Originally Posted by
McBTC
Cycling articles describe why the head tube angle, rake (or offset) and trail determine the steering characteristics of a bike, with the trail being of overarching significance. I was curious to know a little more about "trail" given that CF bladed forks lack the obvious curve seen in cromo forks of old and because the specs for my Z85 don't mention the trail.
that's because you have to account for difference in compliance of cromo to calculate effective trail.
u know how saving 1g from the wheel is like saving 5g from the frame?
1mm of trail in cromo is like 1.5mm of trail in CF. +/- 0.2mm depending on carbon layup.
cromo forks: transversely stiff, yet longitudinally compliant.