<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Hello,
I bought recently my first road bicycle with a carbon fork. After 300 km, and considering myself a reasonable experienced cyclist, I cannot say I feel any difference with other previous bicycles I have had so far that didn't have a carbon fork. I had been told that a carbon fork absorbs bumps better. What are your opinions on this? What are the advantages of carbon for the fork over aluminum and steel?
They look cooler, so long as they're clear coated and not painted like a steel/ali fork. And pref with some decals saying "carbon" just in case anyone doesn't notice...
This is an outsiders POV (I'm new to roadbikes and have never owned a cabon forked cycle), but others I know that have, do believe that carbon is akin to "the emperor's new fork"...
"Davidm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hello,
I bought recently my first road bicycle with a carbon fork. After 300 km, and considering myself a reasonable experienced cyclist, I cannot say I feel any difference with other previous bicycles I have had so far that didn't have a carbon fork. I had been told that a carbon fork absorbs bumps better. What are your opinions on this? What are the advantages of carbon for the fork over aluminum and steel?
They look cooler, so long as they're clear coated and not painted like a steel/ali fork. And pref with some decals saying "carbon" just in case anyone doesn't notice...
This is an outsiders POV (I'm new to roadbikes and have never owned a
cabon
Quoted message said:
forked cycle), but others I know that have, do believe that carbon is akin to "the emperor's new fork"...
Cheers David M
Something that can be done better with carbon than other materials is that it can be molded into more exotic aero shapes.
"Marty Wallace" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Something that can be done better with carbon than other materials is that it can be molded into more exotic aero shapes.
Hmm..I guess that's so. I guess it applied to fibreglass, kevlar, carbon, and all types of plastics, but carbon may be the only one witht he right tensile characteristics for forks...
"Davidm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"Marty Wallace" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Something that can be done better with carbon than other materials is
that
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
it can be molded into more exotic aero shapes.
Hmm..I guess that's so. I guess it applied to fibreglass, kevlar, carbon, and all types of plastics, but carbon may be the only one witht he right tensile characteristics for forks...
Cheers David M
Fibreglass is too weak, kevlar is too flexible and also suffers problems with UV light. Carbon is best.
They look cooler, so long as they're clear coated and not painted like a steel/ali fork. And pref with some decals saying "carbon" just in case anyone doesn't notice...
There is a weight advantage (though only with the fully plastic ones). My Look HSC-3 forks (plastic monocoque) weigh 387g, whereas a typical steel fork (or plastic fork with steel steerer tube) weighs 600-700g.
And the asthetic is nice, though plastic bits are becoming passe, what with Giant et.al making plastic frames, and every man and his dog churning out forks, basr, stems, and seatposts in plastic.
Regards,
Suzy (who spent her Sunday polishing a nice stainless steel fork-crown)
"Marty Wallace" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:412735f5$0$27243
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Something that can be done better with carbon than other materials is that it can be molded into more exotic aero shapes.
In Graeme Obree's autobiography, he talks about bashing normal forks into a much more aero shape and how he didn't notice much/any? difference between these "custom" ones and the single-bladed "Mono" carbon fork his sponsor provided..
Great read by the way! Much better than Lance's second effort IMHO..
"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"Marty Wallace" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:412735f5$0$27243
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Something that can be done better with carbon than other materials is
that
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
it can be molded into more exotic aero shapes.
In Graeme Obree's autobiography, he talks about bashing normal forks into a much more aero shape and how he didn't notice much/any? difference between these "custom" ones and the single-bladed "Mono" carbon fork his sponsor provided..
Great read by the way! Much better than Lance's second effort IMHO..
hippy
Maybe so but he was only doing circles in a velodrome wasn't he? Overall I agree with you.
I'm very sceptical about the "ride" of different frame and fork materials. If you've ever tried to spread the rear stays of a bike you'll know how inflexible bike frames really are. Tyres and tyre pressure will make a bike "smooth" long before a change in frame materials does. How often do you read about someone jumping onto a new bike and squealing with delight at how "light and responsive" it is, but they don't mention that on their old worn-out bike they have dual water bottles, lights and speedo, spares, training tyres, tools and aero bars. Take all the [censored] off the old bike and it'll be "light and responsive" too.
