I've been browsing many different bike companies' catalogs and notice that most bikes, even steel frame bikes, nowadays come equipped with a carbon fiber fork.

My question... if you're planning on spending over $1500-2000 on a new bike, why don't these companies give you the option of getting a steel fork?

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who'd rather not have a carbon fork. Seems like those cyclists who prefer the ride of steel are relagated to buying track bikes or bikes from Rivendell.

I guess for the same reason you can't buy bikes with downtube shifters anymore. The manufacturers put on what the majority of the buyers would want and the minority has to customize if they want something different.

It's a marketing thing, haven't you realized by now?

Axiom: "sell what people need and you'll make money, but sell what people WANT and you'll get rich"

Carbon forks is the trend nowdays and is what people want (at least the majority) therefore what sells.

It's simple really,

Corsaire

I would have to respectfully disagree with you in that I feel that there aren't a lot of people out there who'd rather have a steel fork. I think a steel fork represents "old school" and while it will always have it's place among the purists and people who've taken the time to learn about it, it doesn't represent the latest and greatest to a world hungry for the newest technology.

Simply stated - today, July 1, 2004, carbon is easier to sell.

55/Rad

Why would you want steel on the front anyway? Carbon is lighter and absorbs shock/vibration way better than steel to provide a much nicer ride. Put a carbon fork on a steel frame and you have a great ride.

Yea why steel? I'm not a roady yet but I have an old road bike I'm fixing up so I can be one, and this seems like an expensive piece to change later. I already know why people dig carbon.