HiRide has announced the Sterra Fork, a gravel fork with 20mm of hidden travel.
The suspension is designed to integrate into a gravel bike in a similar fashion to the BMC URS LT One, whose suspension fork HiRide helped design.
The suspension system consists of a coil spring and hydraulic damper. A dial control on top of the head tube adjusts travel.
Lock-out and tyre clearance
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HiRide claims the Sterra Fork’s “damping effect [is] optimised for gravel rides”, with the option to lock it out on smooth surfaces and tarmac.
The fork’s maximum tyre clearance of 650b x 54mm or 700c x 45mm suits most of the best gravel tyres.
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20mm of travel
The Sterra Fork’s 20mm-travel is short compared to what mountain bike suspension forks offer.
But the idea of gravel bike suspension is to augment comfort when riding bumpy terrain without adding excess weight – a growing consideration amid the rise of gravel racing.
The Sterra Fork’s carbon legs keep weight down to a claimed 1,300g depending on whether you decide to cut the steerer.
HiRide says its 299.5mm length can be trimmed by up to 149.2mm.
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Mounting points
There are three mounts on each fork leg for bikepacking bags and cages, but not mudguards.
Dynamo light cables and brake cables can be internally routed through the fork.
The Sterra Fork takes a 12 x 100mm thru-axle and flat-mount disc brakes with 160mm to 180mm rotors.
HiRide sells its products directly to bike brands, so there is no retail price available, but will we see this as an option specced on new bikes?