Comments on: Rigid Forks Versus Suspension Forks…..Again! http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:24:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jim L http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-32992 Jim L Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:51:32 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-32992 Seems like a headshock type setup would be a natural on 29ers, best of both worlds, rigig and suspension. Also it would be simple for the manufacturer to adapt from 26 to 29, and they work pretty well for short travel. I'm surprised that Cannondale is not offering a headshock 29'er. I had a headshock on a older F400 and must say it worked very well. Short travel is all you need to keep your hands from getting quite so tired, especially over high frequency washboard stuff. Seems like a headshock type setup would be a natural on 29ers, best of both worlds, rigig and suspension. Also it would be simple for the manufacturer to adapt from 26 to 29, and they work pretty well for short travel. I’m surprised that Cannondale is not offering a headshock 29′er. I had a headshock on a older F400 and must say it worked very well. Short travel is all you need to keep your hands from getting quite so tired, especially over high frequency washboard stuff.

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4493 Guitar Ted Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:34:45 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4493 blankety-blank: Yep, I've tried letting off a little bit on the front end. That's right about the time the front wheel washes out from underneath me. ..........hairy edge of control, remember? blankety-blank: Yep, I’ve tried letting off a little bit on the front end. That’s right about the time the front wheel washes out from underneath me.

……….hairy edge of control, remember?

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4247 Guitar Ted Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:54:19 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4247 Old Man Riding: Thanks for the comment. Yes, I've heard of the Action Tec fork system, (a little bit like a Cannondale Head Shok, for those who aren't familiar with Action Tec) and it's been around for years. I also have heard good reports from respected 29"er advocates on it's performance. It's a proprietary system, so yeah, not any way to retrofit it at all, since you need a frame specific to an Action Tec fork not only from a head tube size, but from a geometry standpoint, as well. The main beef that I have with it is that it raises an already tall front end even higher to get all that suspension hardware in there. Not a good thing for most 29"ers, as the majority of riders are looking for ways to keep front end height in check. Glad to hear it's been working for you. It's cool to see an "old skool" product still kickin' it these days. Old Man Riding: Thanks for the comment. Yes, I’ve heard of the Action Tec fork system, (a little bit like a Cannondale Head Shok, for those who aren’t familiar with Action Tec) and it’s been around for years. I also have heard good reports from respected 29″er advocates on it’s performance.

It’s a proprietary system, so yeah, not any way to retrofit it at all, since you need a frame specific to an Action Tec fork not only from a head tube size, but from a geometry standpoint, as well.

The main beef that I have with it is that it raises an already tall front end even higher to get all that suspension hardware in there. Not a good thing for most 29″ers, as the majority of riders are looking for ways to keep front end height in check.

Glad to hear it’s been working for you. It’s cool to see an “old skool” product still kickin’ it these days.

]]> By: Old Man Riding http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4241 Old Man Riding Sun, 29 Oct 2006 13:02:55 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4241 Ted, I've been riding the best of both worlds lately. I had Doug build up a Curtlo 29er with an ActionTec fork. It only has a little over 2" of travel, but with the big wheels, that's enough. It has the "feel" of a rigid yet takes a major part of the shock fatigue away... seems a perfect 29er SS fork... only problem is that it requires 1 1/4" head tube... so it can't be retro's on most bikes. I do love that ride though! Ted, I’ve been riding the best of both worlds lately. I had Doug build up a Curtlo 29er with an ActionTec fork. It only has a little over 2″ of travel, but with the big wheels, that’s enough. It has the “feel” of a rigid yet takes a major part of the shock fatigue away… seems a perfect 29er SS fork… only problem is that it requires 1 1/4″ head tube… so it can’t be retro’s on most bikes. I do love that ride though!

