CHOOSING A FORK

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a fork.
This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I just
turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I am
concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

I lack the tech knowledge to answer you, but I do have a question. Isn't
it a bit of a leap to spring for a custom frame without knowing these
answers yourself? I thought a custom frame could only be justified by a
person with enough knowing that he could spec exactly what he wanted all
throughout.

Anyway, to your question, why not ask your custom frame builder for a
recommendation? Clearly you trust him to make a frame so why not trust
him to recommend what goes with a frame he makes?

-paul

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a fork.
This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I just
turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I am
concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

I am assuming that the shock absorbing characteristics of carbon forks
are based on equivalent tire sizes. Since carbon forks are not designed
to accommodate tires 28mm or larger [the kind I prefer] would a steel
fork with a 28 or 32mm tire be just as comfortable and shock absorbing
[not to mention cheaper] than a carbon fork with a 25mm tire?

A well made steel fork will work as well or better than any carbon
fork, tire width notwithstanding. Carbon forks are just lighter, not
better, when compared to a well made steel fork.

Quoted message said:

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort?

See above.

Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a

Quoted message said:

factor?

NO

Just read something about the larger tires having less?!

Quoted message said:

rolling resistance than the smaller ones. What about aerodynamics. How
much of this matters at 15mph +/-

Not at all. Buy a steel fork because it performs well, looks great and
will last forever, with a steel frame.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your answers and sharing your experience knowledge and
common sense .

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a
fork. This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I
just turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I
am concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

generally, carbon forks are safer than steel forks in that they're both
stronger in static loading and significantly more fatigue resistant.
add their dynamic benefits, i.e. vibration attenuation, and suddenly you
have three excellent reasons for carbon forks being so popular.
naysayers will deny based in irrational fud, but those are the facts.

other facts to consider:

a while back there was a batch of sub-standard kestrel forks on the
market. in terms of ride, kestrels are possibly the best i've tried,
and if you can get an old one made state-side, it's worth having. but
other more recent ones are just garbage. to test, squeeze the fork
blades together with one hand. if you hear any creaking or cracking
noises of any kind, return or abandon that fork - it'll make
increasingly alarming cracking noises every time you hit a bump, and
will in due course fail. again, do not ride *any* carbon fork that
makes any noise when squeezed. or in use.

all forks are not equal. i had a reynolds ouzo comp, 1" steerer, that
was a complete noodle. it shimmied on my large frames like a lump of
jello, so while carbon may be strong and offer excellent fatigue
resistance, design is real important to give stiffness where it's
needed; in this case lateral stiffness was lacking.

Quoted message said:

I am assuming that the shock absorbing characteristics of carbon
forks are based on equivalent tire sizes.

no.

Quoted message said:

Since carbon forks are not designed to accommodate tires 28mm or
larger

not true. carbon cross and carbon tandem forks accommodate larger tires.

Quoted message said:

[the kind I prefer] would a steel fork with a 28 or 32mm tire be just
as comfortable and shock absorbing [not to mention cheaper] than a
carbon fork with a 25mm tire?

why don't you try for yourself? i've tried 6 different carbon forks,
and imo, they all give a more comfortable ride than steel, regardless of
different tires used.

Quoted message said:

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort?

dude, you're confusing the issue. these are two entirely separate
things. assess the fork in isolation and the tires in isolation.
there's no synergism.

Quoted message said:

Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a factor? Just read
something about the larger tires having less?! rolling resistance
than the smaller ones. What about aerodynamics. How much of this
matters at 15mph +/-

imo, there's very little fact presented on this forum regarding tires.
at least, not compared to the vast amount of opinion.

tire manufacturers, while admittedly tight lipped on details, do allude
to obvious things like the effects of different treads in different road
situations, yet the only data shared on this forum for example, is for
testing tires with a smooth steel roller. clearly, while this is a
great tool for comparative measure, it's not representative of real road
conditions, unless, unlike me, you happen to have polished steel roads
in your neighborhood.

again, unless you can obtain useful data on the tires you're considering
for the terrain you'll be riding, you're stuck with doing your own
testing and forming your own opinions of what suits you.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your answers and sharing your experience knowledge and
common sense .

as said by others, trust your frame builder.

