Notices
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

Carbon or Aluminum Fork?*

Old 08-23-06, 12:34 PM
  #1  
guymysterio
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
guymysterio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Carbon or Aluminum Fork?*

Hey,*

I was considering upgrading to a carbon fork on my cross bike from my current aluminum fork. But a friend of mine suggested that I not make that move, in that, aluminum bends and carbon fiber does not. So, in the event that I crash ( and I most assuredly will at some point ) he said that my carbon fork could just snap and things could get real messy.*

Any truth to this? Is it just totally irrational? Is carbon fiber worth the money?*

Other thoughts?
guymysterio is offline  
Old 08-23-06, 03:07 PM
  #2  
lunacycle
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: St Paul, MN
Posts: 698
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Aluminum can do more than bend. It can buckle, squash, tear, or otherwise fail quite dramatically. That being said, for cyclocross at least, an aluminum fork may provide better durability than carbon fiber, as little scratches and gouges on the surface of a cf fork can create stress concentrations that can lead to sudden, unexpected failures.

I have no direct experience with a carbon fork for cyclocross, but my aluminum fork has been crashed many times without any discernible damage. I don't how well a carbon fork would have weathered these events.

Then again, they are light and supple, and probably provide a more comfortable ride than the typical aluminum fork. I think that in terms of ride quality, the cost may be justified, but I would not expect them to have as long of a serviceable life as aluminum.

Just my $0.02.
lunacycle is offline  
Old 08-23-06, 05:15 PM
  #3  
velocipedio
human
 
velocipedio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: living in the moment
Posts: 3,562

Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I replaced the steel fork that came with my Major Jake with a carbon fork a few years ago. The ride quality wasn't that much different, but it made the bike almost a pound lighter. And I appreciated that on long runups.
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.

The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
velocipedio is offline  
Old 08-23-06, 09:39 PM
  #4  
webelo
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
forget aluminum.... steel is real.
webelo is offline  
Old 08-23-06, 10:41 PM
  #5  
Serendipper 
(((Fully Awake)))
 
Serendipper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ~Serenading with sensous soliloquies whilst singing supple sentences that are simultaneously suppling my sonnets with serenity serendipitously.~ -Serendipper
Posts: 5,589

Bikes: Guerciotti Pista-Giant Carbon-Bridgestone300- Batavus Type Champion Road Bike, Specialized Hardrock Commuter, On-One The Gimp (SS Rigid MTB/hit by a truck)- Raleigh Sports 3-speed,Gatsby Scorcher, comming soon...The Penny Farthing Highwheel!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I thought the carbon was there to reduce vibrations on an alu frame? No?
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

無上甚深微妙法 .... 百千萬劫難遭遇..... 我今見聞得受持
Serendipper is offline  
Old 08-23-06, 11:58 PM
  #6  
velocipedio
human
 
velocipedio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: living in the moment
Posts: 3,562

Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Serendipper
I thought the carbon was there to reduce vibrations on an alu frame? No?
Considering that you're running high-volume/low-pressure tires on a cyclo-cross bike, the fork material has relatively little to do with the amount of vibration coming up from the course. I guess if you rode you bike on the road with road tires, it would make a difference [I do ride my cyclo-cross bike with road tires on the road occasionally, but I never did it with the steel fork, so I have nothing to compare it to]. Off-road and in races, the real benefit is weight.
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.

The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
velocipedio is offline  
Old 08-24-06, 07:12 AM
  #7  
darkmother
Get the stick.
 
darkmother's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,543

Bikes: 12 Y.O. Litespeed MTB, IRO Jamie Roy fixie, Custom Habanero Ti 'Cross, No name SS MTB, Old school lugged steel track bike (soon)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I'd spend my money on something else. You are not going to save much (if any) weight, and I don't think there is much advantage to be had from the switch.
darkmother is offline  
Old 08-24-06, 08:05 AM
  #8  
jfmckenna
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
 
jfmckenna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: The edge of b#
Posts: 5,475

Bikes: A whole bunch-a bikes.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 460 Post(s)
Liked 123 Times in 76 Posts
I have a steel fork on mine and it is a bit hefty but I don't have to worry about it. AL can fail suddenly. Last year in a cross race I snapped an AL stem in two and crashed. It must have just gotten old and fatigued. There are lots of people using carbon forks out there to a great deal of success. But in your case you are not going to save any weight changing forks and the dampening vibration bit IMHO is marketing.

One thing I will say for sure is stay away from carbon seat posts or saddles with carbon rails. I have seen them fail numerous times on cross courses. A light cross bike is essential to successful racing but if it's broke then you lose. So there is something to think about.
jfmckenna is offline  
Old 11-30-06, 12:02 AM
  #9  
apmech
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 32
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My experience with a carbon fork used for cross was a bad one. I was out practicing mounts, dismounts and other cross skills with a friend.
At one point, the both of us were riding up a small hill, and out handlebars connected.. we both fell.. we were not going fast at all..
his cx bike was fine, My redline cabon fork fractured approximately 5 inches above the dropout on the left side.

So, from this experience, I have replaced the fork with a steel one.. atleast, I know it will stand up to almost any
future mishaps..
apmech is offline  
Old 11-30-06, 12:48 PM
  #10  
MrPolak
Just ride it.
 
MrPolak's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 335
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
In my experience carbon forks are better at muting high-frequency vibrations, such as the ones on my old Cannondale R400. In other words when you're on rough pavement at 20 mph they help to reduce harshness. Carbon has poor resistance to direct impacts, such as a hammer blow... or a low branch... or evil squirrels' teeth.

Personally my off road machines will never use a carbon frame, fork, handlebar or seatpost and I'd certainly not use carbon components with the sole intent to make the bike lighter since it's cheaper and easier to take off the weight from around our waists.
MrPolak is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.