Like the frame, the forks of the bike are a compromise between weight, flexibility and strength.
Most riders now use carbon fibre to hold their front wheel in place, whatever the individual frame choice.
And while bikes with curved forks are more comfortable and easier to control, team managers are more interested in stiffness than a smooth ride.
That way each pounding downstroke on the pedal is directed to the wheels rather than a flexible front fork.
Carbon fibre's disadvantage is that it is brittle. In the 2001 Giro d'Italia, one rider's forks snapped completely, leaving him with a painful pair of arms as he crashed to the ground.
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