carbon fork vs full carbon
12-27-16, 06:49 AM
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carbon fork vs full carbon
I'm looking to get an endurance bike and am deciding between a carbon fork and a full carbon. i'd like to hear from those with more experience as this is my first bike purchase. is it worth it to get the full carbon or will the carbon fork do the trick. from what i've heard, the only benefit is dampening of bumps and roughness in the ride. any other benefits?
12-27-16, 07:12 AM
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You mean a full CF bike vs just getting a CF fork in terms of ride comfort? If you're heavy you will feel better improvement on a full CF bike. If you're light and where you ride the pavement is glass-smooth then just a CF fork will bring "enough" benefits.
12-27-16, 07:17 AM
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I'm looking to get an endurance bike and am deciding between a carbon fork and a full carbon. i'd like to hear from those with more experience as this is my first bike purchase. is it worth it to get the full carbon or will the carbon fork do the trick. from what i've heard, the only benefit is dampening of bumps and roughness in the ride. any other benefits?
I think it comes down to how many miles you will be riding and whether you have a tightly constrained budget. Additionally, carbon may not be that much more expensive.
Be sure to spend the extra couple hundred bucks to have a professional fitting whichever way you go...this is the best way to maximize comfort.
Good luck in your decision
12-27-16, 07:48 AM
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Whether or not something is "worth it" is purely subjective and your personal finances play a huge part. Many people here think with their own wallets and don't consider that the financial outlook may be dramatically different for others, so take value statements with a huge grain of salt.
A CF frame may provide more compliance and comfort if that was one of the design goals.
Wider tires, which allow you to run lower pressures, can help dramatically, often more than the frame material choice, which is one of the reasons that I think that a gravel/adventure bike would be a great first and/or only bike. Geometry is typically more relaxed, much like many endurance-category bikes. Run knobbies/tread if you'll head out on to gravel, packed dirt, etc. Slap on some 28 or 32c slicks when you'll stick mostly to the pavement.
A CF frame may provide more compliance and comfort if that was one of the design goals.
Wider tires, which allow you to run lower pressures, can help dramatically, often more than the frame material choice, which is one of the reasons that I think that a gravel/adventure bike would be a great first and/or only bike. Geometry is typically more relaxed, much like many endurance-category bikes. Run knobbies/tread if you'll head out on to gravel, packed dirt, etc. Slap on some 28 or 32c slicks when you'll stick mostly to the pavement.
