So I just made a stupid mistake - clamping a Thomson stem onto my full carbon Bianchi fork and it cracked the steerer tube. So I need a new road fork. Looking at the EC90 SL vs SLX - any diffference in ride? Also considering reynolds.
Reynolds makes nice forks, I had an Ouzo Pro Aero on my previous bike and now have an Ouzo Pro Peloton on the new ride. Both are very nice, comfortable and look the business.
Reynolds. I personally don’t think the fit & finish is as nice on the Eastons. I also like that Reynolds has aluminum dropouts whereas the Easton ones that is Carbon. I just feel better knowing that I won’t overtighten and mess up that part.
I ride a Peloton on my TT bike, but would probably get a Pro for a road bike.
One thing to note, the Easton forks and Reynolds forks are not neccessarily interchangeable. The crown height is not the same. I’d check to see what the crown height is on your Bianchi fork, otherwise you may be lowering or raising your front end by quite a bit. (The EC90 Aero vs. Reynolds is about 1cm. That is a BIG change to geometry.) So you may not be able to use either; I’d contact Bianchi and see if they have a list of forks that are compatible with the geometry of your frame.
I love the Easton forks. I have a pair of the EC90 SL on my bike right now and I am putting a pair of the EC90 Aero on my Dual in the next couple of weeks.
Get one with an alloy steerer tube, maybe?
Get one with an alloy steerer tube, maybe?
That would be great, but the weight differences are too much. This is my weight weinie bike.
Honestly, the handling my bike is horrid with the bianchi fork on there, so I’m not concerned with making it worse.
Take it to an experienced fitter or get in touch with some of these fork manufacturers and see if one of them might make your geometry/handling better. Rake/crown height/etc. all make a big difference. Forks are not something that can/should be swapped out like other components.
If it is your weight weenie bike, the Alpha Q is pretty darn light. I personally like the Reynolds Ouzo Pro though. It is only slightly heavier, but has a great ride and is proven.
I have also broke a few Easton EC90 parts and I am a little gunshy of them (although I think they look awesome and they are very light - but a damaged fork is something I don’t even want to think about.) I had a Look HSC4 as well and I could flex it while climbing (tested with a few magnets on some spokes and hitting on testers on the fork). I can’t get this to happen with the Reynolds Pro, yet it rides great.
CSC went from Easton and Time to Reynolds to Alpha Q, all since they started riding Cervélo bikes in 2003: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=446614;#446614
Bjarne Riis said Alpha Q was the best fork they have ever tested.