Carbon vs Steel Fork

[Triskeliongirl]

UPDATE! I just finalized the plans with the frame builder and put down my deposit. I am so stoked. I had already decided to go with the steel fork so I could get a rack and canti bosses added, and then after taking some measurements the frame builder told me that the back ordered Terry Carbon forks wouldn't have even fit, so I am glad I had already decided on steel before finding out that I didn't have a choice afterall. He is gonna also modify the seat stays to have canti bosses and a hanger. So I'll get a light travel bike that can work with tires from 23-32c, with or without racks, for everything from go fast rides to light touring. The price was very reasonable, since it is a bigger job for him if he gets to do the fork, retrofit and rear mods. Now, the question is can I really build this myself. I am gonna have him install the headset and fork, but I'll do the rest. I'll have to take pictures and post them as this project progresses. BTW, her name is Feronia, a travel Goddess and also a fitting name for a steel bike.

[DebW]

Congrats. What a great bike you're going to have! You can definitely do the build yourself. Just take it one step at a time.

[Triskeliongirl]

I wanna post a final thank you to all you gals over here that helped me design the bike of my dreams. All I knew when I bought her 2 months ago is that the price was too good to be true and that I wanted to somehow make her into a travel bike. Now that she is built I started a new thread on her, called introducing feronia in the open topic section: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12234
but I really wanted to thank you folks here that helped me make it happen.

[Mimosa]

Now, the question is can I really build this myself. I am gonna have him install the headset and fork, but I'll do the rest. I'll have to take pictures and post them as this project progresses. BTW, her name is Feronia, a travel Goddess and also a fitting name for a steel bike.

The only problem you could have is the special tools required to install the bracket and cranck. But you could loan them from a friend or buy them.
The rest of the bike is easy.

[Triskeliongirl]

OK Ladies, the framebuilder finished making the fork and installing the s/s couplers and canti bosses. He shipped her out today, and took these pix for his website so here she is. I'm gonna build her with: nitto technomic stem, nitto noodle bar, kalloy uno 374 silver post, brooks finesse saddle, and an ultegra/XT mix (50/34 front, 11/34 rear). For go fast rides I'll probably use my lighter wheelset with a 12/27 cluster and 23 c schwalbe stevlios and for touring my sturdier wheelset with the 11/34 cluster and front and rear racks. For in between stuff my carradice bag will do! And she'll be light with her reynolds 853 steel.

[KnottedYet]

Ooooh, nice!!

[spokewench]

Very Pretty - You're going to have so much fun this year riding a new bike!

[DebW]

Congrats, Triskeliongirl. What a nice ride. Love the couplers.

[mimitabby]

thanks for showing us your finished frame! this thread was very instructive to me.

I am going to go to Sheldon's website and look up "coupler"

I give up. All i could find was something about SHOES.
what's the cute coupler on this bike?