Cyclocross bike-Carbon Fork v Alu Fork?

[East Riding Lad]

Just looking for opinions folks. I'm looking at cyclocross bikes at the moment, I have no intentions of cross racing, this will be a winter road bike/ do it all day to day bike and I am planning on maybe a bit of light touring. I've been told by my LBS that carbon forks on a bike such as this are prone to judder. Anyone have any experience of this?

 

[Hydra]

I'd have thought carbon forks would make for a smoother ride as opposed to alu. Though with the chunkier tyres of CX bikes to soak up the roughage I don't think it'd make too much difference. My Revolution Cross has steel forks and there's next to no road buzz.

 

[al-fresco]

For a 'do it all' cyclocross bike have a look at the Surly Cross Check - all steel and comes with bosses for front and rear pannier racks.

 

[ianrauk]

The Specialized cross bikes (TriCross) were notorious for front fork judder, especially the larger sized bike. But they fixed it by replacing the brake hanger if I remember correctly.

 

[East Riding Lad]

Thanks for the input chaps. I'm very much a GIANT man, narrow minded I know but I want a TCX to go with my TCR. Ianrauk......that sounds right to me, I asked in the LBS why road bikes with carbon forks dont get the judder and he said it was to do with the positioning of the calipers.

 

[BAP]

I'm afraid I just don't trust Carbon. I'm considering a cross bike for the same reasons that you give, but if so it'll definately be steel or alu.

 

[Stephenite]

The 'juddering' has been covered before in several threads. Do a search.

I've got a '09 Kona Jake The Snake with carbon forks, myself. Very, very rarely does it judder after i swapped the brake pads. And only when under very hard braking.

Very happy with the bike, by the way.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

did someone say they wanted a Giant TCX 1?....linky link

 

[PK99]

I'd have thought carbon forks would make for a smoother ride as opposed to alu. Though with the chunkier tyres of CX bikes to soak up the roughage I don't think it'd make too much difference. My Revolution Cross has steel forks and there's next to no road buzz.

I'v just got the new Tricross elite disc with alu forks, yes it is a bit more buzzy than the previous carbon forked version nothing to bother about - the 35mm tyres soak up most

 

[Jezston]

A friend of mine has a '10 Focus Mares Expert with carbon forks and cantis. Suffered TERRIBLE judder.

Can you get carbon forks with disc mounts? How are they?

Alu forks will be pretty unforgiving on rough surfaces. My hybrid has straight alu forks and on the rough it gets pretty uncomfortable fast.

 

[East Riding Lad]

did someone say they wanted a Giant TCX 1?....linky link

Ha ha, I've actually got that on my Ebay watch list but I've not bought anything off Ebay before and really aren't that comfortable with spending that kind of money without seeing it first. It's a nice looking bike though.

 

[East Riding Lad]

The 'juddering' has been covered before in several threads. Do a search.

I've got a '09 Kona Jake The Snake with carbon forks, myself. Very, very rarely does it judder after i swapped the brake pads. And only when under very hard braking.

Very happy with the bike, by the way.

I really like the look of the Jake the Snake but again would like to see one before I buy. I wouldn't have a clue as to where my nearest dealer is.

 

[Stephenite]

I really like the look of the Jake the Snake but again would like to see one before I buy. I wouldn't have a clue as to where my nearest dealer is.

You could have a look here - Cyclinglinks - Kona dealers