weird feeling after upgrading my fork

[Torvi]

so i upgraded my fork from heavy 1.18kg alloy fork to light 400g 3k carbon fork and when i ride it i got the feeling like weight of the bike is now unbalanced.

The front feels really light and agile while the back of bike feels heavy, while climbing i got the feeling like the bike is going to lift up to wheelie, is this normal due to drastic weight cut or should i really think twice before riding with carbon and go back to the standard alloy fork?

i didnt know if i'd post it here or in components subforum sorry.

 

[Cyclist33]

It's normal, I mean think about it. In a month's time you won't notice it.

If too skittish you could spend more monies in a longer stem, or move your current stem down the steerer tube, or flip it if that would shift some of your weight distribution forard and down...

 

[Torvi]

stem is already quite low, my steerer tube after trimming is 230mm, the stem is on around 225-230mm.

 

[mickle]

If the new fork is the same length(from crown to drop-out) and offset (centre line of steerer to centre of hub axis) it's all in your head and you need to shut up and ride. If it's not the same.... either shut up and ride - or - put the old fork back in - or - find a fork which suits the head angle and other design parameters of your frame.

 

[Citius]

It's normal, I mean think about it. In a month's time you won't notice it.

If too skittish you could spend more monies in a longer stem, or move your current stem down the steerer tube, or flip it if that would shift some of your weight distribution forard and down...

As above. A bit like wearing new shoes for the first time. After a few days, you won't even notice.

 

[mickle]

What is 'too skittish'? What does it mean?

 

[buggi]

You know how they get horses to prance? They put heavy weights on their feet... Then when they do the shows the horses lift their feet off the ground in an exaggerated manner bcoz their feet feel light. It could be you are feeling the same phenomenon.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

MIckle is right. The new fork has a different offset and now feels strange when standing up to pedal. You won't feel it so much when sitting down though. A fork is not a fork is not a fork.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Im thinking angle steeper and maybe longer?..
A lighter fork will feel more responsive as lighter wheels do..
as long as the new fork is same length you will get used to it..or crash trying ...

 

[raleighnut]

I'd go for wrong 'offset' on the new fork as well, if you put them side by side you should be able to tell but I suspect that the new un will be steeper (less trail)

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Im thinking angle steeper and maybe longer?..
A lighter fork will feel more responsive as lighter wheels do..
as long as the new fork is same length you will get used to it..or crash trying ...

What does "more responsive" mean and how do we measure such a beast?

 

[DaveReading]

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/how-to-understand-bike-geometry

 

[Torvi]

after reading it all i started to compare my both forks and they differ in the shape, the old one is bit more "curvy" from the top part the forks are going into very slight bent and then straightens while old one isn't bent like this but on the other hand it's bent slightly inside.

this is the sketch of new fork's shape from front pov:

Also there are differences in fork's shape itself, the arms on carbon one are wider from front to rear but also slimmer inside, overall shape are totally different.

I just hope ill either get used to it by this week or ill go back to the old one

 

[Yellow Saddle]

None of that matters. The fork's feel is totally independent of its shape. It is the hub's position viz a vie the axial line drawn through the centre of the steerer tube that matters, not the path it takes to get there. Have a look at a Pinarello Dogma's fork to see what I mean.

 

[Torvi]

im just back from another test ride and i either have really big placebo effect or the bike gains speed alot easier while cruising went to the morrisons for food and been going back with about 5.6-6kg in my backpack.

think im getting used to it, ill do my usual work route which consist of 2x 10% hills and will tell the results late night