Originally Posted by
Doug64
Most Cannondale touring bikes meet the criteria, e.g., T500, T700, T800, T1000, T1 and T2. They all had steel forks. Unfortunately, Cannondale quit making touring bikes in 2010.
I believe that steel forks have much better ride qualities than most aluminum forks.
All Cannondale touring bikes from 1983 to 2009 meet the criteria of aluminum framed touring bikes. Some of them have aluminum forks but probably most have steel forks.
Originally Posted by
3speed
I agree of course that steel forks have a smoother ride than AL, but I think it matter much less on a touring bike with wider tires. I just finished a tour on 700x35c tires on an all AL bike and the ride was perfectly comfortable the whole way. When it comes to my road bike with 700x25c tires, I own steel.
To me, if I can cut a full pound+ from one item, that's a lot. If I could do that 10 times, I'd be looking at a lot less weight to haul around 1000mi+ on tour. I'm not looking to go super ultra-light, but I'd certainly rather haul around 45lbs than 60.*
*Including bike weight
I don't know that I would be so quick to agree about the ride qualities of a steel fork vs an aluminum fork, especially in a touring application. A loaded touring bike isn't all that springy anyway and the Cannondale touring bikes tend have have very dampened rides with a load. They are stiff without one but once you put on a touring load, the bikes are silky. I suspect that I'll have more to say about that come next spring when I can get my T1 with an aluminum fork out on the road.
As you also say, tires make more of a difference than frame material.
I just went through a frame and fork swap on from a Cannondale T800 to a Cannondale T1 and using the same parts lost almost a full pound. The T800 was a pretty light touring bike to begin with...29 lbs with racks, bottle cages and pump...while the T1 is a nice svelte 28 lbs
I went from this
to this
I haven't ridden the new one yet...too snowy.