neil foddering wrote:
>OK, here goes with my theory:
>
>On a bike designed for ultra-close rear wheel clearance, it makes
>sense to have a rear-facing dropout [sic]
This presumes that it makes sense to design a bike for ultra-close rear wheel clearance. I'm not convinced there's any benefit to this. I know that many folks belive this somehow makes a bike faster or more maneuverable, but I don't buy that theory.
I think it mostly comes down to tradition.
I believe dropouts were only invented in the 1940s, or maybe '30s, before then all bikes had rear-opening fork ends.
Sheldon "If It Opens To The Rear It Is Not A Drop Out" Brown
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