Rigid Forks

drumon
drumon Posts: 175
edited November 2008 in MTB buying advice
I Have rigid forks on my MTB (believe it had suspension forks of some sort originally). It was second hand to me and came with these fairly ordinary curved steel forks made by "Spinner", believe they make LOADS of forks.....

I like the rigids, maintenance free and I use it quite a lot on cycle paths anyway.

My Question is... Whats the difference between using a straight or bent rigid fork, and where do carbon forks come into this, see there a lot of straight carbon forks available for MTBs now, whats the advantage of them (other than weight) over a steel or alu rigid fork and are they tough enough for riding bumby terrain, how far can you push them?

Comments

  • drumon
    drumon Posts: 175
    Any takers? contributions welcome.
  • off-one
    off-one Posts: 155
    I would say the biggest difference with carbon is, they absorb more trail buzz etc. Ive had a pair of On One carbon forks for a year, and ride in the Peak District with no problems. I think everyone goes through the will they snap phase.
  • drumon
    drumon Posts: 175
    ... and they dont snap I take it.
    have you ever heard of that happening?

    do they suffer fatigue and become weaker?
  • Salsa
    Salsa Posts: 753
    I run Carbon forks (& bars/stem/post) & have done for more than a year now. In fact I have just upgraded my Bontrager race x light ones (Pace style) to a set of Ritchey WCS full carbon ones (curved style).
    I really like riding them just for the feel of them (quick/stiff/great tracking) & sold my Fox XC forks to pay for the Ritcheys, they are really fast for xc use & make the technical stuff more fun as you have to pick your lines better. I don't mind though as my bikes really light (under 20lbs) & reacts to weight adjustments & steering input really quickly so they work for me.

    As for how hard you can push them, use them for what they are designed for which is xc riding & you can't go wrong. I remember when I first took the plunge into carbon bars a few years back & was worried about them breaking but a few weeks later I rode them with as much confidence as an alu bar, same thing with these. Not saying I'd do big double sets on them, but on all but the most bumpy & fast technical terrain that they can plow over I can keep in touch with suspension riding friends & then blitz them on the up hills.

    I also have no need for my Bontragers any more & would sell them if your interested, they are these >
    http://bontrager.com/model/05024/en
    They use ACC carbon fiber legs which is carbon over a thin alu core so light & strong.

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