In article
<[email hidden]>,
"[email hidden]" <[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort? Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a
factor? Just read something about the larger tires having less?!
rolling resistance than the smaller ones.

What do you mean by larger? As tires get wider there comes
a point where the rolling resistance becomes significantly
greater. A wheel with a greater diameter has less rolling
resistance than a wheel of lesser diameter.

[...]

--
Michael Press

jim beam said:

generally, carbon forks are safer than steel forks in that they're both
stronger in static loading and significantly more fatigue resistant.

Carbon fiber can be made stronger for the same weight... but since a
good carbon fork will weigh half as much as a steel one, it is not
normally stronger in practice. Plus, consider the endless pursuit of
the lightest weight that will possibly work...

Quoted message said:

to test, squeeze the fork
blades together with one hand. if you hear any creaking or cracking
noises of any kind, return or abandon that fork

Will that tell you if the steerer is cracked? Really, I hear plenty of
high quality bikes that creak... but I'm pretty sure their forks are
ok. My bike has even developed a slight creak in the front. Is the fork
about to fail, or does it have something to do with riding in the rain
every day?

BTW, I have a carbon fork on my bike. I don't think they are too scary
to use, but neither would I claim that it is superior in ride quality
or durability compared to a steel fork. As far as the OP is concerned,
I think a custom steel fork would be a fine thing to put on a custom
steel frame.

Ozark Bicycle said:

There's no doubt that CF(RP) is the material of choice for a bicycle
that is raced at the professional level, where weight savings are
paramount and frames/forks are routinely replaced *at least* every
season and likely replaced immediately in the event of crash/damage.

Actually, as noted at Het Volk this year (and reported at Pez) there
are more riders going with aluminum frames... apparently because of
numerous carbon frame failures. Everyone is using carbon forks, though.

On 20 Mar 2006 00:19:01 -0800, "Ron Ruff" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Will that tell you if the steerer is cracked? Really, I hear plenty of
high quality bikes that creak... but I'm pretty sure their forks are
ok. My bike has even developed a slight creak in the front. Is the fork
about to fail, or does it have something to do with riding in the rain
every day?

If it only happens after the bike is wet and not when it's been dry
for while, then no problem. If it happens all the time -- even on
rare occasions when the bike is dry, you should look into it,
regardless of what the fork is made of.

JT

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jim beam said:

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a
fork. This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I
just turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I
am concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

generally, carbon forks are safer than steel forks in that they're both
stronger in static loading and significantly more fatigue resistant.
add their dynamic benefits, i.e. vibration attenuation, and suddenly you
have three excellent reasons for carbon forks being so popular.
naysayers will deny based in irrational fud, but those are the facts.

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

Quoted message said:

other facts to consider:

a while back there was a batch of sub-standard kestrel forks on the
market. in terms of ride, kestrels are possibly the best i've tried,
and if you can get an old one made state-side, it's worth having. but
other more recent ones are just garbage. to test, squeeze the fork
blades together with one hand. if you hear any creaking or cracking
noises of any kind, return or abandon that fork - it'll make
increasingly alarming cracking noises every time you hit a bump, and
will in due course fail. again, do not ride *any* carbon fork that
makes any noise when squeezed. or in use.

all forks are not equal. i had a reynolds ouzo comp, 1" steerer, that
was a complete noodle. it shimmied on my large frames like a lump of
jello, so while carbon may be strong and offer excellent fatigue
resistance, design is real important to give stiffness where it's
needed; in this case lateral stiffness was lacking.

Quoted message said:

I am assuming that the shock absorbing characteristics of carbon
forks are based on equivalent tire sizes.

no.

