Anyone ever upgrade an old Manitou 26er fork with springs instead of elastomers?

[Vesatoro]

As I understand, polyurethane acts like a progressive curve spring, whereas steel spring is almost always linear curve spring. I feel the damping characteristics depend greatly on temperature. In hot climate they are pogo as steel spring, in cold… well, very damped.

 

[Thias]

The elastomers just get harder and harder (or slower to compress?) with lower temperature. That's one of the reasons why in cold climate countries winter tires on cars are basically mandatory. It would be interesting to know, if with lower temperatures the elastomers become slower or harder or both.

The rebound rate an Elastomere has is the same as his compression rate. Up to a point, that is.

I agree on the progressiveness. There are progressive steel springs though. And you can mix a non progressive steel spring with a short rubber end to gain a little bit of "progressiveness" on bottom out. In fact it's something you should do.

 

[24pouces]

I used some Pace microcellular bumpers which work very fine with a smooth damper

 

[brj]

The elastomers just get harder and harder (or slower to compress?) with lower temperature. That's one of the reasons why in cold climate countries winter tires on cars are basically mandatory. It would be interesting to know, if with lower temperatures the elastomers become slower or harder or both.

The rebound rate an Elastomere has is the same as his compression rate. Up to a point, that is.

I agree on the progressiveness. There are progressive steel springs though. And you can mix a non progressive steel spring with a short rubber end to gain a little bit of "progressiveness" on bottom out. In fact it's something you should do.

The original Moulton bicycle front suspension unit fitted inside the steering tube and comprised of a metal spring with a full length rubber core.