CrMo Frame then a Full Carbon Fork. Why? (Other than saving weight)
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CrMo Frame then a Full Carbon Fork. Why? (Other than saving weight)
For me this is impractical (educate me if im wrong) because why would you use a very light component in a already heavy build, i mean. Will there be a difference? (Other than being light)
and i saw the cinelli vigorelli steel review. It said that it has the right mix of weight that can propel the bike more (i forgot the exact lines). Is there a science behind this? Cause for me it feels wrong
and i saw the cinelli vigorelli steel review. It said that it has the right mix of weight that can propel the bike more (i forgot the exact lines). Is there a science behind this? Cause for me it feels wrong
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All high end framesets such as the steel Cinelli Vigorelli, regardless of material, can benefit from a good quality carbon fiber fork. Not only will a good CF be lighter, but it will do a much better job of absorbing road vibrations. Where I ride there is a lot of rough chip seal pavement, and my bikes with good quality full CF forks ride much smoother than my other bikes with steel forks. I have bikes with Aluminum, Titanium, Carbon Fiber and even Steel frames that have full CF forks on them, and they all benefit from their CF forks. Also, this notion that steel frames are heavier than other other materials is only true for cheap steel, especially hi-ten, which use small diameter thickwall straight guage tubing, and is not true for high end frames such as the Cinelli Vigorelli, which uses high strength steel tubing that is butted, large diameter and thin walled.
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For me this is impractical (educate me if im wrong) because why would you use a very light component in a already heavy build, i mean. Will there be a difference? (Other than being light)
and i saw the cinelli vigorelli steel review. It said that it has the right mix of weight that can propel the bike more (i forgot the exact lines). Is there a science behind this? Cause for me it feels wrong
and i saw the cinelli vigorelli steel review. It said that it has the right mix of weight that can propel the bike more (i forgot the exact lines). Is there a science behind this? Cause for me it feels wrong
More weight might take more effort to get up to speed, but the more weight the easier it holds that speed.
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Not all steel bikes are heavy. You can build a steel bike that's quite light. So yes... part of the advantage is it is lighter. Carbon also has a different feel, it dampens vibration to a certain extent.
More weight might take more effort to get up to speed, but the more weight the easier it holds that speed.
More weight might take more effort to get up to speed, but the more weight the easier it holds that speed.
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Why not? Some people prefer the ride of a steel fork and some don't. I like steel forks on my touring bike for weight carrying capability and durability but on a road bike I much would rather cut some weight and add in the vibration dampening properties of the full carbon fork plus depending on the bike they can look quite fantastic.
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There is no doubt that a carbon fork works well with a steel frame, but you do occasionally hear of folks in the bike industry claiming the best fork is a properly constructed steel one.
The guy who runs SJS Cycles in the UK for instance.
The guy who runs SJS Cycles in the UK for instance.
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All high end framesets such as the steel Cinelli Vigorelli, regardless of material, can benefit from a good quality carbon fiber fork. Not only will a good CF be lighter, but it will do a much better job of absorbing road vibrations. Where I ride there is a lot of rough chip seal pavement, and my bikes with good quality full CF forks ride much smoother than my other bikes with steel forks. I have bikes with Aluminum, Titanium, Carbon Fiber and even Steel frames that have full CF forks on them, and they all benefit from their CF forks. Also, this notion that steel frames are heavier than other other materials is only true for cheap steel, especially hi-ten, which use small diameter thickwall straight guage tubing, and is not true for high end frames such as the Cinelli Vigorelli, which uses high strength steel tubing that is butted, large diameter and thin walled.
A good steel fork can have a sweet ride. That is true now. It was true 80 years ago. I just came back from a ride on a 531 fork. My Raleigh Competition has a 531 fork that is a plush ride even on really bad roads. My Mooney's fork is probably 531. Feel is classic English road. It does just fine (and so do I) on poor pavement. My best bike's fork also might be 531. (The bike I seek the bad pavement on.)
Now, another factor is wheels. Many modern rims are far stiffer vertically than what we used to ride. Wheels are also built now with far fewer spoke crosses than what we used to ride. Both add up to a lot more road shock being transmitted to the fork
Ben
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I've never owned a carbon fiber fork. Apparently I've been suffering the past 50 years. Glad I didn't know it. When I got my ti bike, it had a steel fork. Discovered early on that seeking out the worst pavement was a blast. (A habit that I have tried to ween myself of to save tires and rims).
A good steel fork can have a sweet ride. That is true now. It was true 80 years ago. I just came back from a ride on a 531 fork. My Raleigh Competition has a 531 fork that is a plush ride even on really bad roads. My Mooney's fork is probably 531. Feel is classic English road. It does just fine (and so do I) on poor pavement. My best bike's fork also might be 531. (The bike I seek the bad pavement on.)
Now, another factor is wheels. Many modern rims are far stiffer vertically than what we used to ride. Wheels are also built now with far fewer spoke crosses than what we used to ride. Both add up to a lot more road shock being transmitted to the fork
Ben
A good steel fork can have a sweet ride. That is true now. It was true 80 years ago. I just came back from a ride on a 531 fork. My Raleigh Competition has a 531 fork that is a plush ride even on really bad roads. My Mooney's fork is probably 531. Feel is classic English road. It does just fine (and so do I) on poor pavement. My best bike's fork also might be 531. (The bike I seek the bad pavement on.)
Now, another factor is wheels. Many modern rims are far stiffer vertically than what we used to ride. Wheels are also built now with far fewer spoke crosses than what we used to ride. Both add up to a lot more road shock being transmitted to the fork
Ben
Seems like everything out there is “pick any 2”
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Damn guys, i want a custom CrMo Crit frame (Cinelli vigorelli steel Geometry) and a carbonium full carbon fork for my crit in the future.
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Wound up composites can make just about anything you need fork wise. They were willing to make 1" threaded steerer carbon canti fork for 26" wheel at not a ton of cost. I haven't gotten it yet but I might actually consider it this year if money turns out right.
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I just watched this interview with Tom Ritchey, and he had some interesting points about carbon vs steel forks. Skip to the 30min point if you can't be bothered to watch the whole thing (you monster).
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Ignore the ancient thermostat:
Super rad interview... Made me run to this stem I’ll probly never use
I just watched this interview with Tom Ritchey, and he had some interesting points about carbon vs steel forks. Skip to the 30min point if you can't be bothered to watch the whole thing (you monster).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-gGIqfVB2Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-gGIqfVB2Y
Last edited by mouse; 02-05-19 at 01:11 AM.
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If you want to experience the legend, get one of the vintage ritchey road logic road frames hand built by the man himself
Very underrated frame that's still quite in the realm of affordability.
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They make a different product that is of excellent quality and certainly is quite durable at least from everyone I talk too. When you don't want something standard and boring but want a fantastic product, get wound-up.
I would love to own a Tom brazed frame someday. He is just such an interesting person and knowledgeable as all get up and those old frames were excellent.
I would love to own a Tom brazed frame someday. He is just such an interesting person and knowledgeable as all get up and those old frames were excellent.
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Then I took a peek at Ritchey bikes on eBay and was flummoxed by all carbon frames, carbon forks on steel bikes and everything without a 1” threaded steerer.