Carbon forks? - maybe not then....

[Andy R]

In view of all this sh*te weather we seem to get now (and also just for a change..) I've been thinking of putting some rigid forks on my "Platsa Blue" Explosif singlespeed instead of the Magura Asgards that currently reside there. Save some weight and one less thing to faff with, especially now that my riding seems to consist of grinding through bogs, picking a way up and down rocky tracks that resemble rivers and sliding on my arse down peaty descents....

I was even thinking of getting a pair of the "Superstar" 465mm carbon 29er ones (rather than the 445mm 26" version) and playing about with a 29" front wheel, just to see what it would be like.
However, a little voice somewhere inside my head keeps telling me that carbon isn't the way to go and it could all end in tears :cry: :cry:
I know thousands of people ride with carbon forks, but it all depends what sort of riding you do and mine isn't always on the most predictable of terrain - ie most of it isn't smoothish singletrack, off the beaten track more like.

I also considered the 445mm cro/mo Pipedream forks, but they are currently out of stock and aren't expected for quite a while.
Has anyone here fitted a 29" wheel in those - is there enough clearance to do so?
I suppose Salsa are probably my best bet then, if I decide that carbon isn't advisable from a "peace of mind point" of view - any other suggestions gratefully received .

Minimum 440mm axle/crown and ideally disc only.

 

[letmetalktomark]

Dont mess with that new fangled witchcraft Carbon Fibre..........

Salsa Cromoto all the way.

I have a 26'' 440mm A to C on my Kili (link below) which I hope to try a 29'' wheel in over winter.

Steel = Good

 

[Andy R]

Mark,

I had a look at your Saracen pics (nice bike BTW !) and there seems to be plenty of clearance in the Salsa forks for me to try a 29" front wheel at some time.

I suppose the fact that I was a bit unsure about the carbon fork idea should have been enough for me. I am a mechanical engineer (well, in a "former life" I was, just don't earn a living from it anymore ) but I don't claim to have any experience of how composites behave. Good old steel is a different matter...

Many thanks mate !

Andy.

 

[tintin40]

If my bikes had OS head tubes then I would buy WCS Ritchey carbon forks. At 500grams very nice. Sorry wouldn't bover with 29r. But if your not happy with 26 wheels then try them or buy a road bike What's wrong with 26 wheels??

 

[kaiser]

Does Kona have a fork that'll suit?

 

[messiah]

There is a thread somewhere on here about the Pace RC31 forks I had for a whole two rides.

Here is what started it.

First outing with the Pace forks was really enjoyable and I was wondering to myself if I should even think about putting the Bombers back on?

Second outing was not so enjoyable... I had a wee crash It didn't seem like much at the time because I didn't actually come off the bike, but we were stopped pretty much dead by a tree stump. My front wheel was buckled and I had to take the front brake off to get back to the car. I noticed that the wheel was not straight in the fork and noticed when removing the wheel that one of the bonded magnesium dropouts had moved on the carbon fork leg :evil: :evil:
I phoned Pace, got a returns number and sent them off. Pace informed me that both dropouts needed rebonding which I gave the go ahead for

A day later and another call from Pace to say that after bonding both the dropouts on they torsion tested the forks and found that one of the legs was moving in the crown. This is non repairable damage and hence the forks will be scrapped :cry:
Pace have offered to sell me a new set for £110 when they build a limited batch of new forks in about a months time - which I guess is not bad considering I bought them second hand and they are obliged to do nothing for me really

Adrian reckoned that the forks had seen a severe twisting force: When he described the forces it pretty much described my crash. It didn't seem like much at the time because I didn't come off... but my whole speed and weight went straight through the front wheel and fork when I was stopped pretty much dead by a tree stump. My handlebars were at an angle so there was definetly a twisting force going on, also evidenced by the buckle in the front wheel.

Nobody likes to break a £100 component on it's second outing but heyho :roll: In my biking time I've done a lot worse but it's been a while since I've broken anything because I tend to ride stupidly overbuilt monster bikes when I'm riding the silly stuff.

The moral of this story is not to crash when using superlight bonded carbon fibre forks

Reason for crash? I was riding with an injured hand which means I was not covering both brakes effectively, when I lost control over a 1ft drop I could not react quick enough to get on the brakes and scrub off speed before launching into the undergrowth... and then the tree stump got me :evil:

Oh well... chalk it up to experience and fun.

I'm not saying they are bad, but certainly not for me and the way I ride
The Kona P2's from 1995 on my Kona are lasting just fine though :twisted: I will not be venturing into Carbon again, I should have known better since I broke two Trek OCLV frames in 1995 :roll:

 

[Andy R]

If my bikes had OS head tubes then I would buy WCS Ritchey carbon forks. At 500grams very nice. Sorry wouldn't bover with 29r. But if your not happy with 26 wheels then try them or buy a road bike What's wrong with 26 wheels??

I just can't believe that I'd ever have enough confidence in a pair of forks that weigh that little. Maybe for XC racing on fairly well - groomed surfaces, but for riding that might well include a few drop-offs and rock steps etc. I'd be too worried about having my face spread all over the ground...

There's nothing "wrong" with 26" wheels - I didn't say there was, I've been riding on them for long enough !
However, a lot of people say nice things about 29" wheels (especially on the front) and as it wouldn't cost a fortune to try, then why not ?

Anyway, I'm not about to buy a road bike - it would be about as much use as a chocolate teapot where I ride

Kona do make 440mm forks, but the ones I've seen have are just shorter ones with a butt-ugly extension at the base of the steerer, rather than having longer legs. Look gross and no use for , dare I say it, a 29" wheel either...

 

[JustKev]

If my bikes had OS head tubes then I would buy WCS Ritchey carbon forks. At 500grams very nice. Sorry wouldn't bover with 29r. But if your not happy with 26 wheels then try them or buy a road bike What's wrong with 26 wheels??

I just can't believe that I'd ever have enough confidence in a pair of forks that weigh that little. Maybe for XC racing on fairly well - groomed surface

TinTIN only rides Duck Boards, really smooth

 

[kaiser]

What about these


http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/p2-road-fork-ec001686

 

[tintin40]

[
TinTIN only rides Duck Boards, really smooth [/quote]

That's me 'Smooth'