Gravel forks

Rigid or suspension

This is the category that most clearly sets gravel apart from road cycling: here, the suspension fork is the more common choice. RockShox Rudy, Fox 32 TC and Cane Creek Invert sit alongside ENVE rigid carbon forks. The two types serve different purposes.

The suspension fork

• 30–40 mm of travel, compared with 100 mm or more on a mountain bike. The aim isn't to absorb jumps, but to filter out constant vibrations and sharp impacts that tire your arms over several hours.
• Above all, it provides more control : the front wheel stays in contact with the ground where a rigid fork would bounce.
• It adds 500–800 g and requires periodic maintenance (seals, oil), just like a mountain bike fork.
• Adjust the sag — how far the suspension compresses under your weight at rest — then the rebound.

The rigid carbon fork

Lighter, maintenance-free and more comfortable than you might think once you're riding wide tyres at low pressure. The ENVE Gravel and Allroad absorb vibrations through the controlled flex of their fork legs. They're the choice for fast gravel riding, long distances on smoother terrain and mechanical simplicity.

The steerer

Almost all gravel forks have a tapered steerer — narrow at the top, wide at the bottom, usually 1"1/8–1.5". A tapered steerer will not fit in a straight head tube. Check the SHIS code of your frame before buying anything.

Fork offset (rake)

From 45–55 mm in this category, considerably more than on road bikes. Together with the frame's head angle, it determines the handling: more offset makes the steering more responsive and easier to correct. Match the original fork offset — the frame manufacturer designed its geometry around a specific value, and a 5 mm difference changes how the bike handles.

Axle, brakes and tyre clearance

• The thru-axle size is 12×100 mm on almost all gravel forks.
• The brake caliper mount is Flat Mount on rigid road and gravel forks, Post Mount on most suspension forks — which may require an adapter.
• Check the maximum tyre width permitted, and leave a few millimetres of clearance on each side: a tyre mounted on a wide rim measures wider than its stated width, and mud needs room to pass through.
• Some forks have mounting points for racks or bags — a decisive factor for bikepacking.

To find out more: How to choose your fork

See also: Gravel wheels · Headsets and bearings · Gravel framesets