Quoted message said:

Since carbon forks are not designed to accommodate tires 28mm or
larger

not true. carbon cross and carbon tandem forks accommodate larger tires.

Quoted message said:

[the kind I prefer] would a steel fork with a 28 or 32mm tire be just
as comfortable and shock absorbing [not to mention cheaper] than a
carbon fork with a 25mm tire?

why don't you try for yourself? i've tried 6 different carbon forks,
and imo, they all give a more comfortable ride than steel, regardless of
different tires used.

Quoted message said:

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort?

dude, you're confusing the issue. these are two entirely separate
things. assess the fork in isolation and the tires in isolation.
there's no synergism.

Quoted message said:

Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a factor? Just read
something about the larger tires having less?! rolling resistance
than the smaller ones. What about aerodynamics. How much of this
matters at 15mph +/-

imo, there's very little fact presented on this forum regarding tires.
at least, not compared to the vast amount of opinion.

tire manufacturers, while admittedly tight lipped on details, do allude
to obvious things like the effects of different treads in different road
situations, yet the only data shared on this forum for example, is for
testing tires with a smooth steel roller. clearly, while this is a
great tool for comparative measure, it's not representative of real road
conditions, unless, unlike me, you happen to have polished steel roads
in your neighborhood.

again, unless you can obtain useful data on the tires you're considering
for the terrain you'll be riding, you're stuck with doing your own
testing and forming your own opinions of what suits you.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your answers and sharing your experience knowledge and
common sense .

as said by others, trust your frame builder.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

The only time I damaged a fork it was steel and I was going to hit the
ground regardless. And I saw a friends carbon fork snap both blades --
he was going to crash hard regardless of what happend to his bike.

Why do you think that, in a crash severe enough to bend a steel fork,
the fork breaking more dangerous than bending?

JT

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Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

jim beam said:

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a
fork. This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I
just turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I
am concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

generally, carbon forks are safer than steel forks in that they're both
stronger in static loading and significantly more fatigue resistant.
add their dynamic benefits, i.e. vibration attenuation, and suddenly you
have three excellent reasons for carbon forks being so popular.
naysayers will deny based in irrational fud, but those are the facts.

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

Quoted message said:

Using modern design, a carbon bladed, steel steerer tubed fork in the
18-20oz range would probably be impressively strong. I'd still be a bit
concerned about the long term effects of abrasion, etc., but not too
much.

In article <[email hidden]>,

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

The only time I damaged a fork it was steel and I was going to hit the
ground regardless. And I saw a friends carbon fork snap both blades --
he was going to crash hard regardless of what happend to his bike.

Why did the fork blades snap?

Quoted message said:

Why do you think that, in a crash severe enough to bend a steel fork,
the fork breaking more dangerous than bending?

Not enough information.

--
Michael Press

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Will that tell you if the steerer is cracked? Really, I hear plenty of
high quality bikes that creak... but I'm pretty sure their forks are
ok. My bike has even developed a slight creak in the front. Is the fork
about to fail, or does it have something to do with riding in the rain
every day?

It is very easy to get a fork checked, so why not do that? A fork failure
is pretty ugly.
--------------
Alex

Michael Press said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

The only time I damaged a fork it was steel and I was going to hit the
ground regardless. And I saw a friends carbon fork snap both blades --
he was going to crash hard regardless of what happend to his bike.

Why did the fork blades snap?

He ran over some bodies and bikes in the road and flipped over them.
I'm not sure if the blades snapped on impact or on landing or from
(less likely) damage of another bike riding over his -- this happened
in the periphery of my vision. I saw the bike after the event. Speed
was high (about 30mph or a little more).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why do you think that, in a crash severe enough to bend a steel fork,
the fork breaking more dangerous than bending?

Not enough information.

I'm asking a question for Chisholm who suggests that in a crash having
the fork break is dangerous. It seems to me that if the rider is
*already* crashing then what happens to the fork doesn't matter. But
I'm curious what he thinks.

