Comments on: An Experiment In Front End Geometry: Fork #1

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:19:05 +0000

I do appreciate it, Ted. You know, I thought about this stuff a lot when I was selecting my road frame/fork. I even went to a 43mm rake from stock 40mm rake (steel Schwinn) to quicken the already quick handling.

I guess I was conditioned from my front-sprung days on the MTB where the rake/offset “was what it was” when you got a suspension fork. But this series of posts got me thinking again that the rigid setup is quite tweakable.

So a Salsa Cromoto Grande is on its way with its 43mm of rake to replace my stock MC29er’s 38mm rake.

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:39:33 +0000

Steve: My aim in doing this is to help those that might be considering “tuning their rides”, not an exercise in the effects of different geometry tweaks.

Not everyone can have a fork like Walt Wehner’s test fork, but many of you can and are doing real world fork swaps with commonly available forks and frames. That is why I am using the forks I am posting about.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:14:12 +0000

Why not commission that Walt fork or have a better ( adj. A-C and rake) fork built fore this test? I bet Walt’s fork is just sitting, collecting dust.

And what aspiring framebuilder wouldn’t want to donate such a fork in exchange for some publicity?

Any attempt to compare geometry is great, but the ability to change a single dimension at a time would encourage greater understanding.

(My LBS/IBD told me so)

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:56:43 +0000

Man… after reading part 2, I think the quicker Blackbuck fork numbers would suit my style better than either of the two carbon offerings. I’d prefer the bike to be quick and my inputs subtle, not ham-handed. Very interesting.

I’d be more than happy to test a Blackbuck fork on my MC29er.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:52:59 +0000

Sorry… been away a while. Yes, Ted, that makes sense now.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:16:01 +0000

…and if you use the same method to measure each time, you will get results that are consistent for a comparison test.

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:29:43 +0000

Steve: I’m using a Craftsman pendulum protractor, which gets me as close as I need for this comparison. I measure three times to check my findings, so they are pretty accurate. If you can feel a few tenths of a degree difference in head angle, well then I applaud your sensitivity.

jeremy uk: Nope. 74 degrees.

By: jeremy uk

jeremy uk — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:44:10 +0000

I’ve always thought that one inch of drop on the front fork roughly equates to one degree. Given that general rule surely the head angle is nearer 73 degrees?

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:52:03 +0000

What are you using to get your angle measurements? Digital (good), gravity (so not good), or geometry (math is hard)

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:28:12 +0000

Mike: Great story about the frame builders and thanks for that Breeze link. Very interesting! I always thought it was more about just riding, but it’s more about just riding than I thought. If that makes any sense!

Garrett: Yeah, Thanks! I’m having fun with this. (Of course, I get to ride a lot! )

Makes sense that if road bikes can get away with it, why not a mountain bike? Gary Fisher told me a few years ago, “Now we can all tune our rides”. in referance to being able to get other than 38mm off set suspension forks for 29″ers. I think it’s great and more folks should check it out. Hopefully, this test will inspire some of you folks to do just that.