Has anyone used (or is using) the Ritchey WCS Carbon Fork?

[XXtwindad]

It's a straight steerer (1 1/8) and says that it can clear a 30c tire, depending on the tire. That would be great, because it would allow me to also run DA 9100 brakes.

I'm thinking of running HED Belgium Plus rims with Vittoria Corsa Control 30c tires.

Any real-world experience? Thanks for any input.

[yinzerniner]

It's a straight steerer (1 1/8) and says that it can clear a 30c tire, depending on the tire. That would be great, because it would allow me to also run DA 9100 brakes.

I'm thinking of running HED Belgium Plus rims with Vittoria Corsa Control 30c tires.

Any real-world experience? Thanks for any input.

See post here, where a user stated that 30.5 actual measured works with the Road Logic. However a Corsa Control could blow up to something like 32mm+ with the super wide HEDs, and brake mount placement on the fork could somewhat limit how much tire you can fit inside the caliper arms.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=232442&page=2

[zennmotion]

It's a straight steerer (1 1/8) and says that it can clear a 30c tire, depending on the tire. That would be great, because it would allow me to also run DA 9100 brakes.

I'm thinking of running HED Belgium Plus rims with Vittoria Corsa Control 30c tires.

Any real-world experience? Thanks for any input.

No experience with the road fork, but I raced CX with the WCS cross version (canti brake-- and I didn't die!). It was (still is) a fork I ride and trust after 6 seasons of serious racing abuse, low-speed crashes etc and I still use it for offroad and gravel in the Bay Area hills. No clue about clearance etc with the road version though.

[XXtwindad]

See post here, where a user stated that 30.5 actual measured works with the Road Logic. However a Corsa Control could blow up to something like 32mm+ with the super wide HEDs, and brake mount placement on the fork could somewhat limit how much tire you can fit inside the caliper arms.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=232442&page=2

Good to know. Thanks.

[tepextate]

You could ask this guy!

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=257441

[XXtwindad]

You could ask this guy!

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=257441

That’s a disc fork :)

[chismog]

I've got that fork brand new, it was sent to me as a replacement from Reynolds for the UL recall. I just stuffed a 28mm Conti GP4000 IIs in there on an old Eurus wheel. My calipers measure that tire at 28.5mm actual width.

As you can see from the pics, there's ~2mm on either side of the tire, BUT.... it's very close to touching the bottom of the crown. With this little clearance, I wouldn't do use this combination myself.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50611414501_45e1bebba4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k7mJfR)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2k7mJfR)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50611414416_24ce08b084_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k7mJeo)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2k7mJeo)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50611414461_40f3616df6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k7mJfa)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2k7mJfa)

[jkbrwn]

^this is not the current version of the fork.

[ERK55]

I believe Chris Bishop uses the current version on a steel road bike- I recall him stating that he could run (at least) 30c tires. Not sure what brakes he was using though.

[jtbadge]

^this is not the current version of the fork.

Agreed. I also have the same older version as chrismog, and it's been great, but the current iteration has much more clearance.

Here is the current version in discussion:

https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/wcs-carbon-road-fork

https://us.ritcheylogic.com/media/catalog/product/cache/5f77e273ad5885f1ea7918d98f061399/f/k/fk_rd_wcs_181_46rake_my2020_34356116005-angle.jpg

[tepextate]

That’s a disc fork :)
My mistake!

[clyde the point]

Too much vibration under heavy braking for this near 1/8th ton man.

[XXtwindad]

Too much vibration under heavy braking for this near 1/8th ton man.

Interesting you should mention that. I reached out to a few members whose opinion I value on that very subject. I’m not a lightweight (clocking in at 200 lbs) and I like to mash the pedals on the flats and rollers. They all said it wasn’t an issue. Most standard rim brake forks max out at 28 except for a very select few. The Whiskey RD Plus fork (1 1/8 steerer) is the main one that comes to mind. That will take a 35c. But you have to run mid-reach brakes.

[clyde the point]

The disc model was worse than the rim brake but both exhibited that characteristic. I am now running an Enve which is a little better, but 1.5" to 1.125 so more meat on the bottom of the headset. I still am asking the builder for a steel fork which tends to work better for me. My love of bikes right now for an all arounder is the Milwaukee with std reach brakes and a steel fork. That bike is hard to beat 'cept for it's limited to 32's. Which are pretty ok around here for most gravel I've run into but rear wheel life is not so good. The GK's are good for 62psi or so and I have some 5000TL in 32 which can go to a much higher pressure. Maybe just a tire switch will do it but the worst part of 32's at 62psi is the beat-em-up ride. More pressure is not gonna help that. I got to 232 for the Hincapie fondo but gained a few back so 235 is my unhappy happy right now.