Polo bike fork
#1
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Location: Columbia, MO
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Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Rustbelt Marco polo bike
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Polo bike fork
I have a goofy polo bike. It's a frame designed for 700s, but I run a 26" wheel in the front on a Cross Check fork. Yes, I could run a 700 in the front, but the toe overlap on this bike is dreadful. Yes, I could get a new frame, but this is the one I had at the time I started playing.
I want to run brakes on the front. Obviously the canti mounts on the Cross Check fork don't work on a 26" wheel. I'm looking at getting a 1x1 fork.
So a Cross Check axle-to-crown is 400mm. A Surly 1x1 fork is 413mm axle-to-crown, suspension corrected for 80mm.
Question: will this work without dramatically changing my geometry? I realize 400mm does not equal 413mm, but is 13mm going to be super noticeable?
I want to run brakes on the front. Obviously the canti mounts on the Cross Check fork don't work on a 26" wheel. I'm looking at getting a 1x1 fork.
So a Cross Check axle-to-crown is 400mm. A Surly 1x1 fork is 413mm axle-to-crown, suspension corrected for 80mm.
Question: will this work without dramatically changing my geometry? I realize 400mm does not equal 413mm, but is 13mm going to be super noticeable?
#2
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Talked to my other bike mechanic pal and he gave me the down low on all the effects this fork change would likely have.
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#4
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Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Rustbelt Marco polo bike
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Facebook chat between him and me (excuse our poor grammar/punctuation):
me: a cross check fork axle to crown is 400mm, and a 1x1 fork is 413mm with 80mm suspension correction
so if i replaced my CC fork with a 1x1, would there be a major geometric difference?
this in reference to getting front brakes
Keaton: it would probably work out all right, you might compare the amount of rake between the two forks.
me: gotcha. def more rake on the CC. cool, thanks
nvm, only 4mm difference of rake
Keaton: more rake lowers the trail and should make the steering a little faster, but I don't know how much it would be noticeable.
me: gotcha. thanks a lot dude. i owe ya a beer for keepin you up
Keaton: also the longer axle to crown should make the headtube angle slightly shallower, which increases the trail and should make the bike steer a little slower and a little more stable.
me: right on, i follow
Keaton: so all in all I think the 1x1 fork would make your bike a little less nimble and more stable, but it's very small changes between the two forks and I don't know how much you'd really notice it. front end geometry is pretty tricky and I really don't know how much change is noticeable. or really how that translates to a noticeable riding difference.
could be an interesting experiment if you have extra money.
me: well, i could pay you to do some brazing, but i found a 1x1 fork for $55
so either way, i'll pay the same amount and i thought you get tired of giving us advice, brazing, and fixing our bikes
Keaton: that's pretty cheap if you want to give it a go, I could always braze some mounts for you if it turns out the bikes feel ****ty with the other fork.
and then you have a nice 26" fork to use on something.
me: true. endless possibilities.
thanks a bunch, man
There ya go!
me: a cross check fork axle to crown is 400mm, and a 1x1 fork is 413mm with 80mm suspension correction
so if i replaced my CC fork with a 1x1, would there be a major geometric difference?
this in reference to getting front brakes
Keaton: it would probably work out all right, you might compare the amount of rake between the two forks.
me: gotcha. def more rake on the CC. cool, thanks
nvm, only 4mm difference of rake
Keaton: more rake lowers the trail and should make the steering a little faster, but I don't know how much it would be noticeable.
me: gotcha. thanks a lot dude. i owe ya a beer for keepin you up
Keaton: also the longer axle to crown should make the headtube angle slightly shallower, which increases the trail and should make the bike steer a little slower and a little more stable.
me: right on, i follow
Keaton: so all in all I think the 1x1 fork would make your bike a little less nimble and more stable, but it's very small changes between the two forks and I don't know how much you'd really notice it. front end geometry is pretty tricky and I really don't know how much change is noticeable. or really how that translates to a noticeable riding difference.
could be an interesting experiment if you have extra money.
me: well, i could pay you to do some brazing, but i found a 1x1 fork for $55
so either way, i'll pay the same amount and i thought you get tired of giving us advice, brazing, and fixing our bikes
Keaton: that's pretty cheap if you want to give it a go, I could always braze some mounts for you if it turns out the bikes feel ****ty with the other fork.
and then you have a nice 26" fork to use on something.
me: true. endless possibilities.
thanks a bunch, man
There ya go!