HT used as gravel bike, rigid fork recs?
Moderator: Moderator Team
I am going to use my hardtail as a touring and gravel bike sometimes. I am interested in trying a rigid carbon fork, but I'm not really sure what I should be looking at. The bike is already 21.1lb with a Reba so I'd imagine I'll save a lot of weight no matter what. Is there anything out there that isn't sketch and doesn't cost $500+ or do I need to shell out for a high end fork?
-
joejack951
- Posts: 1162
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:50 pm
- Location: Wilmington, DE
- Contact:
This looks interesting: http://carverbikes.com/parts/forks/trail-490/
Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓ Broad Selection ✓ Worldwide Delivery ✓
www.starbike.com
That one looks solid. I wonder if you can even buy one. Seems like it's impossible to buy anything these days.joejack951 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 12:05 amThis looks interesting: http://carverbikes.com/parts/forks/trail-490/
-
joejack951
- Posts: 1162
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:50 pm
- Location: Wilmington, DE
- Contact:
http://www.bikeman.com/CARV-FK490C-T11015.html
Shows in stock, but I know what you mean. I was looking for parts recently for a few bikes and was really surprised just how many items are out of stock on my go-to parts websites.
Shows in stock, but I know what you mean. I was looking for parts recently for a few bikes and was really surprised just how many items are out of stock on my go-to parts websites.
-
bikewithnoname
- Posts: 1736
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:29 pm
- Location: Paris
Not sure what wheel size for have but eXotic make some decent rigid forks, you see them on a lot of 26ers. Whiskey are also just about in your budget
"We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities." Oscar Wilde
I used rigid forks for years, also for XCM racing. Started with an old On-One monoque carbon fork with 9QR dropouts, it was up to its name: was really rigid. 
Bought a Ritchey WCS carbon 29er fork (9QR also), that was an amazing fork! On small impacts, it moved back and forth a little bit, I started to enjoy racing with rigid fork with this one (shame there's no successor, e.g. with 15x110 BOOST axle). Then, I replaced to a Niner rigid fork (15x100mm axle). Was not that good decision... Very reliable fork basically, but too rigid and the dropouts not machined/manufactured precisely which comes out when you try to install the front wheel (okay, not a big issue but hey, this is not a cheap fork!)
Orbea's Spirit 29er fork (15x110mm) can be also a good alternative, you can buy it separately. And you can also buy an adapter to reduce 15x110mm BOOST to 15x100mm hubs as well. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with this one. (Yet:))
Bought a Ritchey WCS carbon 29er fork (9QR also), that was an amazing fork! On small impacts, it moved back and forth a little bit, I started to enjoy racing with rigid fork with this one (shame there's no successor, e.g. with 15x110 BOOST axle). Then, I replaced to a Niner rigid fork (15x100mm axle). Was not that good decision... Very reliable fork basically, but too rigid and the dropouts not machined/manufactured precisely which comes out when you try to install the front wheel (okay, not a big issue but hey, this is not a cheap fork!)Orbea's Spirit 29er fork (15x110mm) can be also a good alternative, you can buy it separately. And you can also buy an adapter to reduce 15x110mm BOOST to 15x100mm hubs as well. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with this one. (Yet:))
Thanks for the input. It seem like the prevailing thought is that a stiffer fork is better, but those of us that have ridden road bikes know that's not necessarily the case.zscs wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:24 pmI used rigid forks for years, also for XCM racing. Started with an old On-One monoque carbon fork with 9QR dropouts, it was up to its name: was really rigid.
Orbea's Spirit 29er fork (15x110mm) can be also a good alternative, you can buy it separately. And you can also buy an adapter to reduce 15x110mm BOOST to 15x100mm hubs as well. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with this one. (Yet:))
-
carbonazza
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 9:14 am
To stay on a budget and if you have a tapered headset, you could consider a gravel fork from http://www.carbonda.com
They have mounts, can be painted and are sturdy.
In 12 or 15 x 100mm.
I ride a CFR505 gravel bike, beating it for years, and have built many for friends and family.
They have mounts, can be painted and are sturdy.
In 12 or 15 x 100mm.
I ride a CFR505 gravel bike, beating it for years, and have built many for friends and family.
-
viragevitesse
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:52 am
So I ended up getting a nice deal on a like new (hopefully) whisky no. 9 fork (the new one with the mounting holes on the side).
I think this and thunder burts should get my bike under 19lbs, we'll see!
The next question is should I add aero bars? Lol...
I think this and thunder burts should get my bike under 19lbs, we'll see!
The next question is should I add aero bars? Lol...
Looks good! The whiskey fork is really nice. I tried it for a while and went back to the shock though. To me it's with the weight penalty because it's that much more comfortable and I actually felt like I could go faster even up hill with the shock.
Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓ Broad Selection ✓ Worldwide Delivery ✓
www.starbike.com
Is matter how I wake up.spartacus wrote:Looks good! The whiskey fork is really nice. I tried it for a while and went back to the shock though. To me it's with the weight penalty because it's that much more comfortable and I actually felt like I could go faster even up hill with the shock.
But I like the rigid a lot.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
