Fork stiffness

[earth]

What is it that contributes to the stiffness of a fork?

Is it the legs, crown or steerer tube?

I just got a carbon fork with carbon steerer tube and the legs are noticeably bendy. I can squeeze them together in one hand.

Presumably a wheel is between the legs makes it stiffer ..ahem.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Ahem...

If you are interested you can probably compare the stiffness of your fork with those in this test.

 

[earth]

Ahem...

If you are interested you can probably compare the stiffness of your fork with those in this test.

The article poses an interesting theory that, without a counter argument, sounds reasonable. Longitudinal deflect would effect fork rake which directly effects steering.

The fork I bought recently has aero legs which are deep but narrow so I would expect the longitudinally stiff and it is certainly laterally flexible.

It's on a project bike which isn't finished yet so I have not been able to ride it and I will not be able to compare the ride to a previous one on the same bike.

 

[PpPete]

The article poses an interesting theory that, without a counter argument, sounds reasonable. Longitudinal deflect would effect fork rake which directly effects steering.

The fork I bought recently has aero legs which are deep but narrow so I would expect the longitudinally stiff and it is certainly laterally flexible.

It's on a project bike which isn't finished yet so I have not been able to ride it and I will not be able to compare the ride to a previous one on the same bike.

Squeezing the legs together is not really represenative of stiffness with a wheel hub in the drop outs.