NOTE: In-Store Pickup is available at the Riverside Will-Call location only. And the added heft of a suspension fork is perhaps the most significant "con." $(".cart-item-detail-proditemnum").each(function(){ if($(this).html().indexOf("BI") != -1){ bikePresent = true; } Hardtails come with either suspension or rigid forks, a suspension fork adds comfort and control however if the terrain is smooth enough, swapping to a rigid fork can save weight and add extra mounting points. For a category that borrows tech from both road cycling and mountain biking, it was only a matter of time before suspension tech became more commonplace in the gravel riding world. Lets talk about the results!Those who follow my site closely probably already know that I tested the Lauf Grit SL fork before and find out that it is more comfortable fork than my Jamis ECO fork. Moving suspension action from the axle to above the head tube is not new. var name = cname + "="; A gravel suspension fork keeps the tyre in contact with the road surface and that in turn helps the bike feel more stable. $("#chatNow").click(function() { $(function() { WebA gravel bike to beat all gravel bikes. The same principle applies to carbon-fiber frames where composite engineers can orientate the fiber structure and layup for superior terrain absorption. The issue isnt creating slim and lightweight short-travel gravel bike shocks. for(var i = 0; i 0){ Anything that uses a fork mount, like a rack, will need special consideration. And this stayed true but to my surprise, the difference between those two forks was even smaller than previously. Please refresh the page and try again. The lightest model is said to weigh 12.6kg. They have one of the widest selections of rigid forks at a wide range of price points. Photo courtesy SRAM.We are entering the age of gravel suspension. If you need assistance making your purchase, please give one of our expert Gear Advisors a call today at 888-880-3811. The point is to soak up all the little bumps that wear you down through the day. Do gravel bikes need suspension forks? As a suspension fork that fits gravel bikes, RockShox has done an awesome job with the Rudy. Most gravel bike riders dont require a lot of suspension travel, so a low-maintenance solution with 20mm of terrain absorption is ideal. Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. Maybe if they were a little bit longer, it would be the most compliant one. It has a carbon-fiber chainstay that can flex, paired with a seat tube pivot, making for 30mm of rear-suspension action. But do you really need a suspension fork on your gravel bike? By adding front suspension to what is supposed to be a lightweight all-terrain speed machine, you are overcomplicating it. }); BA1 1UA. }, 500); Suspension forks have come a long way in their capabilities in recent years, and todays forks can be fine-tuned with volume spacers and spring rate adjustments to give you the feel you want on the trail. Lauf also offers the fork as part of the Lauf True Grit bike build. Shaping two separate triangles and joining them with links adds cost, weight and another layer of maintenance for gravel bike owners. Gravel bikes, like hybrid bikes, combine the best of both worlds. // ]]> The electric gravel bike is built around Mondrakers Stealth Air Carbon frame and a Dusty carbon fork. If you plan to be at the front of the elite pack in gravel races then the weight and loss of stiffness from a gravel fork will be a detriment. $(".slick-prev").css("display", "none"); On the other hand, the more flex in the fork the less precise and confidence-inspiring steering. And this is, indeed, a shocker! 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. As well as being a regular contributor to BikeRadar.com and the BikeRadar Podcast, Katherine has also written for Cycling Weekly, Bikepacking.com and hosts the Unpaved Podcast. The electric gravel bike is built around Mondrakers Stealth Air Carbon frame and a Dusty carbon fork. The dates calculated in cart are an estimate. TellUs: $.trim($("#customBikeTellUs").val()) }, WebFolks who tried a suspension fork: are you still using it? }); Did we mention that XPLR is also electronic and completely wireless, easy to set up, and genuinely robust? If you are worried about any of this, then thats another point for the MRP Baxter and the Ready to Shred Package. You could also just take everything to a local shop but if you invest in quality tools its likely they will last a lifetime and its nice to know you can take care of everything on your bike. [CDATA[ The single-bladed Lefty Oliver fork is a scaled-down version of the brands Lefty mountain bike fork, offering 30mm travel for the modest weight of 1,340g (carbon model), with clearance for 47mm 650b tyres and 45mm 700c tyres. In the end, they were all evolutionary dead-ends.Compared to those relics, the latest 700c forks seem polished and ready for primetime. Thats an important detail, as gravel bikes are mostly intended for rigid forks of a specific axle-to-crown size, that remains fixed and never sags. Another amazing part of the ordering process is that you can choose to have the fork set for your weight as it leaves the factory. WebIn the XR version of the DUSTY, Mondraker use a RockShox Rudy Ultimate suspension fork with 40 mm travel. These really come into play when the road gets more choppy, killing road buzz and harsher hits. Alternatively, there are plenty of options that you can retrofit to your current gravel bike for a little extra squish. These forks range from the XC variety (80-120mm of travel) to trail (120-170mm) to gravity and DH (170-200mm). } The old RockShox Ruby (get it?) Gravel bike suspension: the next frontier or costly gimmick. $("#responseLine").hide(); While they are inherently unable to come close to Lauf Grits response to Our Grizl model is specd with a 30mm-travel Rudy. Please try again in a few hours.

"); That original fork did the job but had a lot of downsides and now Fox is back with the 32 Taper Cast. Why the compromise? The new bike shares the same basic single-pivot suspension concept with a linkage-driven shock located parallel under the toptube, but the execution is all-new from the front triangle back to the rear end. else{ Similarly, steering traction is improved when suspension keeps the front wheel in contact with the dirt.Those concepts are a bit abstract, so heres how the clinical explanation applies to real-world riding. }); $("#seatPostGraphic").attr("src", "https://www.jensonusa.com/globalassets/product-page-assets/SEATPOST-GEO.jpg"); Thank you for signing up for email specials! Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? A 100- to 120mm lightweight cross-country fork will be ideal if your trails are smooth and flowing. $.fancybox("#customBikeMessaging", { autoSize: true, maxWidth: 600, minHeight: 700 }); else{ The lightest model is said to weigh 12.6kg. The bike came to market with the original Fox gravel suspension fork and had a collection of design details with gravel suspension in mind. Boutique steel frame builders can weld thin-wall tubes in a manner that absorbs terrain vibration. But, as my test shows, it can be done!My benchmark bike has a carbon Jamis ECO fork. if(currentPage == "/") { Instead, the thing that makes the Lauf special is that it just works. Email: $.trim($("#customBikeEmail").val()), When your front wheel is bouncing around less, braking traction is more consistent. slidesToScroll: 1, If you have no plans to do a gravel race, or if you approach those events as big, fun challenges, not serious competitions, theres a strong argument for suspension. The Redshift Shockstop seatpost works in a different way to the brands suspension stem, using springs here to deliver up to 35mm travel. 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. I like how it steers and corners. Lauf Grit fork is not a common suspension fork. For those looking for even more comfort and capability, there's nothing better than an actual gravel suspension fork. The most sensible gravel bike configuration that shadows the idea of a dual-suspension mountain bike is a softail. If youre riding a full-suspension bike, the fork and rear shock need to work together as a system to give you a smooth ride. All the options listed here use the same tapered (1.125 - 1.5") steerer tube so youll want to make sure your bike works with that standard. 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. These forks range from the XC variety (80-120mm of travel) to $(".delivery-cost:contains('FREE')").not(':first').parent().parent().remove() There are some caveats to the weird look though. Gravel Bike Suspension Talk: Do Gravel Bikes Need Suspension Forks? Phone: $.trim($("#customBikePhone").val()), Depending on your location, you can expect to receive your bike 3-5 business days after the build is complete.