Comparison of Auminium, Steel and Carbon forks?

blackhead

Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc

Hobbes@spnb&s.com

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryharson@softhome.net>
wrote:

>Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc

The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
got something going for them.

Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
choosing from.

blackhead

On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryhar...@softhome.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> the differences in the materials themselves. *Even in weight there is an
> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> got something going for them.
>
> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> choosing from.

So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

Hobbes@spnb&s.com

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:41:11 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryharson@softhome.net>
wrote:

>On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryhar...@softhome.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>> >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>> >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>
>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>> the differences in the materials themselves. *Even in weight there is an
>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>> got something going for them.
>>
>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>> choosing from.
>
>So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
>Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

They definitely vibrate differently. I don't know that it is less. I do know
that with stupid small tires pumped up stupid hard they are noticeably less
annoying on buzzy road surfaces. I also notice that I don't notice it that much.
The only reason I own carbon forks at all is because I found them at a
ridiculously low price while building up a bike. I'm sure if I'd spent $350 on
the damn things I'd be telling you all about how much better they are.

Ozark Bicycle

On Apr 18, 6:41 am, blackhead <larryhar...@softhome.net> wrote:
> On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryhar...@softhome.net>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> > >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> > >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> > The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> > the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
> > intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> > got something going for them.
>
> > Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> > choosing from.
>
> So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
> Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

It does if you think it does (see: "the placebo effect").

bigjimpack@gmail.com

Aluminum sucks for forks. Youll rattle out your teeth. Steel gives
the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. Carbon absorbs
shock well . I have all three and the best thing I did on my cross
bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. My two favorite
rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi steel/steel


On Apr 18, 7:41*am, blackhead <larryhar...@softhome.net> wrote:
> On 18 Apr, 00:55, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryhar...@softhome.net>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> > >and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> > >steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> > The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greaterthan
> > the differences in the materials themselves. *Even in weight there is an
> > intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> > got something going for them.
>
> > Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> > choosing from.
>
> So do Carbon forks really absorb vibration significantly better than
> Aluminium, so giving a better ride?

Sandy

Dans le message de
news:e041c748-e72e-4e06-8098-9ec2c6c2eb89@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com,
bigjimpack@gmail.com <bigjimpack@gmail.com> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
> Aluminum sucks for forks. Youll rattle out your teeth. Steel gives
> the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. Carbon absorbs
> shock well . I have all three and the best thing I did on my cross
> bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. My two favorite
> rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi steel/steel

How many points for a mid-thread troll?

agcou

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryharson@softhome.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>
> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
> got something going for them.
>
> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
> choosing from.

Did you read the OP's question?

jim beam

agcou wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryharson@softhome.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>> got something going for them.
>>
>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>> choosing from.
>
> Did you read the OP's question?

careful now, r.b.t regulars are here to shoot the shit, not commit
heretical acts of reality checking such as you have just done.

jim beam

blackhead wrote:
> Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
> and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
> steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc

the best "impartial" test you can do is ride them yourself and compare.
not something some people with mere opinions are prone to do.

Jay Beattie

On Apr 18, 12:51*pm, "Sandy" <leur...@free.fr> wrote:
> Dans le message denews:e041c748-e72e-4e06-8098-9ec2c6c2eb89@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com,
> bigjimp...@gmail.com <bigjimp...@gmail.com> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
>
> > Aluminum sucks for forks. *Youll rattle out your teeth. *Steel gives
> > the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. *Carbon absorbs
> > shock well . *I have all three and the best thing I did on my cross
> > bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. *My two favorite
> > rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi steel/steel
>
> How many points for a mid-thread troll?

6.2 I had some aluminum forks on a 90s Cannondale that were about as
stiff as a pogo stick. -- Jay Beattie.

Sandy

Dans le message de
news:01f8b8da-f51e-49ee-8648-6f0252c3372e@i36g2000prf.googlegroups.com,
Jay Beattie <jbeattie@lindsayhart.com> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
> On Apr 18, 12:51 pm, "Sandy" <leur...@free.fr> wrote:
>> Dans le message
>> denews:e041c748-e72e-4e06-8098-9ec2c6c2eb89@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com,
>> bigjimp...@gmail.com <bigjimp...@gmail.com> a réfléchi, et puis a
>> déclaré :
>>
>>> Aluminum sucks for forks. Youll rattle out your teeth. Steel gives
>>> the plushest ride but with heavier weight than carbon. Carbon
>>> absorbs shock well . I have all three and the best thing I did on
>>> my cross bike was swap the aluminu fork for a carbon one. My two
>>> favorite rides are a Lemondsteel with carbon fork and a Bianchi
>>> steel/steel
>>
>> How many points for a mid-thread troll?
>
> 6.2 I had some aluminum forks on a 90s Cannondale that were about as
> stiff as a pogo stick. -- Jay Beattie.

You didn't miss the celeste part, right?

mitosis

Even if you don't think it does, carbon forks, in general absorb more vibration than aluminium.

Hobbes@spnb&s.com

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:58:51 -0800, agcou <agcou@agcou.com> wrote:

>On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:55:23 -0400, Hobbes@spnb&s.com wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:23:53 -0700 (PDT), blackhead <larryharson@softhome.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Are there any impartial tests that have been done on Auminium, Steel
>>>and Carbon forks? Some people say carbon absorbs vibration better than
>>>steel and Aluminium, others say it makes little difference... etc etc
>>
>> The differences of design, materials quality and manufacture are greater than
>> the differences in the materials themselves. Even in weight there is an
>> intersection between the three. I've got bikes with all three and they've all
>> got something going for them.
>>
>> Really depends on what you're doing with the bike and which forks you're
>> choosing from.
>
>Did you read the OP's question?

Yeah, there are no impartial tests that establish the relative characteristics
of forks made from different materials. Such a test would have to hold all other
variables constant in a way that simply isn't possible.