/8" steerers.
This leaves your with one good safe option: the Advance Composites fork in 1" steerer with 35mm of rake.
Because of the height of the fork, it should not affect head angles too much, if at all. It will give you more neutral handling, 5.9-6.2cm of trail, and you will be able to run a front brake confidently.
The fork is $295 retail for a steel steerer. $375 for a carbon steerer. These forks are a little heavier than some of the other carbon forks. Btw 470gms-510gms.