Good luck to all those stormed-out folk down there. Almost hard to imagine.
The issue of fork rake confusion arises periodically, and I also had a different definition of this early on. This is because I come from a motorcycling background, where published "Rake and Trail" refer to the head tube angle (off of vertical, i.e. around 24-30 degrees!) and trail is, well, trail, usually in inches. Now, with bikes, "Rake" is the "fork offset", and the head tube angle is measured off off of horizontal. Further, the two front end measurements that increase wheelbase (and, to a degree, fork compliance), are increased fork rake (offset) and a "raked" (shallow) head tube angle, and both have opposite effects on trail. Not exactly intuitive. I once had a guy bring in just a fork, saying he wanted to slacken the front end a few millimeters to soften the ride and slow the steering. Well, one out of two ain't bad. I never did alter that fork. OT alert: It was aluminum!
David Snyder
Auburn, CA usa
> Garth, just a minor point:
>
> More stability, at least based on frame geometry, is usually a result of
> decreased fork rake and the resulting increased geometric trail, rather
> than
> the other way around. More fork rake may contribute to fork shock
> compliance and hence ride smoothness. Of course, both factors, stability
> and ride, are more complex than just these few factors.
>
> Share your concern about the plight of fine small bike businesses!!
>
>>>>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bianca Pratorius
> Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 7:07 AM
> Subject: [CR]Post hurricane toll
>
> The good thing is that the 56cm 3Rensho that a list member sold me has
> gotten great use in the last three weeks. I was waiting for a Suntour
> Superbe bottom bracket but until the one I ordered from Holland comes, I
> just took the Raleigh's. The Cyclone is a charming rider. Stiffer than
> 531C,
> the frame still offers comfort. ( contraversial lateral stiffness but
> vertical compliance ). The bike has more fork rake than some race bikes
> and
> it makes things more relaxing when you don't have to fight a tight
> wheelbase, upright frame angles and rakeless forks.