In a message dated 12/24/03 3:42:45 AM Pacific Standard Time,
mail@woodworkingboy.com writes:
> My stab at it is that the straighter forks have something to do with the
> tendency to build more compact frames with shorter wheelbases. There is the
> current degrees of preference for stiffer and sharper cornering bikes, add
> more than a pinch of a fashion statement, and you have the new forks.
The straight bladed forks have the same off set, it's just in the crown, not the blade. You build a curved blade fork one of two ways: either start with curved blades (and hope they're the same), jig it up, braze, OR start with straight blades, braze, bend (and hope they bend the same). Adjust as necessary for alignment.
With straight blade forks: jig it, braze, check, done.
You can build just as compact a frame with curved forks as with straight. The
straight blade forks are just easier to make, and the fashion was foist upon
us.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA