from Rookie’s keyboard,
Hello, friends
Time for some more fork talk.
I will be honest. I am not the biggest fan of non-steel rigid forks, but since you asked for a post on the subject, I prepared one.
Today, I will talk about carbon and alloy forks with zero mercy for either of them.
The Differences
- Compliance
Aluminum alloy is compromised upon deformation. And to avoid failures, aluminum parts are made stiffer and fatter.
As a result, they miserably fail to mitigate road vibrations and offer a harsh ride. (I hate them for that.)
Meanwhile, carbon forks are a lot more compliant and reduce the road buzz noticeably. This is one of the reasons why some road bikes have an aluminum frame coupled with a carbon fork.
Of course, the newer aluminum forks are “softer”, but they are also expensive and still can’t match the flex offered by steel and carbon models.
The harshness of aluminum forks is their only downside stopping them for being popular.
- Weight
| Carbon | Weight | Aluminum | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ritchey Comp Carbon Road Fork 1″ | 467g | XLC BF-A02 – 28″ Rigid Fork – 1 1/8″ | 943g |
| Ritchey Comp Carbon Road Fork 1 1/8″ | 540g | Kinesis CrossWind 470 Disc 28″ | 1016g |
| Ritchey WCS Carbon Cross Fork – 1 1/8 Inch | 478g | BUCKLOS Rigid Fork | 780g |
| Salsa Waxwing 700C/650B Gravel Carbon Fork | 520g | Kinesis CrossWind 455 Disc 28″ | 880g |
| Columbus Minimal Carbon Fork – 1 | 340g | Kinesis Airbow Race Fork | 661g |
| Columbus Pista Leggera UD Carbon | 560g | MOSSO FK-M6 | 800g |
| Simplon F-1010 Monocoque Carbon 28″/700C | 540g | ROSE 28″/700C | 600g |
| Simplon F-10.2 Monocoque | 490g | ACCENT 1.5 to 1-1/8 Taper | 764g |
| Average: | 491.8g | Average: | 805.5g |
As expected, carbon forks are substantially lighter than rigid aluminum models.
But the difference isn’t nearly as large if you compare only the road models.
The average carbon road fork is about 450g whereas its aluminum equivalent weighs about 600g.
Unsuprsingly, if you’re looking for the lightest rigid fork, carbon wins.
- Toughness
Aluminum is notably tougher than carbon and can handle serious abuse.
A scratched aluminum fork is not the end of the world. But when carbon gets even slightly damaged, it could eventually crack and fail spectacularly.
For that very reason, even professionals stay away from carbon handlebars – those mother*** can fail on you unexpectedly and send your nose to the ground a meter or two before the finish line.
Of course, the production quality matters too. If the fork isn’t well-made, it can break regardless of the used material.
- Maintenance
Carbon components necessitate frequent inspections because the material is more prone to failure and a small dent could quickly decide its faith.
- Stiffness
Ideally, a fork is stiff laterally but compliant vertically. The lateral stiffness makes the fork more responsive whereas the vertical flex smoothens the ride. Out of the two, aluminum forks are stiffer.
Additional Note on Aluminum Forks
- Disc Brake Mounts
Many alloy forks come with a mount for a disc brake. This makes them a good choice for people who want to add a front disc brake to their bike.
- Lower Anxiety Levels
Alu is not as “needy” as carbon and requires fewer inspections. Thus, aluminum forks are better for people who tend to obsess over the strength of their components.
- Cheaper
Aluminum frames and forks are much cheaper than their carbon counterparts. If you’re on a budget, aluminum will allow you to have a fairly light bike at an affordable price.
Additional Notes On Carbon Forks
- Alien Look
Carbon dominates the high-end cycling sector. If you want your bike to look modern, carbon will help you with that goal.
- Aerodynamic
The tubing of both carbon and aluminum forks can be made in a teardrop shape to increase the aerodynamics of the component.
- Greater Supply
Aluminum forks are NOT desirable. They’re lighter than steel forks, but not by a lot, and offer a harsh ride. In other words, they can’t compete with their rivals.
Meanwhile, carbon forks are both lighter than steel and more compliant than aluminum models.
When you add the carbon hype, you get an incentive to produce more carbon models.
Tire Softness
Regardless of how compliant a rigid fork is, it cannot offer the same cushioning as a set of wide tires operating at low air pressure.
A bike with an ultra-rigid aluminum fork and wide tires can provide a softer ride than a super compliant carbon fork equipped with a narrow and firm tire running at high air pressure.
If comfort is your ultimate goal, it’s wiser to look for a fork that has clearance for big tires.
– Lucius Annaeus Seneca
For the smoothest possible ride with a rigid fork, it’s recommended to get a fork running V-brakes or cantilever brakes.
V-brakes and cantis are preferred because calipers greatly limit tire clearance whereas disc brake forks require stiffer fork legs due to the extra torque.
Weight Concerns?
The extra weight of an aluminum fork is not noticeable when the bike is used for recreational activities. 200-300 grams will not make or break a bicycle.
Once the bike is up to speed, the weight savings that one gets from using the lightest possible components become negligible.
My choice?
If I am going to have a rigid bike, I prefer a steel fork – it’s the heaviest, but it’s also the toughess all while offering softness.
Carbon is lighter and also compliant, but I don’t like it – it’s too much of a “drama queen”.
Aluminum? I would only use it with a fat tire. Otherwise, no thanks.
Until next time, fellas.
Rookie
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