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How-To/Mechanics: cutting forks

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    why would I do it? is adding those rings, spacers,washers before the headset not cool? lower stem means more aggressive positioning?
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    It depends on how the bike fits you, what kind of riding position you want, etc.
    On a road bike (one which is being raced or is intended to be ridden fast) it is generally good to have your (threadless) fork cut down to a position where your stem and perhaps a 2mm spacer is all you need.
    Lower stem height isn't more "aggressive," it is more aerodynamic. If you're using drops, aggressive riding position would be holding the drop itself, not the flat or the STI/brake lever (if you have them). Your saddle should be above your bars by at least a little bit to keep your body in a good riding position.
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    well i mean that the positioning is lowered and holding the bottom of the drops will be steeper.
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    That is true, but how far would you really be cutting it down? I mean, if you want to try it out you can just throw your spacers above your stem instead of below it. Just make sure you have one spacer down there for safety.
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    if i wanted a higher stem i'd just get one with biger angle.
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    What? I'm talk... Never mind, you figure this one out.
    • CommentAuthorLyKqiD
    • CommentTimeSep 23rd 2009 edited
     
    You shouldnt be cutting a fork in order to get lower in the drops. Period.
    Just get a stem with a more aggressive angle.
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    I cut down all my fork steerer tubes to make the stem flush with the top of the headset. Doing so does put you in a more bent over, aggressive riding position, but I did it more so for the fact that I hate the look of towers of spacers. Also, it saved a few hundred grams of weight off the front end by cutting off a few inches of steerer tube and all those spacers.

    If I ever want to make my bike back into a more upright ride, I just flip my 17 degree stem upright, or throw on some riser bars, etc. However, I don't like that. It's all about preference.
  10.  
    Posted By: LyKqiDYou shouldnt be cutting a fork in order to get lower in the drops. Period.
    Just get a stem with a more aggressive angle.

    I don't think that is what either of us were talking about. But I have had/seen forks with super long steer tubes which need to be cut down to properly fit a rider and his stem. A properly sized threadless steerer shouldn't be cut down, I agree.
    • CommentAuthorGone
    • CommentTimeSep 23rd 2009
     
    Posted By: lickedwickedwhy would I do it? is adding those rings, spacers,washers before the headset not cool? lower stem means more aggressive positioning?


    Adding a thick spacer is an advantage if you run deep drops because you can relax more when your upright on your bike or go aggressive with the deep drop when you ride hard. Look at my Tommasini in my profile and you will see what I mean. It's a great and cheap compromise.
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    Im beginning to think that looks are playing the major role here over function, Im sure im not the only one seeing it here. Looks as in the part as other people seeing the bike and making fun of him cause he has bunch of spacers and a high rise stem, when he should and only be thinking about the function and relaxing part of it.

    Its like suicide said, you can always throw your spacers around and see where you like your stem the most, then see what rise and degree you need for the most effective way of riding for you, then go for the looks part...
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2009
     
    also many new road bikes come equipped carbon fiber steerer tubes which cannot be run with a bunch of spacers
    • CommentAuthorfixedpuch
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2009
     
    Posted By: Aaron Calso many new road bikes come equipped carbon fiber steerer tubes which cannot be run with a bunch of spacers


    Carbon fiber steer tubes can be run with spacers.

    Its all about fit, if your bike doesnt fit properly and cutting the fork would achieve a better fit, then CUT the fork. If not, then don't.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: fixedpuch
    Posted By: Aaron Calso many new road bikes come equipped carbon fiber steerer tubes which cannot be run with a bunch of spacers


    Carbon fiber steer tubes can be run with spacers.

    Its all about fit, if your bike doesnt fit properly and cutting the fork would achieve a better fit, then CUT the fork. If not, then don't.


    perhaps i said should not instead of cannot, i also didn't say that you cant use any spacers, just that you shouldn't go to town.
    cut the fork and use a proper stem.
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2009 edited
     
    That bike would only need need one or two spacers if they would flip the damn stem.

    I think a big stack of spacers is ucking fugly.
    • CommentAuthorLyKqiD
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2009
     
    Posted By: Aaron Cjust that you shouldn't go to town.

