Originally Posted by
IthaDan
You're over thinking it. Even if it's off compared to the stock fork, the difference in feel between rigid and sprung will be so much more noticeable than a fraction of a degree taller or slacker of head tube angle. By the time you can evaluate the angle, you'll already have gotten used to it.
FWIW, I tend to agree. I've put rigid forks on various frames. I've actually found myself installing the Cane Creek S3+5 headsets a couple of times to try and increase the axle-to-crown. Most of the time I am wanting more, not less. Most recently, I put a Surly Instigator fork corrected for 100 mm onto a frame designed for an 80mm fork. That's worked out *very* well, and the resulting 26er rigid has surprisingly become my go-to bike so far this season.