]]> By: mark http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4160 mark Tue, 24 Oct 2006 03:47:10 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4160 thanks ted thats making sense to me...I guess looking at my wheel widthoptions thereafter would be some of my next thoughts I am running the piggy stock exiwolf right now but if I start heading lighter on the fork I will probably head the same way with tires...igniters? I will see what you all say on tires in other threads thanks, mark thanks ted thats making sense to me…I guess looking at my wheel widthoptions thereafter would be some of my next thoughts I am running the piggy stock exiwolf right now but if I start heading lighter on the fork I will probably head the same way with tires…igniters? I will see what you all say on tires in other threads thanks, mark

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4158 Guitar Ted Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:59:41 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4158 Ted: The axle to crown height on the XXIX is just about akin to what alot of suspension corrected forks are for 26 inch wheeled bikes. At 430mm you should be able to find a disc only fork that will work. Some forks will be a bit shorter and some a bit longer, but if you can find something 10mm or closer to 430mm either longer or shorter, you should be all right. Anything beyond that I wouldn't recommend. One thing to keep in mind about the XXIX: the claimed head angle is 71 degrees, which is already an inch slacker than alot of 29"ers. Also, the fork rake on the XXIX steel fork is 40mm. If you go to a 26"er fork, the rake will most likely be 38mm, so not much change there. Keeping that in mind, it would be a better choice to go slightly less than 430mm with your 26"er fork's axle to crown measurement to attain a quicker handling bike when mated to the XXIX. (Of course, we are talking about 26 inch rigid, disc only forks here that are able to be used with the 29"er front on your XXIX) Ted: The axle to crown height on the XXIX is just about akin to what alot of suspension corrected forks are for 26 inch wheeled bikes. At 430mm you should be able to find a disc only fork that will work. Some forks will be a bit shorter and some a bit longer, but if you can find something 10mm or closer to 430mm either longer or shorter, you should be all right. Anything beyond that I wouldn’t recommend.

One thing to keep in mind about the XXIX: the claimed head angle is 71 degrees, which is already an inch slacker than alot of 29″ers. Also, the fork rake on the XXIX steel fork is 40mm. If you go to a 26″er fork, the rake will most likely be 38mm, so not much change there. Keeping that in mind, it would be a better choice to go slightly less than 430mm with your 26″er fork’s axle to crown measurement to attain a quicker handling bike when mated to the XXIX. (Of course, we are talking about 26 inch rigid, disc only forks here that are able to be used with the 29″er front on your XXIX)

]]> By: mark http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4150 mark Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:45:49 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4150 hey ted hows about whether any of the superlight forks fitting the raleigh XXIX I think somewhere else you said the crown to fork distance was one of the shortest you encountered? thnaks, mark hey ted hows about whether any of the superlight forks fitting the raleigh XXIX I think somewhere else you said the crown to fork distance was one of the shortest you encountered? thnaks, mark

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4145 Guitar Ted Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:19:56 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4145 Tim: Hey, that's okay. That's the great thing about a "blog" format, you can have these sorts of conversations to get to the meaning of things. So, you were wanting to get more info on the carbon fork testing, eh? Well you will be satisfied! I just have to put in a little more time on both the Superlight and the Switchblade before I report again. In fact, I will be periodically posting on these forks for awhile, at least as long as riding conditions will allow throughout the winter months. Tim: Hey, that’s okay. That’s the great thing about a “blog” format, you can have these sorts of conversations to get to the meaning of things.

So, you were wanting to get more info on the carbon fork testing, eh? Well you will be satisfied! I just have to put in a little more time on both the Superlight and the Switchblade before I report again. In fact, I will be periodically posting on these forks for awhile, at least as long as riding conditions will allow throughout the winter months.

]]> By: Tim http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4142 Tim Mon, 23 Oct 2006 04:14:08 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4142 Guitar Ted, Didn't intend to cal you out, was just curious if you had further ride time on the On-One carbon fork , "......Twenty Nine Inches is going to continue testing this and other forks to get some answers. If you mount one of these Superlight Carbon forks on your 72 degree head angle 29″er though, you just might have yourself a winner! Stay Tuned!" I used "our" to mean the collective "us" who count on riders like you to test and disseminate! Guitar Ted,

Didn’t intend to cal you out, was just curious if you had further ride time on the On-One carbon fork , “……Twenty Nine Inches is going to continue testing this and other forks to get some answers. If you mount one of these Superlight Carbon forks on your 72 degree head angle 29″er though, you just might have yourself a winner! Stay Tuned!”

I used “our” to mean the collective “us” who count on riders like you to test and disseminate!

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4137 Guitar Ted Sun, 22 Oct 2006 19:39:31 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/10/16/rigid-forks-versus-suspension-forksagain/#comment-4137 Tim: Please explain what you mean by "our". And also what fork you are talking about. I'm a bit confused by your comment. Thanks! Tim: Please explain what you mean by “our”. And also what fork you are talking about. I’m a bit confused by your comment. Thanks!

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