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1,546 Posts
I weigh 400Lbs, and have a two decade history of road cycling. I spin well (solid roller champ) keep my weight on the saddle not the bars, and owing to riding trails on road bikes back before suspensions became available, most likely just treat the front end carefully. I stand on any downhill section that is not paved, and I push my big ol' belly past the seat on steep sections.
THAT said, the stock RST Deuce 100mm fork that came with my Cannondale F5 has given me zero trouble for three years. I've not broken it open once, it makes no noises, and outside the fact that I believe the lowers may have been bent or the dropouts not aligned (frame and wheel are straight, but bike always always steers left), it doesn't even bottom out with whatever middle of the road spring they put in it unless I really hit a transition super-hard, like trying to blast a bmx track.
In asking questions, I keep getting pushed towards clydes threads (and the Manitou Tower), but I'm not sure I need to do what other clydes have done. If I've been fine on a cheapie RST fork, shouldn't a much better quality air fork like the Manitou Marvel be fine?
Here's the meaty specs:
Steerer: 1.50" (tapered ok)
Dropout: QR15
Axle to Crown: 500 max
Post Mount
Offset: 40-42mm
Price limit: About $300
You can see why I am considering the Marvel. I assume the Tower would mount up fine, but as it's a 29er fork, I'm limited to 80mm travel, when I'd like to increase to 120mm and run softer to take some load off my upper body joints (wrists and shoulders tire first on the trail).
What say ye? Are modern air forks incapable of handling weight like mechanical spring forks? I'm sure the RST Deuce wasn't designed for 250+ riders, but it's worked fine. The marvel seems to fit my needs. The only thing more I desire is larger diameter stanchions, but those are largely reserved for 20mm hubs, and out of my price range.
Thanks for the opinions, let them fly!
THAT said, the stock RST Deuce 100mm fork that came with my Cannondale F5 has given me zero trouble for three years. I've not broken it open once, it makes no noises, and outside the fact that I believe the lowers may have been bent or the dropouts not aligned (frame and wheel are straight, but bike always always steers left), it doesn't even bottom out with whatever middle of the road spring they put in it unless I really hit a transition super-hard, like trying to blast a bmx track.
In asking questions, I keep getting pushed towards clydes threads (and the Manitou Tower), but I'm not sure I need to do what other clydes have done. If I've been fine on a cheapie RST fork, shouldn't a much better quality air fork like the Manitou Marvel be fine?
Here's the meaty specs:
Steerer: 1.50" (tapered ok)
Dropout: QR15
Axle to Crown: 500 max
Post Mount
Offset: 40-42mm
Price limit: About $300
You can see why I am considering the Marvel. I assume the Tower would mount up fine, but as it's a 29er fork, I'm limited to 80mm travel, when I'd like to increase to 120mm and run softer to take some load off my upper body joints (wrists and shoulders tire first on the trail).
What say ye? Are modern air forks incapable of handling weight like mechanical spring forks? I'm sure the RST Deuce wasn't designed for 250+ riders, but it's worked fine. The marvel seems to fit my needs. The only thing more I desire is larger diameter stanchions, but those are largely reserved for 20mm hubs, and out of my price range.
Thanks for the opinions, let them fly!