unsunder

I've been commuting 12 miles round trip almost daily for the last 3 months. My wrists and hands do get fatigued often no doubt from the straight fork. I'm considering upgrading the fork on my Seek. I've read that a carbon fork could help reduce some road buzz. I've heard good things about the Nashbar Carbon Cyclo-Cross Fork which has the disk mounts I'd need.

A few things I need advice on.
Are carbons benefits fact or fiction? If so is it worth it?
Will I also have have to change out the handlebars, stem, etc. to accommodate this fork?
How hard is this and what price should I expect to pay?
Anything else I should be aware of?

nubcake

carbon will be a smoother ride but it is not going to be a night and day difference. Your better off looking at going to a wider tire and also check your position on the bike. a 1 or 2 cm difference in stem length alone can make a world of difference and if the bike is too long it will cause you to put too much weight on your hands and cause all kinds of weird pains

unsunder

I just upgraded from Maxxis Columbeire 32c's to Vittoria Randonneur Pro 35c's. I haven't had a chance to ride them but hopefully that will make a difference.
I'll also see if I can get the bars a bit closer.

Skoal

Have you tried new grips like ergon? or gloves?

JeffS

Personally, changing the fork would be my last modification.

- loosen your grip on the bar. Lay your hands on it, don't "grab" it.
- handlebar position
- handlebar (shape)
- grips
- tires
- tire pressure

would all come first

PaulRivers

For other readers of this thread, note that the Giant Seek 2 actually comes with a cro-moly steel fork already:
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...le/2345/32165/
"Fork - forkCro-moly/Alloy steerer tube, w/rack mounts"

dynaryder

Check your riding position. When the ball of your foot is on the pedal spindle,you should be able to see a straight line from your knee to the spindle.

Swap the grips and/or get some gloves with gel padding. Add some bar-ends. As JeffS said,don't hold the bars in a death grip.

Swap the bar for something with sweep. Or go with a trekking/butterfly bar for more hand positions.

Agreed that I don't think the fork is the problem.

PaulRivers

I do think a new fork *could* make a difference, despite what the naysayers say. It's just expensive, and unfortunately how much of a difference is something it seems like no one has much personal experience with. I know a carbon fork made a noticeable difference on my bike, but I bought a whole new bike and one that was actually sized to me (though funny enough one with a smaller tire) and the ride is better, but who know how much of that is the fork and how much is different geometry, or fit, or something.

I also, unfortunately, don't know exactly which fork to recommend - I know the vibration dampening between different full carbon bikes was different (very different, varying between taught and jumpy to extremely vibration absorbing) so different carbon fiber forks may be different. I know Specialized makes some nice ones for their road bikes.

unsunder

I swapped out my handlebars for the trekking bars from nashbar. Huge difference! I rode 35mi yesterday without the least bit of fatigue.
Thanks for all the advice.

unsunder