Which fork?

[lunacycles]

Hi Indysteel,

For whatever reason, steel forks and ti frames seem to not happen frequently. It is a good question as to why, really. I think the aesthetics of oversize tigged ti tubing with standard sized steel tubing (and a classic lugged crown) don't work for a lot of bike geeks. I have also noticed guys often have different aesthetic needs in bikes, fwiw, and certain things are mystically taboo (this might be one of them). As far as ride quality, steel would be very nice, and I think complement the ride quality of a ti frame. I build a lot of forks, and you can make a very light steel fork these days that is very comfy and responsive...not as light as light carbon, but certainly close.

Anyway, keep checking around for forks if you pursue carbon. There is a company called Edge Composites that is US-based. A very reputable carbon fiber custom framebuilder buddy of mine recommended I check them out as a replacement for Reynolds (Reynolds was great because they offered 3 different offsets in their 700c forks). I don't think they sell consumer direct, but do some googling and maybe you will find info. I haven't had to make this step yet, but will in a month or two... Wound Up also offers custom offsets, but their forks have that straight leg design that I don't think you are looking for.

As far as Ritchey, I can't say from experience (I use a lot of Ritchey stuff but not their forks yet)...but I have heard a lot of inconsistent things. I like Ritchey aesthetics, personally. I think if you go with them, go WCS...anything less gets consistently bad marks from what I have read.

Good luck!

[lunacycles]

It just occurred to me a BIG reason steel forks don't go with ti frames...Ti frames' head tubes are oversized, requiring an OS fork steerer (1-1/8"). Almost all road crowns, if not all, are designed for 1" steerers. I think there is a conversion kit out there, but that would be sooo wrong to use on a brand new frame, imo.

[SadieKate]

Anyway, keep checking around for forks if you pursue carbon. There is a company called Edge Composites that is US-based. A very reputable carbon fiber custom framebuilder buddy of mine recommended I check them out as a replacement for Reynolds (Reynolds was great because they offered 3 different offsets in their 700c forks). I don't think they sell consumer direct, but do some googling and maybe you will find info. I haven't had to make this step yet, but will in a month or two...

Indy, I personally know Edge's marketing and distribution guru. She also owns one of the LBS here in town (was also the former marketing dir for Felt) and was just talking about Edge the other day. Let me know if you need me to find some contacts for you.

When I talked to Tom Kellogg about my Spectrum, the thing that most concerned me was the comfort of fork - what vibrations would I feel in my hands. Carbon can be made horribly stiff for us smaller folks. The rake, trail, etc., I left up to the experts.

[SadieKate]

Ah ya, Margo is right. Steel forks can look just real plain weird on ti frames. You can have the carbon painted if you want to camouflage it.