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Looking for a new commuter/second gravel capable bike I came across the Lynskey Urbano and got a really good deal from their Ebay sales as a frame only. It hasn't arrived yet but I'm already starting to kick around build details and the one thing that I'm all over the board on is fork as there are so many options now.
Back when I got my Ti Warbird Enve was one of the few options and it happened to come with that anyway so that's when I'm running on that. For this one I really want a TA and as I already have two sets of nice gravel wheels with 15mm axle caps that can be swapped out I think I want to try a TA with A2C of 395ish and rake of 45ish.
Tops of my list are
Rodeo Labs Spork - Really the most interesting but I haven't found anyone whose actually spent time on one. I love that it has rack mounts, fender mounts and that I can mount water bottle cages to it. It's a bit heavier but that isn't a deal breaker. I don't know how they ride, only that they're built to MTB specs which makes me think it'll be overly stiff.
Whisky #9 with Fender mounts - Can be sourced easily and locally and I can get a deal on it. Price will be the same as a Spork. Looks fine, nothing to write home about (a good thing) and I know Whisky forks work well and I like they way they feel on the bike.
3T Luteus II - To my knowledge I would need to either mail order from Europe or get one from Open Cycles that is painted orange (no interest in a brown fork which is their other option). The Euro way makes the most sense and the prices are good with the currency conversion right now. I have only heard good things about this fork other than the TA is heavy which I don't really care about all that much. Rake is 50 which would bring my trail down to road bike numbers.
Wild card forks are the Lynskey Pro Gravel which I know nothing about but think it looks pretty nice and the Open fork made for the UPPER frame which I don't see as a separate option on the website although I haven't called yet. The Niner gravel fork has extra mounts but I'd need to have it repainted as I'm not running crazy big NINER lettering.
If anyone has spent time on any of the 5 forks mentioned and has strong opinions I'd like to hear what you have to say.
Cheers
Pete
Changed my thoughts on 12mm axles as I picked up a wheelset that came with set of 12mm caps for the front wheel.
With that happening I ordered a new Enve CX TA fork and that's that. I know I didn't want to go down that road but decided that going with a known quantity (Enve) made a lot of sense. That and I was never going to try and run 29er sized tires so this has plenty of clearance and should have a similar ride to my current QR fork which has 6k+ miles under it without a whimper.
Frame arrived and is pretty awesome looking. Tire clearance looks excellent and is significantly more than my 2013 Ti Warbird.
Now to get some parts...
PMC wrote:Welp, Whisky #9 is out. Stopped in to the LBS to pick up some Butt'r and they had a full rack of Foundry bikes with that fork and with a 33mm tire it was way closer than I want at the crown. Lots of wide, not so much tall. I couldn't fit my finger between the tire and fork at the top so that's out.
ED

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