Thinking Of Ditching The Suspension Forks In Favour Of Rigid
Discussion
Having completed a 40mile ride at the weekend with my Pace Stealth forks permanantly locked out I am considering swapping to a pair of carbon fibre rigid forks as it seams I an karting around a couple of lbs of dead weight. Most of my riding is on road/cycle tracks, with perhaps 15% off road.
HAve I gone mad?
HAve I gone mad?
pablo said:
not at all, carbon forks should have a little bit of bounce in them and they should make a big difference.
i trust you are already running road-esque tyres? surprising how much difference a larger outer chainring makes too...
I run semi slicks currently, but do also have some Ritchey Tom Slicks & WTB Velociraptors.i trust you are already running road-esque tyres? surprising how much difference a larger outer chainring makes too...
These are trhe forks I am considering - http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&p=784&
Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Tuesday 22 June 08:15
john_p said:
Ooh now I'm tempted. I currently have a crappy Suntour spring jobbie (40-50mm travel), how will a carbon fork compare in weight and in shock absorption?
The eXotic ones are about 750g for the £105 carbon steerer'd ones, the carbon should take out some of the "buzz"Measure the axle to crown height to check they will be about the right length.
Straight tube carbon such as the forks in the link won't absorb anything. Carbon needs a slight bend so there is some designed flex available. See the rear triangles of carbon road bikes and, to a certain extent, the swept forks of road bikes.
They may be carbon but those forks look like they will not survive anything other than perfect tarmac.
Surely a MTB without suspension is a hybrid.
They may be carbon but those forks look like they will not survive anything other than perfect tarmac.
Surely a MTB without suspension is a hybrid.
Raven Flyer said:
They may be carbon but those forks look like they will not survive anything other than perfect tarmac.
There are many users that say otherwise.MAy I suggest you take a look here - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/-_-/5360016812/
or here - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
or here - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
or here - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Tuesday 22 June 10:54
Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Tuesday 22 June 10:56
My first 3 mountain bikes had rigid forks (1989 Marin Bolinas Ridge, 1992 Kona Lava Dome, 1993 Orange Clockwork). We used to do jumps on them and everything! Rigid forks are not quite as fragile as you may think
My current Orange P7 also has Pace RC31 forks, they are good at absorbing small vibrations but as above, you have to pick your line more carefully
My current Orange P7 also has Pace RC31 forks, they are good at absorbing small vibrations but as above, you have to pick your line more carefully
Raven Flyer said:
Surely a MTB without suspension is a hybrid.
Are you quite young? I've never had a MTB with suspension forks (a Flexstem was the closest I got to suspension systems) and started riding 20 years ago at the age of 13. Admittedly I've not bought a new MTB for over a decade, but can still throw my Yo Eddy down some fairly technical trails. Fortunately I'm into XC rather than DH, so can get away with the RC30s on the front.I do get a lot of trail buzz which can be annoying, but it's not too bad. Suspension would be nice to have but not on the Yo Eddy geometry, maybe a third bike is required
Reading the reviews on Chain Reaction, you would really have to wonder what all the World Cup riders are doing with front suspension forks on their bikes. Clearly a £100 set of cheap carbon tubes is the way to go.
My early MTBs all had rigid forks, because such things weren't mass produced so were beyond the financial reach of most people. The bikes weren't sold with rigid forks because they were somehow better. I can remember having no feeling in my hands for hours after most rides.
For road riding there is no point having front suspension, but for road riding there is no point having an MTB. The tyres are wrong, the geometry is wrong and the gears are wrong. A £200 Halfords racer would be a much better ride.
My early MTBs all had rigid forks, because such things weren't mass produced so were beyond the financial reach of most people. The bikes weren't sold with rigid forks because they were somehow better. I can remember having no feeling in my hands for hours after most rides.
For road riding there is no point having front suspension, but for road riding there is no point having an MTB. The tyres are wrong, the geometry is wrong and the gears are wrong. A £200 Halfords racer would be a much better ride.
Raven Flyer said:
Reading the reviews on Chain Reaction, you would really have to wonder what all the World Cup riders are doing with front suspension forks on their bikes. Clearly a £100 set of cheap carbon tubes is the way to go.
My early MTBs all had rigid forks, because such things weren't mass produced so were beyond the financial reach of most people. The bikes weren't sold with rigid forks because they were somehow better. I can remember having no feeling in my hands for hours after most rides.
For road riding there is no point having front suspension, but for road riding there is no point having an MTB. The tyres are wrong, the geometry is wrong and the gears are wrong. A £200 Halfords racer would be a much better ride.
That's all in your opinion though. I don't agree with much of it.My early MTBs all had rigid forks, because such things weren't mass produced so were beyond the financial reach of most people. The bikes weren't sold with rigid forks because they were somehow better. I can remember having no feeling in my hands for hours after most rides.
For road riding there is no point having front suspension, but for road riding there is no point having an MTB. The tyres are wrong, the geometry is wrong and the gears are wrong. A £200 Halfords racer would be a much better ride.
For road riding, canal towpaths, cycleways, and the occasional bridleway a £200 road bike isn't all that useful, but a light MTB with rigid forks would be fine. A hybrid might do the job but if the OP has the MTB already then it'll be cheaper to buy the rigid forks than buy a hybrid. Also gives him flexibility to swap back to his suspension when he wants to.
Just put the eXotic ali forks on to my new (old frame) commuter bike with full Deore + kit.
The power delivery compared to my Felf Complusion is immense, did a little offroad with these and a set oc Continental Contact City tyres. Very good. Just remember to loosen up if you hop off a kerb!
The power delivery compared to my Felf Complusion is immense, did a little offroad with these and a set oc Continental Contact City tyres. Very good. Just remember to loosen up if you hop off a kerb!
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