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I'm currently looking for some cross forks. Have seen some Alpina and Kinesis ones that state they have an integrated or integral steerer. Not sure what this means, do they fit in a standard 1 1/8th headset or will I need a particular headset?
The term 'integrated' usually means that the top of the fork crown is thickened to visually match an internal headset. Most (assuming they are the right steerer diameter ) work with external cup headsets but some may look a bit odd with a thinner walled headtube.
I'm not sure about the Alpina but kinesis, Easton and Ritchey forks will work, although removing a non split crown race can sometimes be trickier.
Ditto
Oh, and not to make you more confused, but pay a bit of attention to whether the fork will match your frames geometry- most cross frames are built around an axle to crown height of about 395mm with 45-47mm of rake.
...And another thing, a non integrated steerer is what George Hincapie used at Paris-Roubaix a few years back ( roadie joke) 🙂
Okay makes more sense now, my current forks are 400mm, 45 rake so sound fairly standard. Thanks for the help.
Edit - might need to google the Hincape reference though ❓
[i]Edit - might need to google the Hincape reference though [/i]
Trek always said they didn't use carbon steerers on their road forks becasue they were prone to breakage. They weren't shy in shouting about this either.
At the Paris-Roubaix Classics race, George Hincapie snapped his (alu) steerer. Not the carbon fork blades, the alu steerer. Cue red faces all round and yet another bad day out at Paris-Roubaix for poor George. He deserves to win that race he really does (and he's capable of it) but he's never had any luck there.