Fog cutter steel fork?
#1
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Fog cutter steel fork?
Curious if anyone has tried the Soma Fog Cutter with the steel fork option. If you have also tried the CF fork I’d love to hear your comparison.
I’ve been riding a FC for a few years now with the CF fork and its OK, but I don’t love it. The steel fork on my old Salsa Casseroll felt more lively and smooth. This fork feels a tad stiff and dead in comparison.
I see the color-matched steel one for a decent price and am tempted to give it a shot.
I’ve been riding a FC for a few years now with the CF fork and its OK, but I don’t love it. The steel fork on my old Salsa Casseroll felt more lively and smooth. This fork feels a tad stiff and dead in comparison.
I see the color-matched steel one for a decent price and am tempted to give it a shot.
#2
Senior Member
I have the v1 fog cutter, but with the cromo fork. I haven't ridden the carbon fork to compare, but never thought of the steel fork as dead and stiff. It does feel a bit heavy when lifting, but I don't feel it when riding. I do wish the fog cutter's fork was a higher grade than Tange infinity, but at least they offer one.
I don't have any bikes with a carbon fork as I like and stick with steel
I don't have any bikes with a carbon fork as I like and stick with steel
Last edited by katsup; 09-21-21 at 12:50 AM.
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#3
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I would be surprised if Prestige blades would be meaningfully lighter than the Infinity blades on a prodcution fork like this. Since its a production fork, and disc, it will almost for sure be spec'd with a tubing profile that is for sure able to pass testing and that means not going too thin on the butting.
Columbus Cromor and SL tubing both use .9mm blades, for example.
Since this is a production disc fork, it probably has something like 1.2/.9 tubing to resist flex and thats regardless of what tube set it comes from.
Prestige would get you heat treated tubing, for what thats worth.
Columbus Cromor and SL tubing both use .9mm blades, for example.
Since this is a production disc fork, it probably has something like 1.2/.9 tubing to resist flex and thats regardless of what tube set it comes from.
Prestige would get you heat treated tubing, for what thats worth.
#4
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I would be surprised if Prestige blades would be meaningfully lighter than the Infinity blades on a prodcution fork like this. Since its a production fork, and disc, it will almost for sure be spec'd with a tubing profile that is for sure able to pass testing and that means not going too thin on the butting.
Columbus Cromor and SL tubing both use .9mm blades, for example.
Since this is a production disc fork, it probably has something like 1.2/.9 tubing to resist flex and thats regardless of what tube set it comes from.
Prestige would get you heat treated tubing, for what thats worth.
Columbus Cromor and SL tubing both use .9mm blades, for example.
Since this is a production disc fork, it probably has something like 1.2/.9 tubing to resist flex and thats regardless of what tube set it comes from.
Prestige would get you heat treated tubing, for what thats worth.
Some of Soma's first disc bikes had Prestige forks so I'm sure it was a cost cutting decision.
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"feels dead" = damping accomplished by the CFRP. But it's really stiff.
"feels lively" = flex, when you have thinner stronger steel there's less of it, the extra strength lets it flex further before it bends. So it's springy but the damper is you.
Pick your poison, right?
"feels lively" = flex, when you have thinner stronger steel there's less of it, the extra strength lets it flex further before it bends. So it's springy but the damper is you.
Pick your poison, right?
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"feels dead" = damping accomplished by the CFRP. But it's really stiff.
"feels lively" = flex, when you have thinner stronger steel there's less of it, the extra strength lets it flex further before it bends. So it's springy but the damper is you.
Pick your poison, right?
"feels lively" = flex, when you have thinner stronger steel there's less of it, the extra strength lets it flex further before it bends. So it's springy but the damper is you.
Pick your poison, right?
Well executed CF is damped but also smooth. They can be damped without feeling dead (it is a matter of degree).
Steel can be too noodley, too stiff, or just right.
Unfortunately, when looking at a cheap CF or steel steel forks, you don't really know what you are going to get. In the case of my Casseroll, I got a good steel fork. In the case of something like my old Karate Monkey, I got a steel fork stiff as hell. On my FC, I got a somewhat stiff, dead CF fork. On my wifes old Windsor Road bike, the CF fork felt pretty nice. All (relatively) cheap forks.
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I can certainly agree there's more to it. One of the things I learned from various cut-up-the-chinarello articles is that a cheap CF frame or fork is basically the CF equivalent of hi-ten... put constant thickness of good enough fiber everywhere and call it a day. A really nice carbon frame or fork has a complicated layup schedule to flex just-so and no material where it's not needed
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 09-22-21 at 12:33 PM.
#9
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Maybe the fork isn't the huge factor everyone thinks. Assuming geometry and wheel stay the same. I swapped a steel fork for a carbon fork on a roadbike and i really didn't notice a difference.
