Re: [CR]What's a Twin Plate?

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

From: "bradford stockwell" <bstockwell@hotmail.com>
To: rcielec@hotmail.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]What's a Twin Plate?
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 23:11:49 +0000


>
>Sorry but uh... What is meant by "twin plate, or box" fork crown ?
>
>Richard

Most fork crowns are topologically similar to plumbing pipe fittings where you slide the pipe into a sleeve. Crowns have 3 holes about 3/4" deep to accomodate the 2 fork legs from below and the steering tube from above. I (probably incorrectly!) used the term 'box' to describe the flat-topped version nominally appearing on the Masi Gran Criterium.

During the early 70s Masi came up with a different crown consisting of two plates, one above the other. It looks like one made a traditional fork, and then machined most of the middle away, leaving just a top and a bottom.

I suppose in theory the twin plate design could weigh less, but judging from the beefiness of the Masi design, I'd guess it was a wash in this case. (Um, the two italian twin-plate Masis I've seen appeared to have noticably thinner plates than the American twin-plate Masis I've seen.)

As a teenager in the 70s I thought the twin-plate crown looked hideously industrial. Now as an old geezer I find them charmingly unusual. Heh Heh.

Brad Stockwell
Palo Alto