on 12/26/03 6:53 AM, Stephen Barner at steve@sburl.com wrote:
> I wouldn't
> be quick to dismiss comments from experienced riders that fork detailing has
> no appreciable effect on ride characteristics.
I agree. I think that the fork is one area that does significantly affect ride quality. Even if the vertical component of fork deflection is small, the horizontal component is at least "taking the edge off" the impact.
If you search for Jobst's comments on fork design and evolution on the bicycling newsgroups, you will find some interesting discussion about how forks progressed over the years. Most of the bikes we discuss here on the CR list are relatively new compared to the earliest bicycle designs.
If you look at turn of the century bicycles and patent applications, you'll see all sorts of fork designs and head tube angles. I think that the design we know today came from a careful examination of what worked, both in building and in riding, and what didn't. It's easy to how early builders came up with curved blades as a simple way to locate the fork tips without going to the trouble and expense of making crowns with various offsets. This made for not only easier manufacture but for easier experimentation.
Todd Kuzma
Heron Bicycles
Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery
LaSalle, IL 815-223-1776
http://www.heronbicycles.com
http://www.tullios.com