Carbon fork, which one?

Hi,

My aluminum track bike needs a new carbon fork as the old one cracked.
I am hesitating between an Alpina Wing TT Carbon fork and a standard Alpina Carbon Track fork. I'd like to get your advice on these.

The Wing TT: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=ALPIFORT100
The standard one: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCatalogue=ALPIFORK200&CartID=1643920

I only ride on the street, fast and hard. My budget is from 0 up to 150 but I'd like to stay around 100.
So I basically think of going for the standard one but if you guys tell me it's not that light, or it will crack quickly then...

What's your point of view?

Thanks a lot

errr... get the best one you can afford?

I can financially afford both. But I want to get the one that fits the way I ride.

I only ride on the street.

Then I would'nt buy a track fork, because it wont be designed to be compliant on the road, and would likely be heavier then you need.

Plus I would'nt buy a TT for almost the same reasons. TT forks are built for aero benefits and stiffness.

Something like this would be better IMHO
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=DEDAFORR500

You'll need to consider the rake of the replacement fork, along with the axle to crown distance. Also a integrated headset frame has a wider headtube were it meets the fork, so for it to look right, you'll need a fork designed for use with an integrated headset.

Hi Smallfurry, thanks for your advice.
I actually was riding a track fork before and loved it. It was the felt fork of my Felt TK2.

I do like the aero fork cause it makes my 30 mins bike commute 1 second shorter. And it makes me look a better hipster than a road one.

More seriously, even if it wasn't a great fork I did like it for its very minimal rake - 22mm allowing bar spins (very slightly touching the down tube) - and its stifness.

I didn't get the last bits about "axle to crown distance" and "a fork designed for integrated headset". Can you explain, or will I find easily with google?

I wouldn't run the cheap Alpina track fork on the road, especially if you ride "fast and hard"

I know what they look like when they break, they are light and designed purely for the stresses of track racing.

The wing TT forks look extremely similar in profile to the ones on my FTP- although there are differences around the dropout, and my forks have an aluminium steerer.

Anyone know who makes the forks for the Fuji?

I didn't get the last bits about "axle to crown distance" and "a fork designed for integrated headset". Can you explain, or will I find easily with google?

Axle to crown' is probably a mute point for a track or road fork as they should be pretty standard in length (at least not vary enouth to effect handling). But its basically the length of the fork (ahem, from hub axle to the fork crown).

The fork crown diameter is narrower on external headset forks and wider on integrated headset forks. This is to match the width of the frames headtube. I imagine you need an integrated type. All the examples mentioned so far are of this type.

I do like the aero fork cause it makes my 30 mins bike commute 1 second shorter. And it makes me look a better hipster than a road one.

My classic looking steel track bike, actually has ceramic bearings in the BB. This cuts the time it takes to cruise around the local lake by 0.78 sec. Lifes too short to try to justify some purchases ;)

little guide on carbon forks

Or try ebay, they sometimes have some blow out offers.

The standard one: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCatalogue=ALPIFORK200&CartID=1643920

is not drilled for a brake, and cannot be drilled due to a reinforcing bolt joining the crown to the steerer being in the way. Some people erroneously claim that it can be drilled, but we have 3 in the family fleet and all have the same feature which prevents drilling. There is a 4ZA road fork with very similar blades which is drilled, which may have confused some people.

Chainreaction have Vitus forks on sale at the moment, plenty of choices within your price range from about the only company with 2 decades of carbon fork experience.

ec90 FTW, the box they come in is heavier than the whole fork, very stiff too

EC90 is good, but way out of the OP's price range.

skim reading fail

There's one @ £160 BIN on eBay at the mo.

While it makes sense to get a road fork for use on the road you will be hard pressed to find a road fork with a 30mm rake (or even worse/better a 22mm rake as per OP original fork)

And are most forks built/designed that specifically to the point they would break on the road but not the track (i.e bumpy surfaces etc,.) ?

While it makes sense to get a road fork for use on the road you will be hard pressed to find a road fork with a 30mm rake (or even worse/better a 22mm rake as per OP original fork)

Find an industrial sized oven, lay a heavy block on it, and leave it at gas mark 6 for 2 hours. Job done

And are most forks built/designed that specifically to the point they would break on the road but not the track (i.e bumpy surfaces etc,.) ?

I was considering comfort when I recommended a road fork. I'm no trackie but I'd expect them to be overbuilt if anything. These traclies have no respect for good honest weight wheenie-ism ;) . Mitretester mentioned lack of drilling, which is a pretty decent point.