Yowsir! Which Fork To Use?
05-04-13 | 07:45 PM
#26
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
hmmmmm............could someone turn that into a flow chart********************?
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
05-04-13 | 08:47 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,013
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
Have broken a steel fork on our tandem after 13,000 miles.
Currently have a carbon fork/steerer on our tandem with only 34,000+ miles on it.
Single bike has c/f fork with 15,000+ miles on it.
Note: it is not how OLD your bike/fork is; the mileage is a better indicator than the age.
Too man bikes are 'old' but have minimal miles on them.
Currently have a carbon fork/steerer on our tandem with only 34,000+ miles on it.
Single bike has c/f fork with 15,000+ miles on it.
Note: it is not how OLD your bike/fork is; the mileage is a better indicator than the age.
Too man bikes are 'old' but have minimal miles on them.
05-05-13 | 04:50 AM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 2
From: Newport News, VA USA
Bikes: Diamondback Edgewood LX; Giant Defy 1
I think of jarring as referring to shock, where buzzing refers to vibration. A fork that flexes is good at absorbing shock due to its elastic bending - like thin diameter, modern, high-strength steel (OXplat or 853/953, or even CrMo, the venerable Columbus Cyclex or 531 steel). A fork made of material that has inherent energy dissipation properties would be better for preventing vibration from reaching the rider - carbon fiber composite excels at this due to the epoxy binding the fibers together. It's not generally as good at flexing as steel is.
05-05-13 | 10:07 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 11
From: Near St. Louis, Missouri
Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced, Breezer Doppler Team, Schwinn Twinn Tandem, Windsor Tourist, 1954 JC Higgens
I have a carbon fork on my Giant Defy Advanced and a steel fork on my Windsor Tourist. On the same patch of rough road, the Tourist is somewhat better.
BUT the Giant has 700x25 tires at 100 psi and the Windsor has 700x32s at 80 psi or less.
AND I have double-wrapped handlebar tape on the Windsor.
Therefore the Giant's CF fork must be doing something right to even be in the same ballpark.
BUT the Giant has 700x25 tires at 100 psi and the Windsor has 700x32s at 80 psi or less.
AND I have double-wrapped handlebar tape on the Windsor.
Therefore the Giant's CF fork must be doing something right to even be in the same ballpark.
05-05-13 | 10:18 AM
#30
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: New England
Bikes: Trek 6500, Giant Escape 3
What if I carry my own forks in my vest pocket of the jacket I am wearing? Seriously, my brother-in-law's brother used to carry his own hot sauce into our favorite Mexican restaurant. He always had a different brand with him. When I finally got to visit his house, I found that he was, and still is, a hot sauce collector!
05-05-13 | 05:32 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 17,196
Likes: 761
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
05-13-13 | 09:26 AM
#32
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It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
05-13-13 | 09:40 AM
#33
Seat Sniffer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 3,036
From: SoCal
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
I've had people make all kinds of ridiculous claims about CF components:
"Yea ... my bike used to ride really harsh when I had an aluminum seatpost. With the CF seatpost, it's really plush."
Plush? With something as stiff as CF and 90% loaded in compression? Compared to the compliance of the tires, the seat, and the seat suspension? Balderdash.
I had an straight gauge aluminum bike (with an aluminum fork too) and switched to a CF fork. My take on it? The difference is that when you go over a bump, the CF fork goes BONG where the Al fork would have gone BANG. That's about it. It's not like you'll get more vertical compliance out of the part ... you won't. But the vibrations don't "ring" as much.
That being said, the BANG versus BONG difference isn't terribly significant for short rides. But when you're talking about long rides on crappy roads, it does add up.
YMMV.
"Yea ... my bike used to ride really harsh when I had an aluminum seatpost. With the CF seatpost, it's really plush."
Plush? With something as stiff as CF and 90% loaded in compression? Compared to the compliance of the tires, the seat, and the seat suspension? Balderdash.
I had an straight gauge aluminum bike (with an aluminum fork too) and switched to a CF fork. My take on it? The difference is that when you go over a bump, the CF fork goes BONG where the Al fork would have gone BANG. That's about it. It's not like you'll get more vertical compliance out of the part ... you won't. But the vibrations don't "ring" as much.
That being said, the BANG versus BONG difference isn't terribly significant for short rides. But when you're talking about long rides on crappy roads, it does add up.
YMMV.
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Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
05-13-13 | 09:49 AM
#34
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Ok, I'm visiting with one biking veteran in the LBO and he tells me to stay away from carbon forks!
I do like the idea of carbon, but does a steel fork really help with wrists and arms like he says?
Man, we are living and learning!
Fred
I do like the idea of carbon, but does a steel fork really help with wrists and arms like he says?
Man, we are living and learning!
Fred
one thing aero bars do is take the load off your wrists and arms , and then you lean on your forearms, instead.
that is If you can bend over that far.. as the smaller frontal area of bending over is the Aero part..
top of shoulders vs chest.