JFT

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Ron Ruff said:

jim beam said:

generally, carbon forks are safer than steel forks in that they're both
stronger in static loading and significantly more fatigue resistant.

Carbon fiber can be made stronger for the same weight... but since a
good carbon fork will weigh half as much as a steel one, it is not
normally stronger in practice. Plus, consider the endless pursuit of
the lightest weight that will possibly work...

Quoted message said:

to test, squeeze the fork
blades together with one hand. if you hear any creaking or cracking
noises of any kind, return or abandon that fork

Will that tell you if the steerer is cracked? Really, I hear plenty of
high quality bikes that creak... but I'm pretty sure their forks are
ok. My bike has even developed a slight creak in the front. Is the fork
about to fail, or does it have something to do with riding in the rain
every day?

i'd strip, clean, inspect, squeeze, and if all seemed ok, reassemble.
if it still creaked, i'd look for evidence of things like stem fretting,
bearing misalignment, etc. if i were worried about the steerer tube,
it's strip, put the fork between two blocks of wood, and apply pressure
with my foot. if it creaked, i'd abandon immediately. otherwise, i'd
say you're good to go. but this does /not/ absolve you from the
responsibility of regular inspections!

Quoted message said:

BTW, I have a carbon fork on my bike. I don't think they are too scary
to use, but neither would I claim that it is superior in ride quality
or durability compared to a steel fork. As far as the OP is concerned,
I think a custom steel fork would be a fine thing to put on a custom
steel frame.

Ozark Bicycle said:

There's no doubt that CF(RP) is the material of choice for a bicycle
that is raced at the professional level, where weight savings are
paramount and frames/forks are routinely replaced *at least* every
season and likely replaced immediately in the event of crash/damage.

Actually, as noted at Het Volk this year (and reported at Pez) there
are more riders going with aluminum frames... apparently because of
numerous carbon frame failures. Everyone is using carbon forks, though.

frame bonding is still an issue. frames are hard to make truly
one-piece, and harder to bond if made from multiple pieces. that
doesn't mean the material itself is flawed. besides, aren't the pro's
bleating that it's "not fast"? forks are easy to make one-piece.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

jim beam said:

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a
fork. This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I
just turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I
am concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

generally, carbon forks are safer than steel forks in that they're both
stronger in static loading and significantly more fatigue resistant.
add their dynamic benefits, i.e. vibration attenuation, and suddenly you
have three excellent reasons for carbon forks being so popular.
naysayers will deny based in irrational fud, but those are the facts.

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

well, the reynolds load testing graph had the carbon fork breaking at
about 3x the load of the steel fork. call me old fashioned, but i'd say
that makes the carbon a better deal than the steel.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

other facts to consider:

a while back there was a batch of sub-standard kestrel forks on the
market. in terms of ride, kestrels are possibly the best i've tried,
and if you can get an old one made state-side, it's worth having. but
other more recent ones are just garbage. to test, squeeze the fork
blades together with one hand. if you hear any creaking or cracking
noises of any kind, return or abandon that fork - it'll make
increasingly alarming cracking noises every time you hit a bump, and
will in due course fail. again, do not ride *any* carbon fork that
makes any noise when squeezed. or in use.

all forks are not equal. i had a reynolds ouzo comp, 1" steerer, that
was a complete noodle. it shimmied on my large frames like a lump of
jello, so while carbon may be strong and offer excellent fatigue
resistance, design is real important to give stiffness where it's
needed; in this case lateral stiffness was lacking.

Quoted message said:

I am assuming that the shock absorbing characteristics of carbon
forks are based on equivalent tire sizes.

no.

Quoted message said:

Since carbon forks are not designed to accommodate tires 28mm or
larger

not true. carbon cross and carbon tandem forks accommodate larger tires.

