Carbon Forks-Much of a difference?

davesvord
davesvord Posts: 80
edited March 2008 in Workshop
I’ve just updated my old and worn circa 1970/80s 531 to a new alloy frame for my 30 mile round commute. The ride seems much harsher and I feel all the bad road surfaces. My question is would upgrading to carbon forks make that much of a difference to warrant purchase?

Comments

  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    If the forks are also alu, then probably yes. If steel, probably no. Just an opinion, obviously!

    Are you running same size tyres at same pressure? Air suspension plays an important role in diminishing "harshness".
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • davesvord
    davesvord Posts: 80
    Yes I replaced the majority of components but the wheels are the same (Tiagra with Mavic MA3 rims and Conti gator skins) and yes the forks are alloy.
  • Sea_Green_Incorruptible
    Sea_Green_Incorruptible Posts: 431
    I replaced my alu/carbon forks with full carbon a week or so ago and the difference is noticeable in terms of both comfort and weight. The carbon takes the worst of the jags off a bumpy road and (the ones I got at least) are noticably lighter than my old ones...
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    Assuming that you mean that changed an alu steerer/carbon blade for all carbon, I'm not sure why that should in itself affect comfort! A different, better, blade, yes. But the steerer?
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    I'm not at all surprised it affected his comfort - proof that the placebo effect is alive and well.
  • Sea_Green_Incorruptible
    Sea_Green_Incorruptible Posts: 431
    Most of my old forks were alu... they had about two and half inches of carbon weave integrated half way up the blade... A cheap-ass solution on an otherwise well specced bike... And the ride difference really IS noticeable...
  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    they had about two and half inches of carbon weave integrated half way up the blade

    Never seen or heard of any forks like that.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    If you've got aluminium alloy forks I'd definitely consider a replacement, having just had an alloy fork fail on me a few weeks ago due to fatigue. IME alloy forks have the unique ability to be both harsh and yet flexy enough for alarming speed-wooble. Good carbon forks can be had for about £50 these days - they will save a significant chunk of weight too - you'll also need to budget for a new aheadset and stem. For a good steel fork, the performance benefits are more marginal - but they will be a lot lighter. However, some steel fork are very heavy and harsh.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..

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