Old Cervelo fork question

Triathlon Forum
1

I sold a P3sl a couple years back. Miss it. Just got a very old P3 frame that I plan to build up and start racing again (51cm/650c). Got an old Kinesis aero fork for it off of ebay. Decided it was way too heavy (almost 800 grams). Got a QR Carbonaero fork instead. Turned out to be the exact same fork as the Kinesis. Just turned up an old photo of the P3sl and I’ll be darned if the fork in the photo doesn’t look EXACTLY like the Kinesis/QR Carbonaero. Did Cervelo use that fork (or a rebadged version thereof) for a time (probably 2002 - 2005 maybe), or did they just produce something that looked very similar?

Separate question for the aero geeks who may have knowledge of these forks; if you had the choice, which would you choose?

QR Carbonaero/Kinesis at nearly 800 grams
Reynolds Ouzo Pro Aero at around 500 grams
Easton EC90 aero at under 400 grams

(Keep in mind, I’m limited to 650c forks with 1 inch steer tubes … so I don’t have too many other options.)

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reynolds ouzo pro aero
.

3

I was hoping someone would say that since I have one in transit.

4

I did exactly what you did with my Km40. I originally set it up with the Carbonaero and realized afterward that the Reynolds would be a great way to shed close to a pound off the bike. The Ouzo was a great fork, many thousands of miles without a problem.

5

Hi bobby11,

The Cervelo “Chord” fork is probably what you’re seeing in the photo that looks like the Kinesis/Carbonaero. Jack Robinson’s P3 had one; it was for sale here at http://forum.slowtwitch.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?do=post_editlog;post=1228733. You can see a few close up photos to confirm it’s actually different.

The Chord looks somewhat similar to the Kinesis/Carbonaero but slightly smaller scale and a few other minor differences. They were all very fast forks in their generation (and not UCI legal for what that’s worth), faster than almost every modern fork except for the very latest forks from the most advanced companies. (I wrote about the current Cervelo tri fork development here: http://cervelo.com/en_us/news-blog/article/the-p4-fork--a-prodigious-father/2936/ )

Not many choices in 650C and 1". Of the forks you listed the Kinesis/Carbonaero are aerodynamically the fastest according to our testing.

6

Thanks for the reply Damon. That’s why I love Slowtwitch. I couldn’t want for a more authoritative answer.

7

Hi Damon,

I realize this is an old thread but…

Is the Chord faster vs. the Kinesis/Carbonaero? If Chord < Kinesis/Carbonaero then Chord < Easton EC 90 Aero?

May I ask what wheels were tested with the 1" forks?

Was the Specialized/HED3 tested and was there validation of the “lore” that the HED3 must be coupled with a wider fork?

8

“Bueller. Bueller. Bueller.”

Where does the Wolf Fork fall into this equation? (Was it ever made in a 1" variety?)

" If Chord < Kinesis/Carbonaero then Chord < Easton EC 90 Aero?"

9

I have easton EC 90 650 carbon fork 1" steerer, new that is at my mich home. can not get to til may 1 but if you have not found something let me know.