Fork Flexing

steve57910 said:

I have a SOMA doublecross on which the stock fork flexes during braking.
Short of getting a stiffer replacement fork, any ideas on how to
mitigate? Bike shop thinks changing to a small brake pad, I am using v-
brakes, to lessen contact area and forces, would help. Any
recommendations on a replacement fork? Possibly an IRD CroMo Cross Fork?

Surly. I wouldn't think you would want to decrease braking force; if you
did you would squeeze the lever less.

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"steve57910" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I have a SOMA doublecross on which the stock fork flexes during braking.
Short of getting a stiffer replacement fork, any ideas on how to
mitigate? Bike shop thinks changing to a small brake pad, I am using v-
brakes, to lessen contact area and forces, would help. Any
recommendations on a replacement fork? Possibly an IRD CroMo Cross Fork?

I think ANY fork will flex to some degree or other depending on the forces
applied. A fork is just a big lever with it's fulcrum at the wheel axle. I
ride road bikes, and can easily see fork flex on fast descents and hard
braking. A fork that DIDN'T flex would offer a very harsh ride. I would
suspect that the SOMA fork you have is as strong, if not stronger that many
out there, and you wouldn't know until you purchased and installed a fork if
it was better or worse than the one you have now.

May I politely ask why you have the concern about your fork flexing? Have
you ridden other bikes under the same conditions and noticed any difference?
I would NOT change your brakes at all. There will be that time when you will
need all the brakes you can get, fork flex or no.

steve57910 said:

I have a SOMA doublecross on which the stock fork flexes during braking.
Short of getting a stiffer replacement fork, any ideas on how to
mitigate? Bike shop thinks changing to a small brake pad, I am using v-
brakes, to lessen contact area and forces, would help. Any
recommendations on a replacement fork? Possibly an IRD CroMo Cross Fork?

Forks flex during braking. Maybe you just didn't notice it
before? I'm not sure that is a "problem", necessarily.

And not sure I'd want to shop where "smaller brake pad" is
the answer to any brake question. Pad size is
inconsequential in bicycle brakes.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971