Fork advice.

[Desolation]

Due to an injury I have learned that I can no longer participate in certain activity's. Ok, no big thing I can live without Bowling.
I have also discovered that :bike_rider: is no longer pleasurable.
I started Mountain Biking before there were MTB's, and BMX long before that. I was forced to stop a few years ago. After a bunch of therapy I am better then I was but I can not ride my old school ridged CrMo long, or on anything that approaches technical dirt. Before I drop the coin for a new fully suspended bike that I may not be able to ride regardless, I think it would be smart to see if just adding a suspension fork to my existing frame and putting in some hours might save me from making a purchase that in the end I can not use.
My question is: For general use, and nothing hard core, and fitted into an old skewel threaded head set frame, preferably using the existing Wheel/rim-brakes
Where, what should I look for and how much should it cost?
Installation I can easily handle.

Oh and if it helps I stand 6'6" and weigh in at 280Lbs.

Thanks!

 

[1speed]

It is almost impossible to find a suspension fork with a 1" steertube anymore. If you do find one it will be "Wal Mart bike" quality and will not give you a good representation of what to expect from a good fork. Beg, borrow or rent something with a modern suspension fork, you will be suprised how good they are. The only thing you need to consider is most forks with a conventional spring are shipped with a "medium" spring and will not be adequate for your weight. Some companys have heavier springs available or go with an "air spring" fork.

 

[Desolation]

It is almost impossible to find a suspension fork with a 1" steertube anymore.

That figures, LOL!

 

[Christophe Noel]

It might be more helpful to know the nature of the injury you're trying to mitagate with this fork. If it's something relative to your back and neck, that's one thing. If it's an issue with your hands or wrists, that might be another.

In terms of a suspension fork alone, even a couple inches of travel in ultra "squishy" mode usually isn't enough to really alter the ride enough to mitigate pain from previous injury.

As a certified bike fitter myself, when people would approach me with questions about navigating around pain from a prior injury, it was always hit or miss and frankly a little scary. The more you explain out the pain, the better.

Normally, these issues are tackled with fit more so than with suspension. A poor position on a squishy ride will still hurt.

 

[Desolation]

It might be more helpful to know the nature of the injury you're trying to mitagate with this fork. If it's something relative to your back and neck, that's one thing. If it's an issue with your hands or wrists, that might be another.

In terms of a suspension fork alone, even a couple inches of travel in ultra "squishy" mode usually isn't enough to really alter the ride enough to mitigate pain from previous injury.

As a certified bike fitter myself, when people would approach me with questions about navigating around pain from a prior injury, it was always hit or miss and frankly a little scary. The more you explain out the pain, the better.

Normally, these issues are tackled with fit more so than with suspension. A poor position on a squishy ride will still hurt.

The diagnosis is "Muscle pain", located base of the neck, it is so cool to have your whole arm slowly become numb. NOT!!
I have my current ride as correct as I can and I rode it comfortable for years, then I did whatever and now find but the sharp impacts transmitted right up my arm into the shoulder/neck are sometimes like having a nice dull orange iron skewer buried into the base of you neck... Hence the Fork Idea, because if that don't work I think the prospect of actually riding Dirt is... "Forked"! LOL
FWIW I can ride smooth pavement ok but I don't because I get bored.

 

[Christophe Noel]

If that's the case, I'd tackle this first as a fitment issue. It isn't usually the sharp impacts themselves that are the issue with regard to neck and upper body pain. It's often a fitment issue as those impacts force you to use upper body muscles to soak up those impacts. You can somewhat remove some of that strain with a more upright fit...usually. One of my old riding buddies suffers from a similar plight. He now rides with his positioning as upright as Mary Poppins. Since that puts him in the back seat a bit, he does ride a full sus rig, but he's pretty good now. His balance is pushed back a bit which has its own challenges, but he's riding.

My other suggestion won't sound so fun, but it's super cheap....yoga. More busted riders have been allowed back on their bikes with yoga than any other remedy. Just make sure you speak very clearly about that plan with your doctor before you dive in. If he clears you for yoga, I bet you'll find your fix there.

 

[Desolation]

If that's the case, I'd tackle this first as a fitment issue. It isn't usually the sharp impacts themselves that are the issue with regard to neck and upper body pain. It's often a fitment issue as those impacts force you to use upper body muscles to soak up those impacts. You can somewhat remove some of that strain with a more upright fit...usually. One of my old riding buddies suffers from a similar plight. He now rides with his positioning as upright as Mary Poppins. Since that puts him in the back seat a bit, he does ride a full sus rig, but he's pretty good now. His balance is pushed back a bit which has its own challenges, but he's riding.

My other suggestion won't sound so fun, but it's super cheap....yoga. More busted riders have been allowed back on their bikes with yoga than any other remedy. Just make sure you speak very clearly about that plan with your doctor before you dive in. If he clears you for yoga, I bet you'll find your fix there.

If I get any more upright I'll go over backwards LOL!

I have been told to do the Yoga thing. I guess I should look into it, and see what "She" has to say...