Hi all,

I'm building up a soma DC frame (slowly, little by little, so that the wife won't notice) and trying to decide on what fork to run with. I don't have any experience with carbon, but hear that a long nice-riding steel frame paired with carbon up front is pretty hard to beat, ride-quality wise. I also like the idea of saving some pounds over the tried-and-true steel. . .

HOWEVER, I'm not exactly a lightweight (220 lbs, ran track all through school and now w a local club) and also I plan on properly abusing the hell out of this bike. I'd like to avoid a fork failure if I drop off a curb or take to some singletrack. Should I (1) steer clear of carbon altogether, (2) go for it but not get a used fork due to unknown stress and abuse, or (3) find a killer deal on a new affordable brand (maybe Nashbar, for example) or Craigslist/eBay hand-me-downer?

Polls are open! Thanks in advance.

Carbon forks are amazingly strong, and in many cases stronger than steel forks.

BUT

When they fail, they do so suddenly and without proper notice. This doesn't happen often, and for normal road use, I wouldn't worry about it. But since you weigh 220#s and know you plan to abuse the bike, I'd steer clear. Stick to steel which is far more forgiving of abuse, and has the courtesy to bend and announce a problem rather than just letting go without fair warning.

I'm a bit heavier than you and had a CF fork on former commuter. I abused my commuter with potholes and RR tracks. The commuter was finally taken out of service by a Camry. She hit me with a glancing blow to the right front hard enough to crack the front rim and bend the AL frame but the CF fork was deemed fine (though I retired it along with the frame just to be safe). I vote for a CF fork but I wouldn't buy a used one unless I knew (and trusted) the owner.

OH This is a Soma DC https://store.somafab.com/doublecrossdc.html

I think I would just stick to a steel fork since your using cantis

Wet weather , or like today, Snow, make disc brakes a good thing..
but maybe this is just a summer, don't blink it goes fast, fair weather ride..

Yeah fietsbob and bianchigirll I'm still on the fence as to running discs or cantis. . . in my experience, both have plenty of stopping power (a plus), both allow lots of space for fenders/big tires (another plus), but both are finicky in their own way. I like the idea of setting up some light xc-style wheels with deep Vs and disc hubs, but I also like the idea of running cantis and NOT having to listen to the whirrrr of discs all the time. Plus cantis are a bit more under the radar (less thieve-worthy, which is a big enough problem to hold in consideration around these parts. . .).

If I do run cantis, I figured I'd throw a stiffener on at least the fork (ala Paul's brake booster). Bianchigirll, you say don't go carbon if you're using cantis? por que?

Door #3, Magura HS33, Hydraulic rim brakes. they are a closed system,
once initially adjusted ,
the Pads literally snap in place on the slave cylinders..
they now come on one booster arch and include a second one to fit on the end bolts.

they're what came on My Koga-Miyata Trekking bike, great brake ,
as long as you have a 22.2 bar, not a road bar..
as they have a straight type lever..