Rigid forks are special. You either love them or you hate them. Rigid forks are uncomfortable, yesterday's technology and they also offer less traction. At least that's what some people say and accept rigid forks on city bikes at best.
For the others, rigid forks are tried and tested carefree technology that you can always rely on. They are completely indifferent to dirt, rain and dust. What's more, they usually weigh less than half as much as suspension forks. Purists like the no-frills look and direct power transmission, with no watts wasted unnecessarily in damping cartridges.
The accusation that rigid forks are a thing of the past comes to nothing with the 3T Rigid, as it has a few technical delicacies to offer. Lightweight fetishists in particular will be delighted with the 600 grams of the 3T Rigid Team 29-inch MTB fork. Suspension forks easily weigh 2-3 times as much. The 15 mm thru-axle and the tapered steerer tube of the fork, which is made entirely from high-quality carbon fibre, ensure rigidity. The post mount on the extra-reinforced left fork leg allows for brake discs up to 180 millimetres in size.
Rigid forks alone don't provide much comfort, that's true. But they make sense with large-volume tyres. The manufacturer therefore advertises up to 86 millimetres of tyre clearance, which makes it possible to use tyres up to 2.5 inches wide without any problems. Theoretically, even 3-inch wide tyres in 29+ format should fit through.
Unfortunately, you also get wet eyes when you look at the price tag. 440 euros are due for the black and red 3T Rigid Team, which is already available. According to the German importer Hartje the all-black "Stealth" version is expected to arrive in January 2015 and will cost 460 euros.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
