Debating a fork upgrade
05-18-16 | 09:52 AM
#1
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From: St. Louis
Bikes: 1990 Diamondback Master TG, 2015 All City macho man disc, 2015 Trek X-caliber 7, 1989 concorde pdm team edition
Debating a fork upgrade
So, I have been building up my 2002 Fuji roubaix pro and it is looking great. The fork that is currently on it has a 1" carbon bladed cromoloy steerer fork that the finish isn't the best on in places. I am deciding if I want to swap it out for a 1" threadless aluminum alloy steerer version that is a bit cleaner. Is there a significant (greater that 100g) weight difference going from a cromoly to an alloy steerer?. I realize the short answer is to weight it, and the even shorter answer is to not worry about a couple hundred grams, but I am at work, twiddling while I am on hold, and am curious if anybody else has gone through the same decision.
05-18-16 | 10:19 AM
#2
Steel80's
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: NJ
Bikes: Breezer Venturi, Schwinn Peloton, Marin Lucas Valley
If you're going to go to the trouble of changing it, you might as well go with a full carbon fork. While you're at it, switch to a carbon seat post. Smoother ride, lighter bike.
05-18-16 | 10:55 AM
#3
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From: Port Angeles, WA
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Those old carbon forks can get scratched up pretty easy. If it's all black carbon, rather than painted, you can wet sand off all the scuffs and refinish with a can of clear gloss polyurethane. Make it look good as new.
A new fork would probably (but not necessarily) be a couple hundred grams lighter. I was shopping carbon cyclocross forks on the big auction site the last couple weeks and the advertised weight varies a lot. Caveat emptor.
A new fork would probably (but not necessarily) be a couple hundred grams lighter. I was shopping carbon cyclocross forks on the big auction site the last couple weeks and the advertised weight varies a lot. Caveat emptor.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
05-18-16 | 11:14 AM
#4
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05-18-16 | 11:40 AM
#5
Steel80's
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From: NJ
Bikes: Breezer Venturi, Schwinn Peloton, Marin Lucas Valley
Sure, I have one on one of my bikes. Performance Axis Pro. They don't sell them anymore, but they're out there.
05-18-16 | 01:28 PM
#6
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From: St. Louis
Bikes: 1990 Diamondback Master TG, 2015 All City macho man disc, 2015 Trek X-caliber 7, 1989 concorde pdm team edition
They do exist, this is just more than I want to spend, I am building wheels for it afterall.
I already have an ec90 full carbon post, would be nice to source a matching fork (with curved blades), but dunno if easton ever made one or if I would want to pay for it.
Last edited by Geo_08; 05-18-16 at 01:32 PM.
05-18-16 | 01:29 PM
#7
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From: St. Louis
Bikes: 1990 Diamondback Master TG, 2015 All City macho man disc, 2015 Trek X-caliber 7, 1989 concorde pdm team edition
It is raw carbon save for a few decals that I am going to try and see if I can get off carefully in one piece or try to find replacements for, but it isn't the end of the world if I can't. And yes, that is part of the problem, believing what nashbar says their fork weights or other such groups.
