I am getting a new steel road frame. The dealer has a steel fork thats 40mm rake. The frame should have 45mm . Is this a big problem ? How will it efect the handling. Should I get a diferant fork Like carbon? It is a Fort frame Thorn 58cm. The nice (ugly to some) green one. . Thanks for the help.
The Dirtball
That difference in rake is quite large. Unless you really know what you are doing, I think you should stay away from making a change like that. Your handling might be severely compromised.
The frame should have 45mm .
The most common standard sizes are 40 and 43. The 43 would serve you well, but a 40 will add quite a bit of trail to the bike. It will handle sluggishly, especially at slower speeds. You could end up making big loopy S-curves as you pedal down the road.
I got the rake mesed up. It should be 43. Thanks I am so dam dislexick !
I got the rake mesed up. It should be 43. Thanks I am so dam dislexick !
If the frame is designed for a 43, and you use a 40, I’d guess you wouldn’t know the difference unless you’d ridden it for years at 43 first. It’s only 3mm.
I once switched a bike from a 43 to a 40. It felt a little different, but I honestly could not form an opinion if it was better or worse. It was simply a little different.
My QR came with a 43 fork, and if I ever find a spare $300 lying on the ground I’m going to buy a 50 to put on it. I wouldn’t make that swap going the other direction (50 to 43), but it’s got enough head tube slack and wheel base to handle the more raked fork. (and, I was able to ask Ves Mandaric about the idea on our long ride last week and he said it would work great.)
Honestly mister Dirtball!, I’d put a carbon fork on it. The only reason anyone puts a steel fork on anymore is if they are going for a “classic purist” look.
As long as you put carbon on it somewhere else (wheels, components, seat, ect…) a carbon fork is fine. It is lighter, most likely more aero, just as/if not more comfy, and acceptred as being pretty darn cool. Frame materials can be debated, but everyone and their grandma rides a carbon forks for a reason.
-The coolness manifesto, it’s coming
You are right. Carbon is cool, But I am old and my 9 speed group is old.I don’t even know what it is like to use indexed shifters. I got one of those cool carbon forks now and it is to fast and cool for me. My kids won’t let me buy the cool FUBU stuff . Your to old they say ! They get nervous at the skateboard shop when I shop their ( I know the owner). I still run in Converse low tops white. Bike in leather bike shoes with all the tiny holes in them. I use lots of wool to. I have not sat well on my bike since my 1970 Brooks pro died this winter. Carbon is just to cool for me. It is sad very sad. I think the steel 40mm rake fork will work. It’s old to. I am old as dirt 
Thanks Dirtball
I replaced the standard 43 mm on my Kestrel with a Litespeed 40 full carbon, with John Cobb’s approval. It works just fine on this bike.