WebLefty Oliver suspension fork is built for gravel and scales in as one of the lightest gravel suspension forks on the market. Fortunately, I had all four forks at my disposal so naturally, I wanted to find out which will be the best one in terms of compliance. Im looking forward to riding a Rudy, because I suspect its adjustability will offer better performance, even if it is a bit heavier.The legendary RockShox Ruby didn't survive. Occasionally, on steep stuff, a rigid fork will allow momentary front-wheel lockup as it bounces down the hill. $("#closeWinDone").show(); Gravel bike suspension is largely used for one of two reasons: either to add capability on more technical trails, or to smooth out high-frequency vibrations, improving comfort and reducing fatigue over longer rides. Horizontal blades function as a traditional leaf spring system and they never require any maintenance. Two things! Pbase May 30, 2022, An extra pound of bike weight might be a hard sell to performance-oriented gravel riders who have their sights set on major events like Unbound Gravel or Belgian Waffle Ride. }); Canyon Copyright 2023 Canyon Bicycles USA, Save up to 30% on our world-class E-MTBs and MTB with the trail sale |. This mechanism can also be adjusted with three different spring stiffness settings or locked out. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. $(".container-account").before(""); Second: It looks like you dont need a bend in the fork to achieve great results. When shopping for a suspension fork, you want to consider both the bike that youre riding as well as the terrain. function loadSeatpost(letter){ if(bikePresent){ There are a growing number of aftermarket gravel bike suspension forks on offer, although you should check the specs carefully before you buy to make sure theyll be compatible with your frame, and also consider how they might alter the geometry of your ride. There is a lockout you can reach down and flip while riding but it does feel a bit cheap. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. There are alternative designs out there, such as the one-legged Cannondale Lefty, but these are rare. $(function() { High-modulus carbon fiber construction Tapered 1-1/8 to 1-1/2 steerer tube Axle-to-crown: 483mm Fork rake: 51mm 110 x 15mm thru-axle 180mm The lightest model is said to weigh 12.6kg. The RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork is also designed specifically for gravel riding. Set that aside though and you've got a great budget option. The same principle applies to carbon-fiber frames where composite engineers can orientate the fiber structure and layup for superior terrain absorption. If you have any niggles or ongoing physical issues, then a little extra cushioning might not be a bad thing either although its well worth getting a professional bike fit first if you feel that it might be caused by your position. Our customer support experts are waiting to answer your questions. And dont forget our friends in Iceland! const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search); You'll still feel rocks and washboards but they won't rattle your body in the same way and the tyre won't skip on and off the road surface. Gravel Bike Forks: 27.5" & 29" MTB Forks for Just choose Standard Shipping during checkout. if(letter == null){ It's for this reason that there's been a steady trend toward more tyre clearance and higher volume over the years. You will receive a verification email shortly. TellUs: $.trim($("#customBikeTellUs").val()) }, All rights reserved. Fortunately, there are also forks like U-turn GravelPLus from a very renowned OPEN company. //$("#paypal-button-container1").hide(); #97 - "It's Us, Not Them" (July 24, 2022 | Hosts: Guitar Ted & New York Roll) 00:57:29. document.body.appendChild(ratingBadgeContainer); $("body > main > div > div.grey-block.order-details > div > div > span:nth-child(4)").remove(); Still, every combination of fork and bike is going to be different. Equipped with 30mm of gravel-specific front suspension and grippy, high-volume tires, the Grizl offers comfort and control over chunky gravel that the fully rigid competition can't match. You can also choose the length you want the steerer cut to. Get a Red Shift suspension seatpost. wasnt good enough to find a place in the peloton, no matter how rough Roubaixs cobblestones can get. $(".bike-alert").remove(); The way it sucks up stutter bumps and stopper impacts mean it boosts speed sustain and also keeps you feeling fresher a lot longer. So making a good fork that combines stiffness with compliance is not an easy thing to do. It shines on the descents and over rough surfaces. Rebound is adjustable with tools, 700x50mm tire max clearance (45mm max with fender installed), Three on-the-fly compression damping positions, 22 clicks of open mode adjust, and 10 clicks of low-speed rebound, Lockout only while riding and rebound damping, 405mm (650b version) or 419mm (700c version). } Tyre clearance here is generous, allowing you to fit up to 700x50mm tyres (29x2in), and the fork is available in 30mm and 40mm-travel options. function getCookie(cname) { } WebRockShox Rudy Ultimate, Suspension Fork, 700C, Solo Air, 30mm, 1-1/8''-1.5'', 12x100mm TA, Rake: 45mm, Brown. The bike build process typically takes 2-3 days to complete depending on the bike model and the complexity of the build. $(".shipbox-header p").html("Shipping on this Batch Bike"); Cannondale offers a dual-suspension gravel bike option with the Topstone. speed: 300, WebTrue Gravel Suspension. } The Lauf forks are true fit-and-forget gravel bike suspension components, however by forgoing complicated valves and compression circuitry they don't offer any tuning potential for riders who wish to change the ride feel of the suspension. On the other hand, if you drive to a ride, or have unpaved riding out your front door, then you might be faster with a suspension fork. That said, there are modern versions of the flex stem from brands like Redshift that offer decent performance. Making rides more fun: an interview with Calvin Collander, design engineer at Cirrus Cycles (Kinekt suspension stem and seatpost). slidesToScroll: 1, Let's dig into the advantages and disadvantages of gravel suspension. In the end, they were all evolutionary dead-ends.Compared to those relics, the latest 700c forks seem polished and ready for primetime. Part 2. We Keep You Pedaling. