Dreaming up a new build and I am stuck on what fork to choose. Really my question is not "what fork" but "what kind of fork?" I have always ridden SC, but perhaps a DC is in order?
ME: ~200lbs in all my gear. I ride mostly Shore stuff (Seymour, Fromme, Cypress) Woodlot, Vedder, Galbraith, and Whistler. If you were to classify my riding I suppose it would be more FR than DH. I don't race, but will likely try it. My riding style has earned me the moniker "meat huck" from the guys I ride with. I like drops and can handle a few decent sized ones. For this build, I am trying to place durability and reliability above weight and cost. I do not want to have to tear down my bike after every ride.
I know enough to know some of the pros and cons of each type (turning radius, travel, weight), and I have heard arguments from some saying a DC is overkill and others that swear by them. The frame will have 8" of travel with a 1.5" head tube, and for the sake of argument, lets say that I am going to go with either a Totem Solo Air or a Boxxer Team. I'm on a Lyrik Solo Air now and I really like it, but I am pushing its capabilities. It seems like a bunch of the issues both RS offerings were having have been more or less sorted. I am open to other suggestions so long as the cost is kept within reason (so the Boxxer WC is out, as is the 40 and even the aluminum Dorado, even though it looks really interesting). For reference, I have seen both the 2010 Boxxer Team and the Totem Solo Air for ~ $1000 US (brand new) without looking too hard.
For those of you that have made this decision, which way did you go? Any regrets?
ME: ~200lbs in all my gear. I ride mostly Shore stuff (Seymour, Fromme, Cypress) Woodlot, Vedder, Galbraith, and Whistler. If you were to classify my riding I suppose it would be more FR than DH. I don't race, but will likely try it. My riding style has earned me the moniker "meat huck" from the guys I ride with. I like drops and can handle a few decent sized ones. For this build, I am trying to place durability and reliability above weight and cost. I do not want to have to tear down my bike after every ride.
I know enough to know some of the pros and cons of each type (turning radius, travel, weight), and I have heard arguments from some saying a DC is overkill and others that swear by them. The frame will have 8" of travel with a 1.5" head tube, and for the sake of argument, lets say that I am going to go with either a Totem Solo Air or a Boxxer Team. I'm on a Lyrik Solo Air now and I really like it, but I am pushing its capabilities. It seems like a bunch of the issues both RS offerings were having have been more or less sorted. I am open to other suggestions so long as the cost is kept within reason (so the Boxxer WC is out, as is the 40 and even the aluminum Dorado, even though it looks really interesting). For reference, I have seen both the 2010 Boxxer Team and the Totem Solo Air for ~ $1000 US (brand new) without looking too hard.
For those of you that have made this decision, which way did you go? Any regrets?