September 7th, 2009
Posted by Aaron
I gave a first impression of this fork back in May 2008, when I got it. Since then, I’ve put ~2,500 miles of road, rail-trail and singletrack riding on it, so it’s about time for an update.
I mentioned in my initial post that it gave the impression of riding on plush carpet, all the while giving you direct feedback of the surface you’re on. With the proper front tire (I typically used a 2.35" Kenda Kinetics Stick-E) set at less than 30psi, I often forgot that I was even riding a rigid fork. The carbon legs do a great job of damping vibration, and have just enough flex to absorb some of the initial shock of hitting roots and immovable rocks.
I only weigh about 150lbs with all my riding gear on, so I can’t give feedback on how well the fork will handle over time if you’re a larger rider–say, 210lbs, which they state as the weight limit for the fork–but I can say that I gave it a decent beating and it never once showed signs of fatigue. At less than 2lbs, and with carbon legs, it doesn’t sound like it could stand up to hard riding over time, but it definitely impressed me.
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June 15th, 2008
Posted by Aaron
I just found this older post from a guy who calls himself Guitar Ted, about the resurgence of the rigid mountain bike fork. Thought I’d share:
http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2007/01/rigid-fork-rides-again.html
He didn’t really go into a lot of detail as to why it’s once again become the trend to ride a rigid fork, however. Personally, I always thought it was pretty stupid to ride rough ground without some sort of suspension, but since I’ve been riding a couple rigid forks these last few months (aluminum and carbon), I’m a believer in fat tires and rigid forks.
Yes, it’s bumpier, to say the least. But with that, I’ve gained a better sense of the ground as I roll over it, no longer wondering where my front tire is. I descend a little slower, obviously, although I make up for it on the climbs due to zero energy being lot through suspension bobbing. I can definitely see why so many 29er and 650b riders are ditching the suspension forks in turn for larger-diameter, smoother rolling wheel/tire combos. For the time being, though, I’m more than happy riding rigid on 26" wheels and 2.3" tires at sub-30psi.
If you haven’t given it a try yet, find an inexpensive steel fork and go for a ride. It just might change your mind about needing suspension to make up for your riding technique.
May 17th, 2008
Posted by Aaron
I went ahead and ordered my Carbon Cycles eXotic carbon fork this week due to my lack of self-control and patience. But before I work on my personality issues, I thought I’d pass along my first impressions of the fork.
I ordered from CarbonCycles’s eBay store on Tuesday, and received the package on Friday; total price with shipping was $190. The first thing I do after unwrapping any new bike part is put it on the scale. eXotic’s claimed weight is 850 grams (1.9lbs), though it actually came in slightly higher than that with an uncut steerer tube. It’s not a huge difference, but it’d be nice if manufacturers would more accurately post the weight of their parts.
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November 18th, 2007
Posted by Aaron
"Delta 7’s Arantix bike frame is see-through and weighs just 2.75lbs but is so strong there’s no rider weight limit. It’s made of Isotruss, a material consisting of carbon fiber strands bent into a wide mesh to emulate the sturdy geometry of steel truss structures. That tech ain’t cheap: Expect to pay $7,000 when it ships next spring."
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