Carbon fork?

[mynydd]

Hi, I'm new her and this I's my first post - though I've been reading through the posts for sometime now.
I have recently returned to cycling, only commuting at the moment - due to family commitments etc.
Upon my return I bought my first road bike, Carreras tdf and so far love it, apart from the vibration from the front end! Where I live is very hilly and roads not too great, I'm finding some of the long downhill stretches create so much vibration that I end up with a mild headache.
My question is : would fitting a carbon fork substantially reduce the vibration? Or with a low end bike like this would I be better off waiting until I could save for a better bike (probably a long wait!)?
I'm really enjoying cycling again and have been riding for eight months now , at least three days a week.
I currently have tyres at about 110psi and don't want to reduce it much as I have to get back up the hills on the way home!
Thanks

 

[Hacienda71]

Carbon will help with vibration but won't eliminate it. I recently changed from an aluminium frame with a carbon fork to a fully carbon bike and it made me realise how harsh the aluminium frame is. That is not to say the aluminium frame is not good. I slightly prefer the aluminium frame for climbing but I get much more road buzz than on the fully carbon bike on the poor surface downhills and flats.
I think if money is a big factor try a carbon fork it will help, you could also look at a carbon seat post although that will not do anything for your front end vibration, just improve the overall ride a little.

 

[HLaB]

Have you got good pair of padded gloves, my old bike has alu forks as does my town bike, I find that makes a bigger difference than the carbon forks on my other bikes.

I currently have tyres at about 110psi and don't want to reduce it much as I have to get back up the hills on the way home!

How would lowering the PSI stop you getting up hill? I currently run my tyres around 95 psi front, 105psi rear (and only pump up once or twice a fortnight at this time of year and often they've fallen by 20psi), I wouldn't ever say that restricts me climbing hills

 

[TheDoctor]

A far cheaper way would be to get wider tyres than you have.Something in 25mm, or 28mm if that would fit.
I find Continental are pretty good, or Michelin. Currently on Maxxis ReFuse, and they're as comfy as a very comfy thing. Kenda are a bit low-life, which are what your bike comes with IIRC.
Otherwise, decent bar tape. You are wearing gloves, i take it? If not - got some!! They'll make a world of difference too.

 

[uphillstruggler]

It may also be worth upgrading you bar tape, my mate has the same bike and the tape is pretty thin.

Are you sure the headache is from roadbuzz? Are you drinking/refueling enough. Not trying to make you out as a newbie but its easy to overlook these things

 

[mynydd]

thanks all, for the really helpfully replies.
Pretty sure it's the roadbuzz, my commute is only short, about 7 miles, but I live at 1300 ft at work at sea level, so some of the hills are pretty steep!and being predominantly country lanes pretty rough!
Point taken re tyre pressures,but psychologically I'm sure it helps get up the hills!

 

[HLaB]

Point taken re tyre pressures,but psychologically I'm sure it helps get up the hills!

If you are uncomfortable its not helping, try experimenting

 

[fossyant]

You could be holding the bars too tightly. You should only have a light grip on them, unless going up a seriously steep hill out of the saddle.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The spec says the tyres are Kenda, which come into the cheap and nasty category. Fit some quality rubber like Prorace or Continental GP and the problem will disappear.

Tyres control 90% of ride quality.

 

[lulubel]

I remember when I first got my road bike, the vibration on some descents made my vision go blurred (and that was with carbon forks). Once I learned to relax my shoulders and loosen my "death grip" on the bars, the problem went away.

 

[GetAGrip]

You could be holding the bars too tightly. You should only have a light grip on them, unless going up a seriously steep hill out of the saddle.

I know this is something I'm guilty of at times and if not checked can quickly lead to neck and head discomfort.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

some ideas...

re tape your bars and put some gel (fizik or spesh sell it) under it.

don't sit down on the bumpy downhills

gloves with a bit of padding

make sure you are not using the 'vulcan death grip' on the bars when riding.

 

[derrick]

The spec says the tyres are Kenda, which come into the cheap and nasty category. Fit some quality rubber like Prorace or Continental GP and the problem will disappear.

Tyres control 90% of ride quality.

I would go along with tyres, have changed mine today and get a much smoother ride. I fitted Schwalbes

 

[mynydd]

Again, thanks for all the advice.
I did change tyres some time ago, which did help. Will now concentrate on my grip and possibly retape the bars