Got an ali sniglespeed with some marz forks on but I'm tempted to rigid it with some carbon forks. has anyone done this? How much sting would these take out of the trail. Has anyone know carbon forks to fail? Will this make me a better rider or merely
I ride in the chilterns so it's mainly roots that's the issue on our otherwise smoothish trails.
Cheers,
Jez
Ive got some on my singlespeed and love it. The only time you really notice is when braking on rocky stuff.It makes you a better rider beacause they make you read the trail more and stay off the brakes.Try it its worth it
I went Rc31 carbon forks yrs ago-quite comfy if the trail is not too rocky.
Cwimm Carn was alright. Nice and light. I now use steel kona P2 fork on my hack.
Back on full susser as the roots and trails are tougher. One fella I ride with has a on one 456, carbon forks and big disc brakes and his skill is pretty good and overtakes full sussers easily.
I have some lovely twangy carbon fork on my 69er. Love them. Only notice the lack of suspension when riding very rooty places
I only had full suss or no suss with carbon RC31's for ages, was very nice with the rigids, I think stuff like flowing woodsy singletrack was even better rigid as it doesnt compress in the turns, obviously the rougher it gets the more limited it is, but EVERYTHING is doable rigid.
I had some steel rigid jump forks on my bike before the RC31's the difference in comfort between the 2 was substantial..
i have now swapped to sus forks mind you and I like that too...
Am in the market for some super cheap Marz MX comps or such like if you sell your current forks.
Got some carbon nuke proofs on my HT, obviously great on the smooth stuff, but bejesus scary on rocky or rooty bits. Put me off taking it out to Surrey Hills ever again.
It's a nice, cheap way to get that "light bike" feeling.
Roots are OK with the right (bigish, softish) tyres and a little finesse.
I've got the Superstar carbon forks and haven't had any problems.
I wouldn't want fully rigid as my only bike, mind.
I'd be dubious about the benefits of different fork materials compared to a fatter tyre run at a lower PSI. I have a cheapo steel fork on mine but have a fairly big tyre up front and it's pretty comfortable to ride.
IMO you will get better at picking lines but on the rougher trails they aren't as much fun and you end up just tip-toeing along. Where rigid forks really come into their own is the weight saving and the better efficiency on smooth stuff.
There is one guy on here with a nasty story of his RC31s failing, together with a very unsympathetic response from Pace, but all parts break and I know plenty of people who use them with no problems.
I have some RC31s, if anything they are less forgiving than the P2s I had. They are considerably lighter though.
You get pretty beat up riding rigid in the summer when everything is baked hard, you learn to use your arms and stay loose when the going gets rough. I don't know that it makes you super skilled the minute you fit them though.
Its fun.
i love rigid bikes - they ride like a big bmx (esp if steepish HA)
geometery necver changes - not sure they make you better.
I run rigid for the winter and sus for the summer. Look forward to october for rigid forks and the same when march comes around for the sus.
Give it ago but don't get rid of the forks. 
Went rigid through the winter (got a new SS), it has improved my riding no end, it was only fun in a novel kind of way but didn't last and since putting suss on it, I've had more fun...
Kept the rigid fork, probably pop it back for the winter.
I prefer rigid. No braking dive makes up for everything else.
The lighter weight is good too.
Rigid is good fun, but there are obviously times when suspension is more enjoyable.
If you're really wanting something to take the sting out of the trail, keep the suspension. If it's your first time/first time for years riding rigid you'll find it harsh as until you get used to using your arms again.
My 29er is rigid and it is great but...
- Rigid works even better on 29ers because the wheel rolls over things better
- I have a big fat front tyre that makes a big difference on rigid forks
- I am noticably slower going down anything rooty or rocky (and I find it less fun downhill than with sus forks)
- I have just bought some suspension forks so that I can be a bit more of a hooligan on it. I am keeping the rigids for the winter though
I would try rigids out but keep your Marz forks.
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