Rigid Forks for Commencal El Camino

Rigid Forks for Commencal El Camino - Intro

The Commencal El Camino Frame has lots of mounting points for fenders / mud guards, racks etc. and as such make a great rough stuff touring, utility frame. To increase loading option still further, you may consider rigid forks from surly or salsa. But what length of fork is right.

Rigid Forks for Commencal El Camino - Axle to Crown

The axle to crown measurement is the one to look for. This is some time listed as AC or A/C. It is the measurement from the axle to the crown of the fork, the crown is where the crown race sits.

The Commencal El Camino full bike is supplied with a RST Blaze 27,5" Fork, the  axle to crown measurement for this fork is 495mm.

Rigid Forks for Commencal El Camino - Sag

When you hop on a bike with suspension forks the forks squash down a bit. This is called sag. Racing bikes are set to have about 10% sag, whilst non-racing bikes might have 30% sag. An average of 20% is usually used. So if you apply this sag figure you are looking at a length between

• 445mm (10%)
• 396mm (20%)
• 346mm (30%)

Bear in mind that the radius of a 650b wheel is 325mm. So allow for clearance, fenders, and mud space. 

Rigid Forks for Commencal El Camino - Shopping

Most forks available from surly or salsa are at least 460mm in length. It is better to go longer than shorter, perhaps adopting the 10% sag figure from above. 

So based on the above we would be looking at the below fork options.

• Surly Instigator (447mm) - Lots of mounting points. 
• Thorn Mount Tura (430mm) - No disc brake. Lots of mounting points.
• Thorn Nomad Disc Fork (420mm) - Excellent Choice. 
• Gusset DJ26 Fork (430mm) - Cheap. But no mounting points. 

Rigid Forks for Commencal El Camino -  Good luck.

Have fun and cheerio. 

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