Bicycle forks: device, types, selection and installation tips

A fork is considered one of the most important components of a bicycle. She is responsible for fixing the axis of the wheel, adjusting the direction of the vehicle, as well as maintaining the remaining bicycle components.

In this article, you will get acquainted with all the useful information about bicycle forks: their device, varieties, as well as recommendations for their selection and installation.

A fork in a bicycle is designed to perform almost the same function as a car suspension. It fixes the front wheel of the bike, is responsible for the maneuverability and control of the vehicle through the steering wheel, and also (depending on the variety) can significantly facilitate the movement of the cyclist on bad roads.

Most often, when talking about the functions and advantages of bicycle forks, it is about the shock-absorbing varieties of these units. This is the most popular type of forks today, widely used both for moving along urban roads and on country roads.

Pros.

• A high-quality bicycle fork with shock absorption allows to reduce the shock-vibration load coming from the wheel to the frame components of the bicycle and the steering wheel. This allows you to keep the bike for a long time while continuously operating it on problematic roads.
• The shock-absorbing fork allows you to maximize the speed of the vehicle in problem areas of the road. The "braking effect" that occurs when a bicycle wheel gets on bumps or pits is absorbed by the shock-absorbing mechanism.
• The absence of problems while traveling on uneven sections of the road provides complete control over the bicycle. In addition, some varieties of forks allow you to use your bike more efficiently when cornering and braking.
• One of the most pleasant and useful functions of the front fork with a shock absorber is to maintain your health, as well as ease of movement. Agree, it is much more pleasant to move on rough roads without constant shaking and jumping. In addition, lowering the shock pressure on the handlebars of the bicycle allows you to maintain the health of your joints, which are under great stress from shaking, for a longer period.
• Overcoming any irregularities on the road section slows down the bike, which forces the athlete to use even more forces for fast movement on the track. Consequently, the fork saves a huge amount of effort that can be effectively spent overcoming a greater distance.

Among the disadvantages of bicycle forks, there are only two.

• The more complex the design of the fork and the more functions it performs, the more it usually weighs and costs. Individual bicycle fork models can weigh up to 3 kg, which is 1/3 the weight of most standard mountain bikes.
• Athletes who, when performing maneuvers and tricks, use the potential of forks to 100%, are forced to use additional energy to swing the bike.

The design of almost any bicycle fork (will be considered as an example of a depreciation fork) consists of the following components.

• Steering tube (or as some call it - the stem) connects the plug itself with the steering wheel and frame components. It is usually performed in standardized sizes. There is a straight and conical variety.
• Crown or crown - performs the function of connecting the inner pipes and pants, responsible for fixing the wheel and axle. A bicycle fork can be with either one or two crowns. Usually this component is made of the most durable materials, since it is the crown that assumes the main load from the wheel and pipes, especially when it comes to models without depreciation.
• Foot or inner tube - this is a component of the fork, directly connected or pressed into the crown and extending into the pants of the fork (in units with shock absorption). Some experts call this component a piston.
• Settings or adjustments are located on the heads of the legs. It is through them that the wheel is pumped with air, if we are talking about air models of forks.
• Cuffs or gaskets are installed at the junction of the inner pipes in the pants, thereby preventing the ingress of dust and dirt into the shock absorption mechanism.
• Pants They are a kind of external housing for the entire shock absorption device. Their diameter is larger than the diameter of the piston. At the bottom, the pants end with dropouts, which are responsible for fixing the axis, and at the top, with the "gorillas", which, like the corona, connect the pants themselves.
• Gorillas or boosters, are not present in all models of forks, even with shock absorption. They are designed to evenly distribute the load from the pants.
• Dropouts as already mentioned, are located at the bottom of the pants, where the wheel axis is fixed.
• Damper represents the internal filling of the “legs” or the shock-absorbing mechanism itself.

All bicycle forks can be divided into several independent types depending on the design, the type of the fork itself and its shock-absorbing mechanism.

By type of construction, forks are rigid (or fixed), depreciation, two-sided, one-legged and "shifters". Each type is designed for specific roads and individual bike models.

Such models of bicycle forks are considered the simplest and cheapest.In such units there are no complex depreciation elements, however today they occupy a leading position in the market of bicycle forks along with depreciation.

Features of riding on fixed aggregates:

• most often they are mounted on road bikes designed to ride exclusively on flat city or professional tracks;

• Rigid forks are usually installed in recreational or urban bicycles that are not capable of high speeds;

• hard-type models are ideal for children's bicycles due to the simplicity of design and a high level of control on smooth roads.

The popularity of hard-fork bikes is due to a number of factors.

• Weight. Due to the lack of complex depreciation mechanisms and additional fastenings, such units are extremely light in weight. Consequently, bikes with such forks are very light, easy to operate and store.
• Structural strength. Fixed forks are not inferior in reliability to models with a shock absorber. All thanks to the monolithic structure of such forks, where there are no small components that can potentially break under prolonged and heavy load on the bicycle.
• Price. Bikes with fixed structures usually cost much less than the same shock-absorbing models. The difference in price can vary up to $ 100 or more.
• Easy installation. Unlike other types of forks, rigid forks can be installed on absolutely any type of bicycle. Almost everyone can cope with their installation.

Experts advise buying fixed units only if your goal is not daily off-road walks. These forks are ideal for long trips on good city roads.

