Custom Build: Help me choose a Road Disc fork

Hi Folks,

I'm having a custom stainless steel road frame built and I'm being horribly indecisive on what fork to go for. Thru axle vs Quick Release, Road vs CX etc.

The bike will be my daily bike that I do a training commute on together with evening/weekend group rides and the occasional event or trip with mates.

It won't be seeing any dirt but the roads around these parts can be pretty shocking, so i'd like to run 28s plus mudguards – not sure if I really need to go wider, although wondering on folks experiences there.

Here are my options:

Wound Up Road Disc:

Pros:

• This is what builder recommends.
  
• Should match the steel frame nicely, with a matching 1 1/8 head tube, for a classic look.
  
• Meant to be a sweet handling fork too.
  
• Clearance for 28mm tyres and full mudguards
  
  

Cons:

• Ties me into a straight steerer, where as most road disc forks seem to be tapered so may limit future upgrades.
  
• Quick Release only, so none of the the benefits of TA with discs. Pad rub / disc alignment and my own silly anxiety about popping a wheel out on a descent.
  
• Slightly untidy hose routing.
  
• Minimum 160mm rotor size.
  
  

This is the mid-priced option

Example of a similar Wound Up build here:

Whisky Road No. 9 Thru Axle Road fork.

Pros:

• It's a proper road fork, with road geo.
  
• Has thru axle.
  
• Takes 140mm rotors for a more minimal look.
  
• Sharp handling by the accounts I've heard
  
• Lightest of the bunch
  
  

Cons:

• Needs retro fitting of mudguard eyes (I've found a company that can do this).
  
• Will take 28mm tyres but mudguard clearance with these might mean I'd have to chop the front part of the guard off, and not have it run under the crown. Might get a wet face.
  
• Not sure if it will fit 28s on a 25mm wide rim, such as the Pacenti SL25.
  
  

This is the highest priced option

Example of this kind of build here:

TRP CX fork

Pros:

• Thru axle
  
• Neat internal hose routing
  
• Can run up to 40mm tyres, so no problem with 28s and full guards, or even maybe 32mm with guards should I feel like it. Do I need to though?
  
• Can run full mudgurards
  
• Weight
  
• Price
  
  

Cons:

• While can maintain road geometry through adfusting the rest of the frame to match, I'm tired in to CX fork with tall a/c.
  
• Not the prettiest running a CX fork with road tyres. Big gappy gap at the top.
  
• Minimum 160mm rotor size.
  
  

Lowest priced option. I can get a good deal on this, so even with the cost or retrofitting the mudguard eyes, its significantly cheaper than any other option.

Example here:

Or this kind of thing (ok, not the same fork, but an example of road geometry with CX fork and fat tyres):

Custom Steel

Pros:

• Can be customised exactly to my geometry needs.
  
• Classy look
  
• Can have TA should I want it
  
• Fit for tyres and guards of my choice
  
  

Cons:

• Weight
  
• Judder? And questions over suitability of steel for a road disc material?
  
• Potentally harsh?
  
• I'm tied into 1 1/8 HT and straight steerer should I want to upgrade in the future.
  
  

Not totally sure of price yet, but probably a mid price option.

An amazingly beautiful example of a custom steel disc fork build here:

Would love to hear any thoughts or experiences with any of these forks!