Quoted message said:

[the kind I prefer] would a steel fork with a 28 or 32mm tire be just
as comfortable and shock absorbing [not to mention cheaper] than a
carbon fork with a 25mm tire?

why don't you try for yourself? i've tried 6 different carbon forks,
and imo, they all give a more comfortable ride than steel, regardless of
different tires used.

Quoted message said:

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort?

dude, you're confusing the issue. these are two entirely separate
things. assess the fork in isolation and the tires in isolation.
there's no synergism.

Quoted message said:

Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a factor? Just read
something about the larger tires having less?! rolling resistance
than the smaller ones. What about aerodynamics. How much of this
matters at 15mph +/-

imo, there's very little fact presented on this forum regarding tires.
at least, not compared to the vast amount of opinion.

tire manufacturers, while admittedly tight lipped on details, do allude
to obvious things like the effects of different treads in different road
situations, yet the only data shared on this forum for example, is for
testing tires with a smooth steel roller. clearly, while this is a
great tool for comparative measure, it's not representative of real road
conditions, unless, unlike me, you happen to have polished steel roads
in your neighborhood.

again, unless you can obtain useful data on the tires you're considering
for the terrain you'll be riding, you're stuck with doing your own
testing and forming your own opinions of what suits you.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your answers and sharing your experience knowledge and
common sense .

as said by others, trust your frame builder.

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

The only time I damaged a fork it was steel and I was going to hit the
ground regardless. And I saw a friends carbon fork snap both blades --
he was going to crash hard regardless of what happend to his bike.

Why do you think that, in a crash severe enough to bend a steel fork,
the fork breaking more dangerous than bending?

JT

Well, not hard to imagine say hitting a curb, where the steel fork
bends lots compared to both legs or the steerer breaking off of the
carbon fork, which would be more severe.

Steel does everything fork-wise that carbon does. the 1 pound+- weight
savings means not much on a 180 pound rider and a 18 pound bike. But
carbon works fine, is very whizbang, impresses the ladies and the other
riders at the coffee shop on Sunday morning. But it is not a
significant improvement over a well made steel fork.

Quoted message said:

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Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a fork.

Easy, get your custom frame builder to make a steel fork for you. It
will look the best, and that is important. No point having a fine
cusotm steel frame built if it looks ugly with a fork that does not
match. I have a beautiful Waterford lugged steel frame and fork.
Candy red color on both. The look is fantastic, it looks right. Ride
is wonderful too of course. I have seen Waterfords with carbon forks
and they look awful. Even if the carbon fork is painted the same color
as the frame. With lugged steel frames, only lugged steel forks look
good. TIG welded steel frames can get by with a more stark unicrown
type steel fork or a Wound-Up carbon fork looks OK too since it has a
big aluminum crown that looks kind of like a steel fork crown. And
make sure your custom steel fork has properly curved blades. The
straight blade look is awful on a steel bike. I've always thought the
chrome straight forks on Colnagos were ugly, and just aesthetics to be
different. Colnago is a master at marketing.

Quoted message said:

This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I just
turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I am
concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

I am assuming that the shock absorbing characteristics of carbon forks
are based on equivalent tire sizes. Since carbon forks are not designed
to accommodate tires 28mm or larger [the kind I prefer] would a steel
fork with a 28 or 32mm tire be just as comfortable and shock absorbing
[not to mention cheaper] than a carbon fork with a 25mm tire?

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort? Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a
factor? Just read something about the larger tires having less?!
rolling resistance than the smaller ones. What about aerodynamics. How
much of this matters at 15mph +/-
Thanks for your answers and sharing your experience knowledge and
common sense .

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a fork.

And
make sure your custom steel fork has properly curved blades. The
straight blade look is awful on a steel bike. I've always thought the
chrome straight forks on Colnagos were ugly, and just aesthetics to be
different. Colnago is a master at marketing.

Straight blade forks are ugly on any bike, except for maybe a pursuit bike.

