1" Threaded Steel Fork Recommendations

[SFP]

Figured lets ask the roadie crowd as I am the first to admit, I am not a full-fledged roadie.

I have a '96 Softride Solo frameset (700c, non-disc) coming home in the next couple of weeks with the stock Kinesis aluminum fork and I am thinking of swapping in a steel fork instead.

Ideally I'd like to find a Ritchey but they are rarer then hensteeth by the looks of it here on the west coast of Canada.

Thoughts & recommendations for something to look for?

Thanks in advance folks.

Scott

 

[bikeworkshop]

Did you consider a period carbon fork? Time perhaps?
It would be a lot lighter, look about right and be a softer ride.

You'd probably want a unicrown fork for a visual match, most of which are strong but heavy in steel.

Forks are often rarer than frames, so the owners don't want to sell them much.

Good luck

 

[Canuk]

I've got a penchant for Reynolds 753 forks. They have that 'just right' balance of lightweight and plush ride. Carbon 1 inch forks can be pretty 'wibbly wobbly' and twitchy if they've not got steel steerers, which kinda defeats the purpose of light weight.There's an nos set on eBay, looks like they were made for the Peugeot Perthus 753, legendary frame imo.

https://ebay.us/m/VxvtiM

 

[SFP]

I've got a penchant for Reynolds 753 forks. They have that 'just right' balance of lightweight and plush ride. Carbon 1 inch forks can be pretty 'wibbly wobbly' and twitchy if they've not got steel steerers, which kinda defeats the purpose of light weight.There's an nos set on eBay, looks like they were made for the Peugeot Perthus 753, legendary frame imo.

https://ebay.us/m/VxvtiM

LOVE my Reynolds tubing. My dream bike is a Bob Jackson Elite 753 .

A friend has located a fillet brazed by Tom himself Ritchey fork, but has yet to get me a price.... from the pics it is beautiful looking, although a faded yellow paint job... if I had to guess I would think 86 to 92 maybe as the era (not sure there is a way to date them exactly).

My MTB rigids I have ridden Ritchey Logic forks since the early 90's... love the feel of them, which was what got me thinking about a pair for the new rode bike.

Not a fan of carbon anything myself.

I know that the Kinesis aluminum fork was used on top builds like Merlin's and such, and I have ridden them before they just never did anything for me.

As for the extra weight, hell this is a Softride Solo (aka beam bike)... I'll be lucky to get her under 24lbs without spending a small fortune.

 

[bikeworkshop]

The ritchey fork would be a great choice, and mass- produced inch models were plentiful and cheap in the late 90s - when inchandaneighth and suspension had shot the market.

It's just a case of finding a pair now!
Good luck
Let us know

 

[dirttorpedo]

You could buy new here

https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/corsa-road-fork-threaded-1

 

[Coalfield]

OOOOpps I goofed on my original post.
SFP: I always hesitate to make reccos, butt....since you are a west coast neighbor

I quickly checked CL Bicycle Parts here in Seattle for 1" threaded fork = steel/Campy dropouts $65. It adds nearby communities including Portland, OR and another option there, too. Kijiji for you locally has nothing good?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/bip?query=1 threaded fork#search=2~gallery~0

With All Due Respect: Ride the bike with the original fork (how many miles per month for the Softride?), a good quick fork replacement if you must, then search for your Richey if it is not currently available at a reasonable price. No sense holding up the experience of a rideable bike whilst searching for hensteeth.

Given 2 months' spent on a Softride beamed single, I would not want it to be my only road bike (given the big world of Road bikes). The ride was fine on flats and gentle rolling - aero, improve your spin, stay in the saddle, greater comfort is faster, etc. But going up and down big hills and descending anything twisty was not confidence building. Maybe great for tri-athletes. I did not prefer it in crosswindy conditions. I have a beam for the stoker on a tandem (softer tension), and they seem to like it over rough pavement. I should say past tense, no stokers of late.

Softride Solo from the InterWebs.