Question on Rigid Niner Fork on SS vs Front suspension

[rouxtjie]

I am very keen to try a rigid fork on my new build. However what scares me is the following:

 

I was riding a 26" DS bike. Now I have switched to:

 

29"

Hard Tail

Single Speed

 

 

I'm scared to throw a rigid fork in the mix as this is quite a jump in the deep waters of HTFU

Do it....its a gas. Couple of positives that people forget when fitting a rigid

 

1.Your bike on avg becomes about 1 kg lighter. So it climbs well

2.No effort is lost when standing and pedaling, every watt goes into going forward...not up and down. So on SS imo, a non neg

3.Steering is very precise....you feel like you can thread through the thinnest of lines with ease

4.No maintenance to worry about

5.It looks sheet hot

6.Because the front is light, lifting the front wheel to clear obstacles becomes a piece of tekkie

Edited June 12, 2013 by rouxtjie

[jcmeyerSS]

I am very keen to try a rigid fork on my new build. However what scares me is the following:

 

I was riding a 26" DS bike. Now I have switched to:

 

29"

Hard Tail

Single Speed

 

 

I'm scared to throw a rigid fork in the mix as this is quite a jump in the deep waters of HTFU

You'll be fine on a rigid I just siggest you use grips like ESI Chunky. Takes the edge of the chatter.

[rouxtjie]

You'll be fine on a rigid I just siggest you use grips like ESI Chunky. Takes the edge of the chatter.

I suggest you post that pic of that bench you like riding to drive my point #6 home....

[the nerd]

Ive said this in another thread before, but i will say it again... Rigid is awesome, BUT, spend the money on the best rigid fork you can. That is the key to riding rigid.

 

Niner

Whiskey

Ritchey

X-Lite

[jcmeyerSS]

Do it....its a gas. Couple of positives that people forget when fitting a rigid

 

6.Because the front is light, lifting the front wheel to clear obstacles becomes a piece of tekkie

 

you still gotta ride the bench,

[rouxtjie]

you still gotta ride the bench,

I don't have the balls.....yet

 

Everytime I think I will, everytime I pussy out....

[jcmeyerSS]

Ive said this in another thread before, but i will say it again... Rigid is awesome, BUT, spend the money on the best rigid fork you can. That is the key to riding rigid.

 

Niner

Whiskey

Ritchey

X-Lite

 

I guess if you go carbon.

But I ride my Steel Gt fork and couldnt think of a better ride. (dont get me wrong the carbon niner is k@k hot, but love my steel fork)

[Ryanpmb]

Just somethings that I heard and thought about. Comments and feedback will be appreciated.

 

Lets say the normal travel on a 29er shock is 80mm or 100mm. If you sit neutrally on the bike, the shock should compress with about 10-20mm depending on how hard the shock is inflated leaving you with 60 or 90mm of travel for the trail.

 

On a rigid niner fork, lets say you inflate 2.2 or 2.4 tubeless tyres to 1.8 bar, the tyre should absorb about 15mm of bumps, the carbon fork another 15mm and the 700mm carbon handlebars also about 10-20mm, if you put soft, thick grips on another 5mm, thus you are actually getting 55mm of travel on a rigid fork if configured correctly with the right components where as on a front shock, as described above, the difference is only about 15mm more travel.

 

In theory and in practice, is this correct?

If you apply this logic then a bike with a 100mm fork will have close on 140mm travel... .

 

I've ridden a rigid SS for sometime. It doesn't not have 55mm of 'travel'. There's a little give from the tyre, depending on the pressure you're running. The fork provides more horizontal compliance, than vertical travel.

 

Rigid forces you to be smoother, being more aware of line options etc.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Ryanpmb

[rouxtjie]

I guess if you go carbon.

But I ride my Steel Gt fork and couldnt think of a better ride. (dont get me wrong the carbon niner is k@k hot, but love my steel fork)

That steel fork is a softer ride than my carbon no doubt...chews clutter, spits out smooth butter trails

[doppelganger]

Do it....its a gas. Couple of positives that people forget when fitting a rigid

 

1.Your bike on avg becomes about 1 kg lighter. So it climbs well

2.No effort is lost when standing and pedaling, every watt goes into going forward...not up and down. So on SS imo, a non neg

3.Steering is very precise....you feel like you can thread through the thinnest of lines with ease

4.No maintenance to worry about

5.It looks sheet hot

6.Because the front is light, lifting the front wheel to clear obstacles becomes a piece of tekkie

 

You make me want to do it even more! When I felt how much the 29er fork weighs I wanted to cry softly. I could always spend money on a better fork as well. But I don't ride trails...so I reckon I will give it a go when I have some cash to play with.

[rouxtjie]

You make me want to do it even more! When I felt how much the 29er fork weighs I wanted to cry softly. I could always spend money on a better fork as well. But I don't ride trails...so I reckon I will give it a go when I have some cash to play with.

Its one of the better buys I have made to be honest....absolutely love my niner rigid fork. As soon as you have some spare randelas, go get one....its awesome

[doppelganger]

You'll be fine on a rigid I just siggest you use grips like ESI Chunky. Takes the edge of the chatter.

 

Yes I can vouch for the chunkies...

What about a bigger volume front tyre? Like the Ardent 2.25? obviously on low pressure.

 

Another question: what about the On One carbon rigid forks?

[jcmeyerSS]

I don't have the balls.....yet

 

Everytime I think I will, everytime I pussy out....

you think to much,

JUST

[doppelganger]

You make me want to do it even more! When I felt how much the 29er fork weighs I wanted to cry softly. I could always spend money on a better fork as well. But I don't ride trails...so I reckon I will give it a go when I have some cash to play with.

You make me want to do it even more! When I felt how much the 29er fork weighs I wanted to cry softly. I could always spend money on a better fork as well. But I don't ride trails...so I reckon I will give it a go when I have some cash to play with.

 

Meant to say "I don't ride crazy trails"

[rouxtjie]

you think to much,

JUST

I know...fekkit...like that other bump at the shell garage, when I didn't have a long run up...no problem. longer run-up to thing gives me time to think about how I am going to see my ringpiece.

[the nerd]

That steel fork is a softer ride than my carbon no doubt...chews clutter, spits out smooth butter trails

 

I find my carbon x-lite fork a lot smoother than the fork i had on my peace?

 

I guess different people