Greg

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

That would be true is the carbon fork were in the vicinity of the
weight of a steel fork BUT like handlebars, they have dropped to the 10
ounce range and all carbon and in an impact, this carbon is not safer
than a 1.3 pound steel fork. One will bend, the other will break.

The only time I damaged a fork it was steel and I was going to hit the
ground regardless. And I saw a friends carbon fork snap both blades --
he was going to crash hard regardless of what happend to his bike.

Why do you think that, in a crash severe enough to bend a steel fork,
the fork breaking more dangerous than bending?

JT

Well, not hard to imagine say hitting a curb, where the steel fork
bends lots compared to both legs or the steerer breaking off of the
carbon fork, which would be more severe.

Steel does everything fork-wise that carbon does.

except load test 3x that of steel - for a reynolds fork at any rate. i
call that a significant difference. don't get me wrong, steel forks can
be beautiful and very reliable, but stronger in static load, they ain't,
stronger in fatigue, they ain't, and they /do/ attenuate some road buzz.
so, imo, carbon wins.

Quoted message said:

the 1 pound+- weight
savings means not much on a 180 pound rider and a 18 pound bike. But
carbon works fine, is very whizbang, impresses the ladies and the other
riders at the coffee shop on Sunday morning. But it is not a
significant improvement over a well made steel fork.

Quoted message said:

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Quoted message said:

Getting my first custom frame built [steel] and need to choose a fork.
This machine will be built first for comfort then for speed. I just
turned 58 and am 220lbs +/- so weight isn't really a factor. I am
concerned about the safety of carbon forks even though they are
ubiquitous. So I want a great and inspiring ride and value for money.

I am assuming that the shock absorbing characteristics of carbon forks
are based on equivalent tire sizes. Since carbon forks are not designed
to accommodate tires 28mm or larger [the kind I prefer] would a steel
fork with a 28 or 32mm tire be just as comfortable and shock absorbing
[not to mention cheaper] than a carbon fork with a 25mm tire?

For long distance riding how will a 28/32mm tire on a steel fork
compare with a 25mm [28?] tire on a carbon fork regarding handling
efficiency and comfort? Is the rotating weight of the larger tire a
factor? Just read something about the larger tires having less?!
rolling resistance than the smaller ones. What about aerodynamics. How
much of this matters at 15mph +/-
Thanks for your answers and sharing your experience knowledge and
common sense .

So after reading all the opinions and facts stated about the
differences between carbon and steel forks it seems to me that both a
well made carbon fiber fork and a well made steel fork are both
reasonably durable and comfortable and personally I think they both
feel good. I belive that comfort is a product of fit (including
appropriate components sizing such as bar and saddle width for example,
not just frame dimensions) and fitness so, that leads me to this
conclusion. You are spending how much money on a custom one off hand
made steel frame made by an artisan and you want to put a production
made molded plastic fork on it. I think it would be tacky to put a
carbon fork on it. Why not get the custom steel fork that matches your
frame and if you decide later on that you don't like it, get a carbon
fiber fork. It's easier and probably cheaper to do that than the other
way around. A production fork on a production frame makes sense to me
but, not on a custom frame. Is the bike aesthetically pleasing to you?
Does looking at it inspire you ride? I wouldn't get a Custom frame that
wasn't and didn't. To me a mismatched fork would [censored] me off. I would
really want the matching fork. I think Carbon fiber bikes are pretty
sexy and have drolled over a few. I think hand made Steel bikes are
really beautiful artisan creations (especially vanilla bikes, I mean,
damn! </fresh prince>😉. The only way I would want the carbon fork is if
the frame had carbon seat stays to match in which case I probably
wouldn't get a custom frame.

I would start to worry about rolling resistance and aerodynamic
differences of those size tires if I were to start time trialing at the
tour of georgia. Until then, I ride fat tires (25-35mm) for comfort and
speed because I think that a fatter tires roll over crappy pavement
better than narrow ones and there is a lot of crappy pavement around
here.

That's my opinion. Either way I hope you like riding your bike. Good
luck.

josh