Unlike hard models of forks, these units have a shock absorption mechanism, which can be played by only 3 elements: oil, spring or air. There are models with both single (spring only) and combined (air-oil) shock absorption.

The most popular variety are namely, spring forks - they are simpler than the others in design, installation and repair.

Advantages, disadvantages, as well as features of riding shock absorbing forks were already described in detail at the very beginning of the article: such forks allow more efficient and faster off-road driving, preserve the condition of the bicycle for a longer period and protect the health of the athlete himself. If we talk about the cons, then this is, first of all, increased price and increased weight due to the complexity of the depreciation mechanism.

The first models of depreciation forks appeared in the second half of the twentieth century, but experts only recently came to the conclusion that The main pressure and voltage from all elements of the fork is assumed, when using a bicycle, namely the crown connecting the internal pipes and distributing the load between them. The crown is subjected to particularly strong pressure during off-road movement and during wheel impacts.

Of the advantages of such models can be distinguished phenomenal strength and reliability - Bicycle models with this design are considered one of the most durable. As for the minuses, this is, first of all, the increased weight, the elongated structure of the “legs”, which makes it possible to use this technology not in every bike, as well as the increased cost.

This variety is only gaining popularity in the modern bicycle market.Initially, the creation of such bicycles was only a marketing move to attract the attention of customers, but over time, these models have become a full-fledged, albeit controversial, variety with its own characteristics, pluses and minuses.

The forks of the one-legged type are structures with one single leg fixing the axle of the wheel. Such models may also have shock absorbing elements, which will be designed to relieve pressure on one leg of the bicycle.

The design of such units is as follows: legs or inner pipes are used to fasten dropouts and are located below, while the pants are located on top and connected by a crown.

Such forks have gained their popularity due to the increased number of adjustments, as well as open access to the shock absorber mechanism.. Despite this, such bikes need constant care and are much more expensive than standard shock-absorbing models.

Depending on the type of cushioning element, there are spring, oil and air models of bicycle forks, as well as derivatives of combinations of these types.

• Spring loaded. The design of such forks implies the presence of special steel springs without the damper itself. This is the most low-cost option for cushioning forks, as steel springs provide only partial cushioning. Most often, such forks are used in cheap or children's bicycles.

• Spring-elastomeric. In addition to the standard steel spring, such forks are equipped with an additional elastomeric rod, which partially serves as a shock absorber. The most obvious minus of such designs is the need for regular replacement of the elastomeric rod, which quickly erases over time, especially from regular trips.

• Air (or pneumatic). The air in such forks performs two roles at once: both the role of the spring and the damper. Pressure air is pumped into the fork mechanism using a special pump. Bicycles with such forks are not recommended for extreme riding - the shock absorber mechanism under heavy loads very quickly loses its strength.

• Oil-air (or hydraulic). In this case, a special capsule with oil acts as a damper, and compressed air is used as a spring. This type is used in the manufacture of expensive professional-grade bicycles, as it is able to withstand tremendous loads and has a number of additional settings.

• Oil-spring. This variety is considered the highest quality. The function of the spring in such units is performed by a standard steel spring, but the oil is used as a damper. Bikes with shock absorption of this type have an incredibly smooth ride and are adapted to any riding style.

The dimensions of the bicycle forks may vary depending on the type of unit chosen and the purpose of the bicycle.

While the total size of the unit can range from 20 to 26 inches (in rare cases, up to 29), Rates vary depending on what type of bike is used.

• hybrids - 5-7 cm;
• cross-country - 8-10 cm;
• derth - 8-10 cm;
• competitions - 12-15 cm;
• freeride - 18-25 cm;
• downhill - 17-20 cm;
• hardcore freeride - 25-30 cm.

In addition, for different riding styles, it is recommended to use designs with different leg diameters: from 28 mm for ordinary cycling and up to 42 mm for hardcore freeriding.

Experienced athletes know that when choosing a fork for a bicycle, it is not enough to be guided by any particular brand and certainly not the appearance of the model.

For example, for a person with a thin physique, one should choose models of a lighter type, but motorists weighing more than 100 kg should consider buying carbon or titanium bicycles with units of increased strength and elasticity.

No matter how long you go in for cycling, you should always buy only popular models of bicycle components. They will simply find a replacement or repair them.

A lot of choices depend on the riding style you follow. For example, for measured trips on city roads it will be economically unprofitable to buy a unit with a double crown and an oil-spring shock absorber - in such conditions they will not be able to develop their potential.

When choosing a bicycle fork, it will be useful to get acquainted with manufacturers who, according to most athletes, produce the highest quality units.

• Fox - A great option for buying a quality bike fork. This brand produces expensive high-quality units with a long service life.

• SR suntour - the products manufactured by this company are budget-friendly and can compete in strength and reliability with many premium brands. Recently, the assortment of high-quality bicycle assemblies under this brand has been supplemented with expensive titanium models, and therefore you will not find such forks among Russian consumers very often.

• Zoom - It is considered one of the budget brands for the manufacture of bicycle components. The products of this company are characterized by high strength, reliability and offer for purchase both standard spring and air-oil forks.

• Manitou - A very common brand that has been in demand in America and Europe for more than 20 years. It produces high-quality and expensive types of forks (“shifters” and spring-oil), which are used in the creation of professional road bikes.

The only rule when installing a bicycle fork (of any type except hard) is to use the help of qualified specialists who can correctly connect all the components of the bicycle.

If the desire to install it yourself is too great, you can see the next video.