Best carbon fork for a big guy...
 

I'm working through the details of upgrading the front end of my Cannondale roadie. It has the 1 1/4 headtube, which is making it a real PITA just to get a different stem. I am about 6'3", 240, and I've been told by some that I won't be happy with a carbon fork, it will feel like a wet noodle.

I've often thought the aluminum SubOne fork on the bike now was less than confidence inspiring, but the consensus is that most carbon forks will not be any better in terms of performance. I am not concerned about weight, but I am concerned about strength, and cost (effectiveness).

I would like to take advantage of a closeout deal, perhpas a Nashbar Kestrel or Cambria Kinesis closeout. Any and all feedback is much appreciated about these forks and otherwise.

Thank you.

Jim

I'm only slightly smaller than you and my carbon fork feels nice and snappy in its handling and it's definitely better vibration-wise than the old aluminum fork I was riding on.

Thanks for the reply. What fork did you go with?

Jim

It's Torelli's Aspect SL

You might want to check out a Wound Up fork, they're supposed to solid and they have a really sweet old school look

If you want to replace the whole stem/headset/fork combo then you might want to consider going with a Chris King Devolution headset or conversion kit which should open you up to a wider range of choices.

I'm 6'2", 250 pounds, and ride a Fuji Roubaix with the stock fork--carbon with, I think, an aluminum steerer. Nice and solid; nothing noodly about it.

I used to own one of those Cannondales (3.0) with the 1-1/4" headsets and forks. Fortunately the stem length was fine because I was not able to find any replacement. I had experienced a few instances of the dreaded wheel wobble and decided that a carbon fork would be the answer to my problem. Well after searching the market I came up with the conclusion: There are NO REPLACEMENT FORKS of any kind to fit 1-1/4". Not cheap ones on closeout, Not expensive ones, just plain NONE.

I priced an adaptor kit and a new headset along with a new 1-1/8" fork and stem. It was prohibitively expensive. So I ended up living with it for a while and then picked up a new F&F when a great deal came along. Then I sold my old F&F after switching the components. Bottom line - $150 out of pocket. Much less than I could have upgraded for, and I ended up with everything new. No adaptor kits either.

My recommendation to you is to look for a new F&F and do what I did, or live with what you have.

There is nothing noodly about a carbon fork. The various designs have different stiffness characteristics but any of them will be better than the all aluminum "Sub One" Cannondale fork that you have now. I found that to be pretty soft and I weigh about 175. Good luck.

I went with Alpha Q with Titainium steerer from True Temper. It was pricey but if your gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.