Heavy new rider advice

[Kilmo]

I'm a heavy rider 20ish stone and have been riding a mountain bike for the past year to work, my route is all cycle paths and I'm after getting my first road bike.

I don't have much of a budget and like the look of the btwin triban 3

My main concern is the front forks, I work with carbon fibre at my day job and understand how it shatters.
I visited a decathalon shop at the weekend and the sales assistant agreed with me.

Now I'm considering buying the bike and swapping out the carbon forks for some alloy ones
Has anyone got any options or suggestions

 

[thegravestoneman]

apparently this years model does without the carbon forks

 

[Lanzecki]

I'm sure a Triban rider will be along, but personally I wouldn't worry about it.

Carbon does tend to shatter, but it's mostly vertical pressure except when braking, and they are designed for that.

Go and test ride one without bringing up your concerns. Find a quiet road and hit the brakes a few times while leaning over the front wheel.

It's not scientific, but it'll be fine!

*note, don't blame me if you go over the front

 

[justkeeppedaling]

I'm a heavy rider 20ish stone and have been riding a mountain bike for the past year to work, my route is all cycle paths and I'm after getting my first road bike.

I don't have much of a budget and like the look of the btwin triban 3

My main concern is the front forks, I work with carbon fibre at my day job and understand how it shatters.
I visited a decathalon shop at the weekend and the sales assistant agreed with me.

Now I'm considering buying the bike and swapping out the carbon forks for some alloy ones
Has anyone got any options or suggestions

hi kilmo
I amsure this years 2013 Triban 3 is cheaper but does not come with Carbon forks, I think there was a thread on this somewhere. worth looking into

 

[justkeeppedaling]

apparently this years model does without the carbon forks

beat me to it

 

[thegravestoneman]

got to be quick to beat me, except on a bike

 

[MrJamie]

Isn't carbon fibre also both immensely strong and very flexible in the directions the fibres allow, (eg. the wobbly bits on F1 cars)? There was a video posted a while back with some guys beating up carbon frames/forks and they were so incredibly resilient, I cant imagine it would be a problem even under heavy braking, given that you can get carbon forks with discs.

From what I've heard on here, the Triban's wheels are likely to be the most unhappy part.

 

[justkeeppedaling]

I have got a Triban myself and being no slouch in the eating department (16st when I started last summer). I have no reason to believe the carbon forks wont do the job. it certainly doesnt feel like a weak point to me.
I come off a few weeks ago on the ice and everything is still running true..

 

[Kilmo]

Thanks for your comments, I guess I'm just being over cautious.
I have never seen how forks are laid up,
Might do a bit of research into this.

One benefit with my job I have access to some very fancy testing equipment I could probably give the forks a check every few months
Thanks

 

[philinmerthyr]

I'm 21st and have a Specialized Roubaix. It has a carbon frame and has been superb. I've ridden nearly 1,000 miles on it in the last 4 months.