Spec Tricross Front Fork

Don17

Hello,

I know a few of you guys have specialised tricross bikes and was wondering if like me you have a problem with the vibration off the front forks when breaking.

I've only got the bike a few months and have nearly been thrown off it once or twice, but its getting quite annoying even when breaking at slow speed

I was wondering if there is anything you can do about it?
LBS say its just something that happens with cyclocross bikes due to the carbon forks and brake type?.

would there be something wrong with the front fork? or can you adjust/ change breaks

Thanks

stuf

Just a loose headset by the sounds of it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRFqU07u8DE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsjZx9Kg7ng

Don17

Thanks,
but I don't think its the headset as I only got it serviced a few weeks ago and bike shop said everthing was in order.

ROK ON

Have never had that problem and I have the bike 15 months and have commuted on it almost every day.

Greyspoke

I've not noticed any problems either and I've done a couple of thousand kms on it, including some hilly spins that would have required a fair bit of braking. If it's not a loose headset - pull on the front brake and rock the front backwards and forwards with your free hand around the top of the fork/crown race to feel for play. If not that then maybe check the brake pad setup - are they toed in/centred on the rim.

blorg

It's not the headset- that fork juddering you get with V-brakes or cantilevers and it is relatively normal. I get it to varying degrees on all my bikes with Vs or cantis. The Tricross is probably actually the best of the four (least juddering.) Even in the worst case it is not so much to be a major problem though, certainly no fear of being thrown off. A bit annoying certainly.

sTuMbLeD

I'm having the same problem on a new Tricross sport (61cm/XXL).

Bit of a fright the first time i pulled the front brake, bike slows smoothly from 30-15 kph, then forks (well the rubber damper thing) bends back, brake seems to slip, fork straightens, brakes grab again, all the while shaking the whole frame so much I have to release the front and go harder on the rear.

Brought it back to shop after a few days, they changed pads and readjusted for toe-in, and said to do another 50K as it might be there is not yet enough grip on the wheel. I've done about a 100K now and it's still really bad. I'm fed up shuddering to a stop at every set of lights

Heading up to the LBS on my lunch in a bit to see if they have any more advice, will let you know how it goes.

billyhead

Hi Stumbeled.
Yeh. Let us know how you get on. I have one of these bikes ordered under the bike to work scheme to be picked up later this week. Its a 58cm frame so I might get the same type of problem. What height are you by te way. I am a little over 6ft. I am hoping the frame is the right size

sTuMbLeD wrote: »

I'm having the same problem on a new Tricross sport (61cm/XXL).

Bit of a fright the first time i pulled the front brake, bike slows smoothly from 30-15 kph, then forks (well the rubber damper thing) bends back, brake seems to slip, fork straightens, brakes grab again, all the while shaking the whole frame so much I have to release the front and go harder on the rear.

Brought it back to shop after a few days, they changed pads and readjusted for toe-in, and said to do another 50K as it might be there is not yet enough grip on the wheel. I've done about a 100K now and it's still really bad. I'm fed up shuddering to a stop at every set of lights

Heading up to the LBS on my lunch in a bit to see if they have any more advice, will let you know how it goes.

blorg

@billyhead- if it is any help I am 6ft and ride a 58cm Tricross.

Don17

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm 6'2 by the way and my tricross sport is 58cm, perfect size for me anyway.

Hey Stumbled,
the LBS did say that they could adjust the angle of the brakes to reduce the vibration but that as the pads wore down it would come back again.
Only a short term solution. or maybe switch to an aluminium front fork??

I think its a great bike but starting to do my head in.
Its no problem going up the hills its coming down that scares the sh1t out of me.

sTuMbLeD

LBS didn't have any other advice yesterday, said they would need to ask Specialized what to do and then they'd call me.

I'm 6ft6. This is the first bike I've cycled with drops and am surprised how much more comfortable it is compared to my flat-bar hybrid.

Don17 wrote: »

LBS say its just something that happens with cyclocross bikes due to the carbon forks and brake type?

...maybe switch to an aluminium front fork??

@ Don17 - I'm not sure if all carbon forks would behave like this, or if it is something to do with the rubber Zertz stuff and the location of the brake arms.

A different type of brake might fix this, or an aluminium fork, but tis a new bike so I see it as the responsibility of shop/manufacturer to figure that out.

They recommended it for commuting/touring. They definitely never said anything about unusable front brakes on a cyclocross bike, and I wouldn't accept that as an answer as to why I can't rely on stopping safely on an expensive (for me) new bike.

Don17 wrote: »

I think its a great bike but starting to do my head in.

Me too! I think anyone would be head-wrecked after dropping that dosh and it not working 100% as it should, but otherwise, yeah, it's a grand bike.
As blorg, RokOn and Greyspoke don't have the same problem we seem to be just unlucky

blorg

@sTuMbLeD- it certainly shouldn't be AS BAD as you describe, but I doubt you will get rid of the judder entirely, I have four bikes with cantis or V brakes and get it on all of them.

I don't think it is the carbon fork, I have another bike with a steel fork and cantilevers and it is worse if anything. Two bikes with carbon forks and mini V brakes. One bike with steel fork and V brakes.

You will have to accept a certain amount of judder, that is just the way those brakes are. I believe toe-in helps.

If you search for things like "cyclocross judder" "v brake judder" and "cantilever judder" you will find plenty of people with the same issue, maybe some ways of making it better (as I say it will always be there but should not be that serious.)

Ant

That sounds like a really bad problem, alright and I'm glad it didn't happen to me. I vaguely remember having some slight juddering on the front forks on my Tricross but it wasn't every anything more than a slight annoyance. However, there hasn't been any (noticeable) juddering over the past few months. I reckon this is due to having the brakes toed in properly. I'm also using brake blocks with hard rather than soft compound, if that's of any relevance.

blorg

Was commuting on on my Tricross this morning and no juddering- vaguely remember it before though. At the moment my brakes are not very strong though. I think toe-in is key here although I did read on the web that Specialized reckoned there was an issue with some of the Tricross forks (from the 06 and 07 models) causing excessive juddering and which they seemed to be replacing under warranty.

I think key here in your dealings with the bike shop/Specialized is to realise that juddering is normal with this type of brake- what you need to convey is that you accept this but in your case the juddering is extreme- get them to ride the bike themselves as you cannot tell this sort of thing in a repair stand.

Greyspoke

If it is the brakes, which is most likely the case, then there's a couple of things you could try. Fit new pads and unlike Ant above, I'd say try some soft compound as I would have thought they would be less likely to cause judder. I think toeing in correctly is likely to be very important to counter this problem. Also make sure the two pads meet the rim at the same time by centring the two brake arms with the little screws at the side. Finally, there often seems to be quite a bit of play in the arms themselves where they're mounted onto the fork. Check those mounting bolts are tight and I'd even consider adding in a washer to reduce the play if it seems excessive. Good luck!

Don17

Thanks guys,

Have lowered the brake blocks so that the are almost touching the inside of the wheel rim and angled them slightly.
This has made it a lot better.
Might try checking those mounting bolts too!

Might take it back to LBS again thou and try and get it sorted if its only a short term solution.