1" Threadless Touring Forks? (Help!)
 

I posted this in the touring forum, but this forum seems to be moving a little faster (maybe everyone is out on a tour right now, the weather is lovely).

I'm trying to re-build an older touring bike (a 1999 Novara Randonee) and I'm trying to replace the fork with a bit of newer technology.

I can't seem to find anything that will work...I've looked through the forum (my search is messed up for some reason--but I still didn't readily see anything regarding a 1" threadless touring fork).

With the help of google, I was able to find a Tange Prestige 1" threadless touring fork (supposedly with rack bosses and fender eyelets), but the picture is awful, and it's a "call for availability" item from a dealer I'm unfamiliar with.

I checked eBay but can't seem to find anything there, either.

Any suggestions? Anyone have an old one laying around, begging to be used?

I recently installed an EBay Prestige road fork and love it.
I don't know if this is what you found, but that seems a very good deal.
FWIW, many of the online dealers who list that fork as out-of-stock appear to be using the exact same photo.

Why update for the sake of updating? I have three bikes with threadless headsets and I'm of the opinion that while they have some advantages, so do threaded set ups, not least of which is easier (in my opinion) headset adjustment, the ability to raise your bars without affecting HS adjustment, and not having to buy a new fork when you've decided that you want the bars higher than the steerer will let you take it. People seemed to have realized this and so threaded gear is not that hard to come by now. Check http://rivbike.com/ for example.

But yeah, I'm sure this is an old debate around here.

I just prefer threadless. I used to love my old threaded stuff, but I've found threadless just to be a much nicer option. Also, I can't easily find a nice quill stem with a removeable faceplate (people on eBay have jacked them through the roof because of the fixed gear market, and most are supposed to be exceptionally flexy). Plus, c'mon man, I'm a commuter--any time I think about an upgrade, it's just a matter of time before it actually happens. Haha :)

Also, that ride-this site is the one I'm talking about, with the really pixelated photo...has anyone ever dealt with them? I've just had bad luck in the past dealing with companies I'm not familiar with, hassles getting stuff, and even more hassles when it came to trying to contact customer service.

What type of braking system are you using?

I bought this nice 1 inch carbon fork at Nashbar, can do v-brakes or cantis or disc brakes:
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

Now, I KNOW I saw steel forks on Nashbar about a year ago. But not now.

No matter, you can yourself a nice steel fork here: www.aebike.com
http://aebike.com/images/library/cat...50m/FK0085.jpg

You MIGHT have trouble finding a 1 inch threadless rigid steel 700c fork with brake bosses on the fork blades. If you are going with cantis or v-brakes.

You can buy a steel fork and have the bosses welded to it for very little cost?

The $16 option.
http://www.velo-orange.com/vothstad.html
Unfortunately they are out of stock right now.

I'm not entirely convinced that converting to 1 inch threadless is actually an upgrade. Not that there is anything wrong with threadless (it is slightly superior to threaded, but just a little.) There are plenty of parts available for both 1 inch threaded, and 1 1/8th threadless. However, there isn't much out there for 1 inch threadless, or 1 1/8th threaded. If you have one of those, I'd just ditch it, as parts availability is scarce.

Surly's Cross-Check fork is pretty good. http://surlybikes.com/parts/cross-check_fork/

Practically any bike shop could order it for you. The newer version has mid fork low rider braze-ons. If you want these, make sure the LBS orders the correct one.

Ahhhh!!

Thanks a ton, I didn't realize they were still making the 1" variation! All I could find was 1 1/8". I'm gonna drop by the LBS today.