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TECH NEWS

RockShox launch Paragon suspension fork aimed at urban and trekking riders

Suspension fork with 65mm travel and integrated dynamo light mount and clearance for 45mm tyres launched

The roads are getting rougher, and one solution is to fit a suspension fork to your bike, such as the newly launched Paragon from RockShox. The fork provides between 50 and 65mm of air sprung suspension, easily adjustable and can be locked out, in a package weighing 1,846g (4.07lb).

RockShox are clearly pitching this fork at what it calls urban and trekking cyclists, who probably will appreciate the wrist-saving suspension over the higher weight compared to a rigid fork. The fork taps into the company's 25 years experience of producing mostly mountain bike suspension parts – but there have been occasional forays into the road market before – with a purpose-built 700c trekking platform.

Inside the fork is RockShox's Solo Air spring, which is easily adjustable with a shock pump.  The fork can be locked out, which potentially opens it up to use for a multi-terrain bike, such as a cyclo-cross inspired bike – lock the fork out on the road and open it up on the gravel tracks and bridleways.

It's touring and urban riding where the fork is intended to be ridden though. We can see it fitting on a frame like the Genesis Equilibrium quite nicely. It has been designed with dynamo hubs in mind, the wiring from the hub can be neatly concealed alng the fork leg up t he fork brace, where a lamp can be fitted with an integrated mount. There are mudguard mounts and clearance, without a mudguard, is good for 45mm tyres. It's compatible with disc or caliper mounts.

The fork is compatible with lights and mudguards from SKS, Fuxon, Supernova, Spanninga, Trelock and B+M.

The Paragon fork costs €225. No word on when it will be available yet. More at www.sram.com/rockshox

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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5 comments

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MKultra | 10 years ago
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A better bet if you did not want to screw up the geometry while running a cross tyre would be a 700x35 specific leading link fork. The axle path keeps effective axle to crown height down.

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Bez | 10 years ago
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This has a certain appeal. No mention of axle-crown length though…

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allez neg | 10 years ago
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Time for a Girvin Flexstem renaissance?

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harman_mogul replied to allez neg | 10 years ago
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allez neg wrote:

Time for a Girvin Flexstem renaissance?

Yes whatever happened to that? Was not a bad product at all.

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joules1975 | 10 years ago
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I wouldn't fit that to an Equilibrium - it would screw up the geometry badly. Might fit a Croix de fer at a push, but this is aimed more at the cross inspired bikes you mentioned, like the Merida Crossways, Giant Roams, Specialized Crosstrails or similar.

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