    Yeah, good example.

    But skidmark then the logo's would be upside down, and your street cred would diminish.
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeSep 24th 2009 edited
     
    Sorry but in order to get street cred the LOGOS would have to disappear.

    The only allowable logos are KING on headsets and Phil on hubs.
    • CommentAuthormeatroll
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
     
    Posted By: lickedwickedwhy would I do it? is adding those rings, spacers,washers before the headset not cool? lower stem means more aggressive positioning?


    no, no, lower stem means more comfortable positioning. take cruisers for example. you know how the bars are like, practically touching the ground? counterintuitive, i know.
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    I have a 1 inch threadless fork should i get it threaded and cut for a quill stem?
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2009 edited
     
    Why? Just use a shim and then you can use the more common 1 1/8 stem. I have 2 bikes with 1" threadless with no problems whatsoever. I dont want to cause an uproar here but quills lost the stem battle...
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    Never mind scratch that I cant find a shop that has a threading tool
    So I will just get a new headset and cut the fork down a little without the towering spacers
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    Posted By: wes m.I dont want to cause an uproar here but quills lost the stem battle...

    No, you're right. They just look better. And force you to work slightly harder cause they weigh so much.
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2009
     
    Posted By: bensonisajewNever mind scratch that I cant find a shop that has a threading tool

    Really? Really? Not one single shop in the New York metropolitan area, a known center of bike fetishists, with an old-guy retro-grouch wrench who has both threading equipment and the knowledge to put it into service?

    Color me dubious. I can find four different shops within crippled-bike-walking distance of my front door who have this gear, and I live in a medium-size college town. You need to look harder; perhaps ask on the Classic Rendezvous mailing list; there must be an NY retro-grouch/BOB who can hook you up.
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    Haha Ive emailed a few shops in they city they havent gotten back yet
    but for now Ill do threadless
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2009
     
    Posted By: bensonisajewHaha Ive emailed a few shops in they city they havent gotten back yet

    There is this device called a telephone...perhaps you've seen them?

    In my exerience, Internet-savvy shops/shops with slicko-jet websites tend to be slicker at Internet-stuff than they are at bikes. Most of the LBSes I trust have clunky websites that haven't been updated in years. Bernie Mikkelsen,
    a local old-guy framebuilder of considerable reputation, has a janky old website that some buddy of his put up years ago; until a recent change when he moved from one warehouse to another at a decommissioned naval air station, the site proudly proclaimed: "We check our email once a week".

    ...and then there's Performance and Mike's Bikes...

    If I'm going to have serious, expensive, risky work done to my frameset, I want that work done by an old guy (grouchiness optional) who's already done it 1000 times over the last 20-30 years. I do NOT want it done by some guy with metastisizing tattoos, more face-piercings than fingers and a Twitter posse, who's young enough to be my son. He may know what he's doing, and he may even be good at it; but I won't trust him.

    It's always worth looking for the guys (and gals) that know things, because they've done them over and over. But you have to find them in their native habitat; they're not going to come looking for you. Check NY bike-ish message boards: "Who's had a good LBS experience in Flushing/Canarsie/Bronxville/Staten Island/Rego Park/Manhattan?" Check your local Yelp listings, to see if you can figure out which ones are worth calling. There's someone out there who can perform the service you want, but you're going to have to hunt for them. Google doesn't answer every question.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeSep 28th 2009
     
    Posted By: eaglerockReally?Really?Not one single shop in the New York metropolitan area, a known center of bike fetishists, with an old-guy retro-grouch wrench who has both threading equipment and the knowledge to put it into service?


    i def. agree with you here most well stocked bike shops (in mpls/st.pl) have the gear, in my experience it is much more difficult to find a place that with cut threads into an unthreaded fork, which is what he has. fits usually not a problem to get threads added but thats another story...


    check for a local frame builder, they may be able to hook that shit up.
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    Thanks guys but I found a place that does it but they didnt have anymore threaded headsets so they hooked me up with a 1" threadless headset for cheap and the stem for free! :D

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