Best aero fork for custom build?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
User avatar
lancejohnson
Posts: 2831
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:08 pm
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Contact:

by lancejohnson

I am building a custom steel aero road/tri-training bike and am looking for some help with fork selection.

Obviously there is an aero advantage to a 1" steerer on a fork because you can make your head tube more narrow, but I don't know of any good aero forks that have a 1" steerer any more - are there any available that anyone knows of?

If not 1", then a straight 1.125" is what I'll use. As the bike is not really a full-on race bike (at least not intended as such at this point, but who knows, maybe I would use it to race depending on the course), but more of a training bike with a slacker seat angle (76.5), low BB (76mm drop), and a paramount placed on handling so that I can get up and down the mountain here as quickly and safely as possible, maybe a deep blade aero fork isn't particularly important? I also have only about a 104mm head tube, so there's not a lot sticking out...

What would a good road fork with aero characteristics be? Maybe 3T? Any other recommendations?
___________________________________________________

"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens

kevosinn
in the industry
Posts: 630
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:28 am
Contact:

by kevosinn

thm scapula F?
Www.crypticcycles.com Custom carbon frames, bar/stem combos, repair and component tuning.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



cyclenutnz
Posts: 854
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:18 am
Location: Cambridge, New Zealand
Contact:

by cyclenutnz

3T Luteus... or Enve Road disc...
Funda gives you rake options, in theory at least - I don't know if they're always available aftermarket. Fast without excessive side area and not too heavy.
Most of the new generation skinny leg aero forks are either not available, made for post mount brakes or limited in rake options.

User avatar
lancejohnson
Posts: 2831
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:08 pm
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Contact:

by lancejohnson

The other thing that I noticed is that most forks seem to have an enormous crown for integrated headsets. That just wouldn't look right with a smaller-tubed steel bike... I may be in real trouble finding something that works here...
___________________________________________________

"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens

reggiebaseball
Posts: 314
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:13 am

by reggiebaseball

Hi sir,

I think that Reynolds forks are pretty nice, low weight, nice curve, narrow profile and good handling. I like them more than my Enve 2.0 I think -which is almost too stiff.
reynolds made some forks with 1" steerer, of course you would be talking about a used product:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reynolds-1-inch ... 3a7934c76b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I dont think aero is dramatically important for your fork, you seem to have enough other requirements that take precedence.
Reynold did make an aero ouzo too.

But if you want aero (over light) why not get a custom steel fork to match your steel frame- I bet your builder will have fun with that and you may like how smooth and dependable steel forks can make your front end feel. TT bikes are rarely about weight anyway...

Check out Rob English - he is a custom steel builder who is a TT fanatic and likely has some cool ideas.
Are we going to mount your rear bake under the BB?
Are your front brakes being mounted behind the fork for a more aero profile?

cyclenutnz
Posts: 854
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:18 am
Location: Cambridge, New Zealand
Contact:

by cyclenutnz

Reggie - word to the wise - check out some of Lances past work - he probably has a pretty clear idea of what he wants the bike to be.

Can you find some Max fork legs if you must have aesthetic balance at the crown? Or is weight mattering so carbon is a must. In which case a small crown diameter is not going to be easy at all.

Fatbiker
Posts: 874
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:41 pm

by Fatbiker

+1 for Columbus MAX fork blades

JamieL
Posts: 380
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:05 pm

by JamieL

Quattring posted this in the "show us your TT bikes" bit:
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=97788&start=150

quattrings wrote:
Image
build list:

Caad 4 Aero, size 56
Cannondale fork
Ritchey logic headset
Syntace Stratos cx basebar
Syntace SLS aero bars
Syntace Grips
Thomson x2 stem cnc customised to integrate top cap
Syntace p6 seatpost
Campagnolo seatpost collar
Fsa vero crank with aero 54t chainring
Shimano Square tape bb, removed dust seals
Shimano 105 casette 12-25
Shimano 105 chain
Sram tt500 shifters
Sram tt500 brake levers
Simkins Egg brakes (purchased from Juanmoretime, who is a real stand up guy. Thanks again :thumbup: )
Corima disc and four spoke clincher (repaired the dings and painted matte black)
Vittoria open corsa 23mm


He's listed the fork as a Cannondale fork but i've got something which looks identical but finished in chrome on my fixed TT bike. 1" steerer, nice and aero. Could be what you're looking for but i've no idea what the original name for this fork is/was. Maybe someone could point you in the right direction.

Here's a crap picture of mine. only had a moment to snap it before i was away with work but i'll hopefully get some better ones later.

Image

Wingnut
Posts: 2196
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:41 am

by Wingnut

Steel aero...

Image

User avatar
Samu Ilonen
Posts: 2155
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 7:13 am
Location: Finland
Contact:

by Samu Ilonen

Buy Cervelo P4's spare part fork? Std dimensions. Or T4's fork has normal, 43mm rake too. T1's is ok too, but rake is smaller. I think I have new, but old design Wolf TT fork somewhere. Not bad as aero fork, that too.

EA had also some quite nice TT-forks previusly too.

si w
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:24 pm

by si w

JamieL wrote:Quattring posted this in the "show us your TT bikes" bit:
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=97788&start=150

quattrings wrote:
Image
build list:

Caad 4 Aero, size 56
Cannondale fork
Ritchey logic headset
Syntace Stratos cx basebar
Syntace SLS aero bars
Syntace Grips
Thomson x2 stem cnc customised to integrate top cap
Syntace p6 seatpost
Campagnolo seatpost collar
Fsa vero crank with aero 54t chainring
Shimano Square tape bb, removed dust seals
Shimano 105 casette 12-25
Shimano 105 chain
Sram tt500 shifters
Sram tt500 brake levers
Simkins Egg brakes (purchased from Juanmoretime, who is a real stand up guy. Thanks again :thumbup: )
Corima disc and four spoke clincher (repaired the dings and painted matte black)
Vittoria open corsa 23mm


He's listed the fork as a Cannondale fork but i've got something which looks identical but finished in chrome on my fixed TT bike. 1" steerer, nice and aero. Could be what you're looking for but i've no idea what the original name for this fork is/was. Maybe someone could point you in the right direction.

Here's a crap picture of mine. only had a moment to snap it before i was away with work but i'll hopefully get some better ones later.

Image



Looks like a Kinesis

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
prendrefeu
Posts: 8580
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:32 pm
Location: Glendale / Los Angeles, California
Contact:

by prendrefeu

Best aero fork for custom build?


Oval's Jetstream fork. Period.

Post Reply