Kaiser,
Nicely balanced build...but those awful forks!
You've got a good eye for the aesthetic, very cool ride.
I must admit, the cycling community is an opinionated group
A few answers to some of the comments generated in this thread...
- the front end will feel a bit heavy not due to the material used, but due to the resultant geometry. The forks you have on the bike are about 10mm too long for the year of the frame, which, when combined with the offset, ultimately slackens the headtube by about .5 degree and extends the wheelbase a skoosh. This will not dramatically affect the steering/handling of the bike (tire pressure actually will make more of a palpable difference) but does factor into the perceived ease of lifting the front wheel.
- The fork was designed for performance over aesthetics. I wanted a front end that allowed for mindless tracking (the box crown) with the ability of the legs to absorb the trail irregularities over the entire length rather than a focused portion close to the dropouts that is often achieved with a raked design. This allows for a product that will distribute stress more evenly, lending to greater fatigue life, and reduces overall torsional affect on handling. The rougher the terrain and the harder you push it, the better it gets.
- All Groovy products come with a lifetime warranty for craftsmanship. That being said, all material has a terminal life span. If you run it into a wall as suggested, you will likely break the frame before you will the forks. I've not yet left anyone hanging, whether the original owner or not, at fault or not, in the end it's about both of us leaving with a smile.
- I agree with a couple other posters...lose the Groovy decals, they distract from the clean lines of the build.
Overall, a nicely done rider. I hope you enjoy it. Next time post some dirty pics of her
rody