Notice that of the many bikes in the booth, only one (from what I can tell) has a carbon fork. Also note that this appears to be a race type machine, not the bike that Singer is most famous for.
Perhaps it is a blessing, but as I understand it, there are no carbon forks that have sufficient rake and clearance for fenders available in the market. The exception are the heavy cross forks which are not much lighter than steel.
The lack of such carbon forks is probably a gift for traditional builders. If the forks existed for touring type machines the high-tech material crowd would move-in on one of the last domains of the tradional steel builder.
Of course, I understand that many folks prefer the ride of carbon forks, but I don't. All carbon forks I've ridden reduce pleasurable road feel and fail to absorb the really big hits. Only steel does it right.
But I also know that this is my opionion and my preference. There are many nice bikes with carbon forks that are very nice to ride (and often are more pleasant than many steel bikes). But a great steel frame with a steel fork? That is the best. I've owned or ridden Litespeed, Merckx SC, and Pinarello Prince frames, but I couldn't ride one long term. Steel just feels better, and the last thing I'd do is muck it up with a carbon fork. There was a time that I sold many Waterford frames at a time when they were mating them to carbon forks. I can proudly say that a carbon fork never got placed on a steel frame (with the exception of the Pinarello Opera which came stock with one) while I was in the biz.
Mike Kone in Boulder CO
> What's carbon?
\r?\n> The fork?
\r?\n> Rob "carbon based lifeform" Dayton
\r?\n> Charlotte NC
\r?\n>
\r?\n> -----Original Message-----
\r?\n> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
\r?\n> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Roy H.
\r?\n> Drinkwater
\r?\n> Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 6:51 PM
\r?\n> To: classic list
\r?\n> Subject: [CR]Alex Singer Goes Carbon (from ibob list)
\r?\n>
\r?\n> >From: Jon Muellner
\r?\n> >
\r?\n> >Well, you knew it would happen sometime...my friend Mark in France
\r?\n> >was at the 2005 Paris Bike Show and sent along some pics:
\r?\n> >
\r?\n> >http://www.mile43.com/cycling/alexsinger.html
\r?\n> >
\r?\n>
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Roy "I wouldn't kick it out of my garage" Drinkwater
\r?\n> Lititz, PA