Cycling UK Forum

peetee wrote: ↑10 Aug 2022, 7:38pm

Sweep wrote: ↑10 Aug 2022, 5:11pm

UpWrong wrote: ↑10 Aug 2022, 11:36am
I'm commissioning some Ti forks for a Bacchetta Bella because Bacchetta are out of forks until 2023. Guess I could have commissioned steel forks but thought it worth the premium for something which is hopefully lighter and won't rust.

Have anyone's forks ever rusted away?
Both houses i have ever owned have had damp or worse garages. No rusted away forks yet.

I suspect a bike I had to deal with wasn’t far off. In trying to remove a reluctant stem from a lightly scabby but otherwise clean Carbolite 103 steel Peugeot I managed without too much effort to rotate the bars, stem steerer and fork crown without rotating the hub!

I had a Peugeot where on the forks I could see the welded seam of the tubes down the back of the forks.... I was able to change the offset by treading on them.....I also straightened a pair of bent Raleigh forks (the ones where the "crown" was a bit of tube) the same way, and I twisted another pair of similar Raleigh forks in exactly the way you describe.....all steel forks are not created equal!

Jamesh wrote: ↑10 Aug 2022, 7:40pm Come on what did you decide?
What model???

Woodrup Cycles is building my new frame, so I guess you'd call it a Woodrup. All I have to do now is decide the colour.

peetee wrote: ↑10 Aug 2022, 11:28am My latest purchase is a Van Nicholas titanium frame with carbon forks. Rather a chunky-looking beast in comparison to my other bikes. The ride quality felt through saddle and bars is firmer than any of the steel frames I have owned so far. Not at all what is generally projected about titanium frames.

Exec Summary:
Ti = like steel, but lighter* and corrosion proof. (may also cost more!)

I don't think anyone says they are comfier than steel.

*All Other Things Being Equal etc ...

mattheus wrote: ↑15 Aug 2022, 2:06pm

peetee wrote: ↑10 Aug 2022, 11:28am My latest purchase is a Van Nicholas titanium frame with carbon forks. Rather a chunky-looking beast in comparison to my other bikes. The ride quality felt through saddle and bars is firmer than any of the steel frames I have owned so far. Not at all what is generally projected about titanium frames.

Exec Summary:
Ti = like steel, but lighter* and corrosion proof. (may also cost more!)

I don't think anyone says they are comfier than steel.

*All Other Things Being Equal etc ...

As Titanium became ‘popular’ in the 90’s that is certainly what the general opinion was. I distinctly remember a road test by Bicycle magazine voicing that view. I have met a few owners of titanium bikes over the years and it’s a common thing to say. I accompanied a friend of mine to help when they bought an Enigma. That is what they had attracted them and I haven’t heard the contrary from them.
But as you say, it’s all relative and I can’t state what all these opinions had as previous bikes bar one; which was a carbon Specialized with Zerts comfort inserts....hmmmm.
As ever you suck up the hype, make yer choice and pay yer money.

The early titanium frames were made of tubes with the common diameters , so rather "floppy", that's why the manufacturers went to use oversided tubes (stiffer) and that's where it all went a bit fuzzy.
Titanium frames can be made very stiff or less stiff of floppy/ comfortable by choosing the right tube sizes and wallthicknesses.
Not the material itself, but the design determines the properthies.

Keezx wrote: ↑15 Aug 2022, 10:26pm Not the material itself, but the design determines the properthies.

Which is precisely where I came into the conversation.