New Forks, OH MY GOODNESS.

[Spoons47]

Good afternoon All.
For those that have seen some of my other posts you will know that I rushed into my bike purchase and bought a hybrid with suspension, only to find my cycling enjoyment belongs on the roads and fine paths.
In my quest for roadness, ‘is that a word’? I have put on 25c tyres narrow saddle for my 105mm sit bones and Shimano shoes, peddles and quilts. The eureka moment though has to be replacing the overly heavy suspension forks with second hand rigid carbon from my local bike repair man, even though head mechanic at Evans said it could not be done and riding position would be too aggressive. Well! What a difference, it’s absolutely amazing!! My only issue is that pedals are quite close to the ground. I looked into shorter crank arms but due to my E.O.A, I have got myself very confused and befuddled lol. I was thinking just replace the crank arms with 162.5 or 165! But it seems that you would need to replace the whole crankset. So for now I will train myself to be at 9 and 3 o’clock on tight bends and corners.
Onwards and upwards.
Regards to all
Simon

 

[alicat]

So for now I will train myself to be at 9 and 3 o’clock on tight bends and corners.

Or 6 o'clock on the outside of the bend and 12 o'clock on the inside is a good habit regardless.

 

[si_c]

Or 6 o'clock on the outside of the bend and 12 o'clock on the inside is a good habit regardless.

Not to mention it helps with weight distribution through the corner meaning you get more control and grip.

 

[Spoons47]

Or 6 o'clock on the outside of the bend and 12 o'clock on the inside is a good habit regardless.

Yes sorry I did mean that.

 

[Globalti]

Yes I had Rockshox Rebas on my rigid mountain bike and they leaked oil so I replaced them with some rigid eXotic carbon forks. The transformation was remarkable, the bike turned in better, climbed better and I only missed the Rebas on big hits like riding down flights of steps.

 

[gbb]

I raised this issue while discussing sus to rigid forks on my 700c shod crossfire. I thought it'd leave my pedals/cranks lower to the floor...which it would if i fitted a 700 rigid fork. Apparently you fit a rigid 29er fork and all is well. That i suppose compensates for the extra height of the sus fork.

I think thats the way it worked, please dont assume i know what i'm talking about

 

[Globalti]

If you buy rigids to replace suspension you need to buy what's called a compensated fork.

 

[Salty seadog]

As above, you need to get a 'suspension corrected fork' Matching the travel on the suspension you are replacing. So for my 100mm travel suspension I would replace with a 100mm suspension corrected fork and this would keep the geometry the same.

 

[T4tomo]

Do you have a photo of this frankenbike?

 

[Salar]

As said above /\,

You should have really fitted suspension corrected forks.

Depends upon the travel of the original forks though. You might get away with it or find the bike over twitchy and out of balance. The mechanic I would say is correct in what he was implying. Any pictures.

The following is my opinion I wouldn't have fitted secondhand carbon forks just in case they've had a bump or knock and you can't see the damage..

Carbon is very strong in bending, but twist it or give it a bump and it can damage. I've seen carbon fishing rods shatter just by being hit by a weighted fly.

As I say it's just my opinion, I always try to stick with steel for forks.

 

[Salar]

This is what my steel suspension corrected forks look like, this is a mountain bike with 80-100mm travel which is obviously more travel than a hybrid.

 

[Spoons47]

Thanks for all the responses. Here is my baby. I don’t think my bike mechanic would sell me damaged goods.

 

[derrick]

View attachment 428785 Thanks for all the responses. Here is my baby. I don’t think my bike mechanic would sell me damaged goods.[/Q
Whats going on with that headset?

 

[Spoons47]

Got two new spacers to go on there to replace the crown shaped one. just haven’t got round to it yet will put them on tomorrow and out for another test ride.

 

[T4tomo]

Oh my goodness indeed. That does now look very silly. Road bike forks into a mtb frame