But i later swapped the alu bars for a carbon bar and that really was noticeable.
The carbon bar has a controlled springiness that really transformed the ride quality.
A different bike and parts than yours but still worth thinking about.
Having tried both i would choose a carbon bar over carbon fork any day.
That's my two cents.
But i later swapped the alu bars for a carbon bar and that really was noticeable.
The carbon bar has a controlled springiness that really transformed the ride quality.
A different bike and parts than yours but still worth thinking about.
Having tried both i would choose a carbon bar over carbon fork any day.
That's my two cents.
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Maybe the fork isn't the huge factor everyone thinks. Assuming geometry and wheel stay the same. I swapped a steel fork for a carbon fork on a roadbike and i really didn't notice a difference.
But i later swapped the alu bars for a carbon bar and that really was noticeable.
The carbon bar has a controlled springiness that really transformed the ride quality.
A different bike and parts than yours but still worth thinking about.
Having tried both i would choose a carbon bar over carbon fork any day.
That's my two cents.
But i later swapped the alu bars for a carbon bar and that really was noticeable.
The carbon bar has a controlled springiness that really transformed the ride quality.
A different bike and parts than yours but still worth thinking about.
Having tried both i would choose a carbon bar over carbon fork any day.
That's my two cents.
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Funny, I'm rocking the steel FC fork and am curious if the CF fork would give a smoother ride.
The FC is my randonneuring bike, and I'm always in pursuit of increased comfort for all-day rides. I don't know how a lively fork vs dead fork feels. My cross bike has a carbon fork; compared to the FC it feels smoother on dirt trails. Maybe more controllable, but it's hard to say what's fork and what's bike.
I hope you buy the steel fork and report.
The FC is my randonneuring bike, and I'm always in pursuit of increased comfort for all-day rides. I don't know how a lively fork vs dead fork feels. My cross bike has a carbon fork; compared to the FC it feels smoother on dirt trails. Maybe more controllable, but it's hard to say what's fork and what's bike.
I hope you buy the steel fork and report.
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Well I saw a good deal on the steel fork and decided to give it a shot. Can't ride it yet due to a broken shifter, but here are my first 2 observations:
The color match is just a tad off. The fork is a bit more fire engine red as compared to the blood red of the frame and CF fork. Par for the course with what I have come to expect from Soma's lax QC in the past.
Weights (both with steerers cut to the identical length):
The color match is just a tad off. The fork is a bit more fire engine red as compared to the blood red of the frame and CF fork. Par for the course with what I have come to expect from Soma's lax QC in the past.
Weights (both with steerers cut to the identical length):
- CF:760g
- Steel:1,038g
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#13
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Well I saw a good deal on the steel fork and decided to give it a shot. Can't ride it yet due to a broken shifter, but here are my first 2 observations:
The color match is just a tad off. The fork is a bit more fire engine red as compared to the blood red of the frame and CF fork. Par for the course with what I have come to expect from Soma's lax QC in the past.
Weights (both with steerers cut to the identical length):
The color match is just a tad off. The fork is a bit more fire engine red as compared to the blood red of the frame and CF fork. Par for the course with what I have come to expect from Soma's lax QC in the past.
Weights (both with steerers cut to the identical length):
- CF:760g
- Steel:1,038g
I don't notice any difference with the red on my frame and fork, but I had bought mine together at the same time. I wonder if at some point the red slightly changed.
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Yeah, i bought the frame and CF fork something like 4 years ago. They didn’t even offer a steel fork then. Surely a different run and may have used a different painter.
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Speaking of Soma and paint.
The Fog Cutter Russo Red touch-up paint is nowhere close to matching the frame/fork. Given the FC paint chips off if you look at it sideways, my new bike is becoming quite mottled.
I keep meaning to take it to a automotive paint place to get some matching paint mixed, but can never get around to it. I imagine one day I'll end up getting the frame - which I love - repainted.
The Fog Cutter Russo Red touch-up paint is nowhere close to matching the frame/fork. Given the FC paint chips off if you look at it sideways, my new bike is becoming quite mottled.
I keep meaning to take it to a automotive paint place to get some matching paint mixed, but can never get around to it. I imagine one day I'll end up getting the frame - which I love - repainted.
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I got the shifter fixed, and have about 4 rides on the steel fork.
The difference is noticeable. Not sure I can say which I think is “better”
It seems like the CF fork is a little more smooth in terms of vibration and the small stuff, but the steel fork has more give on the rough stuff. The steel just feels a little…. springier.
The steel fork definitely looks better.
The difference is noticeable. Not sure I can say which I think is “better”
It seems like the CF fork is a little more smooth in terms of vibration and the small stuff, but the steel fork has more give on the rough stuff. The steel just feels a little…. springier.
The steel fork definitely looks better.
Last edited by Kapusta; 11-22-21 at 11:34 AM.
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