This owner has been riding their SURLY Midnight Special for a long time. Mainly using it for long rides on their days off, they have been updating the parts bit by bit to reach their ideal setup, and recently decided to take the plunge and upgrade the fork.
As SURLY’s only road model, the Midnight Special can be customized in various ways. For this owner, who treats it as an "ALL ROAD" bike focused on long-distance riding, the benefits of switching to a carbon fork—such as reduced weight and improved vibration damping—made this a significant upgrade.
And here is the fork we used!
A rare adventure carbon fork with an oversized straight steerer
WILDE BICYCLE CO. Wayfinder Carbon Fork
Material: Carbon
Weight: 470g (uncut steerer, excluding axle)
Steerer type: 1-1/8″ straight
Steerer length: 350mm
Axle-to-crown: 398mm
Dropout: 100x12mm Thru Axle
Offset: 49mm
Wheel size: 700 x 2.1″ or 27.5 x 2.3″
Brake spec: Flat mount disc brake
Compatible rotor size: 140mm or 160mm
Recommended max rider weight: approx. 108kg
Includes: 12mm Thru Axle – 1.5 x 130mm
Compression plug
Price: 88,000 JPY (excl. tax)
The Wayfinder Carbon Fork is the same fork WILDE uses on their Rambler SL; it’s an incredibly lightweight and versatile adventure fork that truly embodies Wilde’s vision.
As in this case, it is the optimal upgrade for riders looking to enjoy their cycling even more.
The highlight here is that it's a carbon fork with an OS (1-1/8″) straight steerer, a standard that's hard to find these days.
It’s perfect for upgrading bikes like the Midnight Special pictured, the Straggler, or the ALL CITY Space Horse. It’s also a great option for those riding a WILDE Rambler who might want to upgrade to the SL version with a carbon fork in the future.
Furthermore, it features triple-boss mounts, internal routing for dynamo and brake cables, and fender mounts. With a tire clearance that accommodates up to 700c × 2.1″ or 27.5 × 2.3″, it has all the necessary features for gravel, exploration, and bikepacking beyond just the ALL ROAD usage seen here.
Also, the Waypoint Carbon Fork is now available in a 1.5″ tapered steerer version, so if you are installing it on a 44mm head tube or a tapered head tube frame, it can be installed as-is without changing the base plate.
WILDE BICYCLE CO. Waypoint Carbon Fork
Price: 88,000 JPY (incl. tax)
Both the Wayfinder and Waypoint are original WILDE forks that Jeff designed from scratch as the optimal solution for the next generation of gravel bikes, feeling that many existing gravel forks were a bit too stiff and heavy.
The fork is a major part that dictates handling and riding feel. While lighter isn't always better, the benefits of weight reduction are significant, and we are grateful for the existence of these two forks that cater to modern, multifaceted gravel-centric riding.
Both forks have an axle-to-crown length of 398mm and a rake of 49mm, so please feel free to consult with us regarding compatibility with your bike.
Bonus
In fact, this owner has been updating other parts bit by bit, with the hubs and stem all taken care of by TUNE.
The TUNE KillHill/ClimbHill hub combination, in particular, is a masterpiece. It offers smooth rotation and sufficient durability while maintaining the extreme lightweight detail that you expect from TUNE.
We look forward to seeing other dedicated enthusiasts.
