Rigid Forks

snowster

Having acquired a RR 560 from Decathalon back in November to use as a Winter bike/Commuter I have always wanted to try rigid here lies my problem I have measured from top of my crown to the middle Axel which is 460mm but I am unsure what forks length I need?
The forks I am looking at are:
http://www.carboncycles.cc/index.php?s= ... p=1053#top in 42.5cm or 44.5cm Versions?

The Rookie

460mm with 100mm travel will be 435mm when sagged, either will be fine as 1cm is only making a tiny difference to geo.

I use Mosso aluminium forks on my commuter, a little less stiff (more comfy) and cheaper and lighter!

snowster

Not a lot in it weight wise exotic od carbon 780 grams Mosso 782grams according to their website.

The Rookie

My Mosso is 680g

step83

I picked up the Mosso's a while back on rookies recommendation, ideal for a commuter bike even done some trails on them weight wise is about spot on mine were just a smidge over 680g an they even had brake mount fitted for a 160mm rotor.

snowster

Any links to Mosso forks?

The Rookie

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= ... s&_sacat=0

snowster

So am after some opinions about changing to rigid its between the Mosso & Extoic? And on a scale from 1 to 10 how easy are they to install? And any additional parts will I require?

The Rookie

Ease to install - well I'd class it as 'pretty' easy.
Remove wheel, undo stem and top cap and remove, loosen top wedge and remove forks, remove crown race from fork.
Refit is the reverse of removal
10 minutes job.

Between the two choices, well that depends on use, for commuting and light gravel work the Mosso is nice, light, just enough give and aerodynamic, but on tougher off road use its a bit to flexy and starts to get a mind of it's own, for that sort of use the Exotic/On-one carbon forks are a better bet. Consider also Salso Chromato (as used by a British world champion) or Prongs forks.

cooldad

Probably a good idea to swap the brakes over as well, if you are one of those pussy riders who need them.

You also might have to cut the steerer tube down, or add spacers. A hacksaw works well enough.

snowster

Many thanks looks like am going to go for Mosso half the price of the Exotic as its for commuting and the odd Devon Country lane which is more of off-road with the amount of pot holes

The Rookie

Mosso will be good for that, I have it on my commuter and use it daily on country lanes, plus do the odd local abandoned railway line with it and run it a bit like a CXer (flat bars though).

snowster

Before I hit the buy it now can someone confirm I got the right ones for a 26 mtb with 100mm of travel?
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mosso-26-MTB-Bl ... 1819893455

Giraffoto

They look alright to me. Have you checked whether you need a straight or tapered steerer?

snowster

Thanks Fella

The Rookie

Will be a straight fit, to answer the above, you have a plain steerer so no issue with that.

snowster

Many thanks to all now ordered one last question is it possible to buy a new crown for the fork so I can leave the old on the current forks and if so any ideal which one I will require?

cooldad

The correct crown race for your headset. Has nothing to do with the forks.

snowster

So I need to get one that is compatible with the headset then? Any ideal which one

The Rookie

What headset have you got?

cooldad

The one that is compatible with your headset is the ideal one. And possibly the only one.

snowster

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-56 ... 93151.html
A-Headset 1-1/8" external headset if that helps?

cooldad

Nope, the A- headset bit is just a generic description, not a make or model.

Giraffoto

snowster wrote:

Many thanks to all now ordered one last question is it possible to buy a new crown for the fork so I can leave the old on the current forks and if so any ideal which one I will require?

It's probably not that easy to just buy the crown race, and then again, why on Earth would you want to? Even if it's a bit stiff to get off it'll still only take a few minutes. You might be lucky and find that the lower race is split (design feature, not damage) and it'll pop off with no trouble at all.

cooldad

Or just use a hacksaw to turn it into a split race.

snowster

Thanks Giraffoto will give it a try as soon as the forks arrive sound like a good ideal Cooldad much easier to swap the forks over I guess

Giraffoto

They really are fairly straightforward to get off, even the unsplit versions. You generally need a soft hammer or a variety of flat screwdrivers.

snowster

Decided I am to give it a go when new forks arrive so as cooldad suggested in cutting the crown to make it easier to remove a good ideal?

The Rookie

If it's cartridge bearing, cutting it is fine, if it's loose ball it's not!

Giraffoto

snowster wrote:

Decided I am to give it a go when new forks arrive so as cooldad suggested in cutting the crown to make it easier to remove a good ideal?

As with so many things, it depends . . .

You'll have to get it off first anyway, so unless you plan to swap headsets or forks regularly - and few people do - it's not that important. A split crown race is a "nice to have". You'll probably then want to leave it on the new fork forever, so how important is it to be able to get it on or off easily?

And as has been said above, if you have loose ball or caged ball bearings, forget it.

snowster

Arrived Monday Fitted Yesterday