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. They look weird but they are light and they work really well. variableWidth: true The other suspension fork option on the market is the distinctive Lefty fork from Cannondale, although youll need to buy a complete bike such as the Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 1 to run it. $(".delivery-cost:contains('FREE')").not(':first').parent().parent().remove() It was the most compliant fork on the fast gravel route (beating Argons 18 fork by 1,4%) and, what was even more astonishing, only 1,3% less compliant on a bumpy forest route than the best in that department, Lauf Grit SL fork. Aside from tools, youll want to make sure that you have the correct size star fangled nut, a crown race, and a collection of a few headset spacers. WebLefty Oliver suspension fork is built for gravel and scales in as one of the lightest gravel suspension forks on the market. At the time there were two variations available depending on which Topstone you bought but, in the aftermarket, the only option is the Carbon version. Were working on it. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Merlin Sandstone Titanium Gravel Bike frame/ fork/ headset w/ S&S couplers. The Giant Revolt X is an all-new model for 2023. } The air-sprung fork features adjustable travel from 40-60mm, an in-built mini fender, and comes in 700c or 650b options. LC_API.open_chat_window(); } $("#shopping-cart-container").before(""); If that feels overwhelming the Roxshox Rudy Ultimate XPLR keeps things a lot simpler. } Why you can trust Cyclingnews if($(".delivery-cost:contains('FREE')").length > 0){ setInterval(function(){ [CDATA[ Subscribe from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! The other forks on the list might be fine for you but if you want to be very specific about your setup, this is your option. But do no worry! The difference was not huge, but then I tested the Argons 18 bent fork and, boy, I was really surprised. Already have an account with us? The shortest in this comparison was Argon 18 fork with 390 mm legs. It crosses over into many of the things we pointed to other options as the best at. $(".cart-item-detail-proditemnum").each(function(){ You can dial in the air spring to your weight, terrain and riding style, and then adjust the damping to control the action of the fork. } Shorter suspension travel forks also bob less when climbing up steep trails in a standing position. It has a carbon-fiber chainstay that can flex, paired with a seat tube pivot, making for 30mm of rear-suspension action. Depending on your location, you can expect to receive your bike 3-5 business days after the build is complete.

"); Jump to section Wil reviews the Giant Revolt X An overview of the Giant Revolt X Similarly, if your riding is more all-road, with long portions of the ride covering paved roads, then a suspension fork might not make sense. Lauf also offers the fork as part of the Lauf True Grit bike build. $(function(){ Share this: { Equally, you can try altering your tyre pressures, or opting for wider-volume tyres or tyre inserts to run lower pressures, which can also make your ride more comfortable, typically with a lower price tag. Refer to estimated delivery times in cart when selecting shipping options. Optimising your gravel tyre pressures can not only improve your speed and grip over rougher surfaces, but also how comfortable you are. Again, this option offers three-position compression damping, and with adjustable offset is designed to be compatible with a range of modern gravel bikes. Get free shipping, on most items, with your $50 purchase today! RockShox just released its new Rudy gravel fork. speed: 300, When shes not scouting out the best long-distance and local off-road routes in the UK, Katherine works as a freelance writer, bike tester, presenter and guide. $("#amount").val(urlParams.get("amt")); On most forks, like the new Rudy, you can adjust rebound and lock out the travel. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). if($(".special-offers").length > 0){ Seller assumes The BMC URS LT features a coil spring within the head tube, coupled with a hydraulic damper to give 20mm travel. Its a fork that has been designed from the ground up with gravel riding in mind and comes in Factory, Performance Elite and Performance models. One of the best gravel suspension forks will also mean that you have help from the bike in soaking up bumps. For now, we can conclude that we simply dont really need more solutions like Lauf Grit SL fork, but forks similar to OPENs one. loadSeatpost(null); clearInterval(batchBikeInterval); if($(".product-name h1").html() == "JensonUSA Gift Card"){ WebJust like on a mountain bike, most gravel suspension forks help settle down the front end. How your particular bike responds to those changes is an open question but the fact that it happens is why Cannondale and Lauf are trying to get as close to the measurements of a rigid fork as possible. Some of the options cost money but when you get the box and everything is exactly set to your specs and ready to install it feels very premium. Despite the fact that elite gravel racers are faster with a rigid bike, most people get faster when they are more comfortable and stable. On a fast gravel route, it was slightly more comfortable that Lauf Grit SL fork (only 1,4% but still!). for(var i = 0; i