[CR]Fork rake/trail still confused

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Bianca Pratorius" <biankita@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 18:05:06 -0500
Subject: [CR]Fork rake/trail still confused

As you may know I am trying to find a replacement fork for my trashed Raliegh fork. It has mid 80's twitchy geometry. The ride I prefer is more stable than was popular than the extremes we saw during the last two decades. I like the short wheelbase it has, but don't necessarily need the cushy ride provided by forks that have lots of rake. I feel that a race bike should have just enough steering stability so that you can take your hands off the bars and sit up for a bit. I could still do that on my Raliegh because the frame was so straight, but the overall effect was that a sudden breeze could send you to the pavement. I want a bit more stability than that. I have a lovely Italian fork that features more rake, but if I am to understand correctly, that a more raked fork will provide more cush but less stability. If that is the case than I should go with a fork that has less rake and therefore more trail. Will the effect than be to provide more stability? That may be the trouble with these specialized type bikes: Any less rake could shorten the wheelbase to the point where it becomes a problem, and any more could make the handling even more twitchy. Is this understanding correct? This is where it pays to choose bikes that were designed with what you had in mind in the first place.

Garth Libre in Miami Fl.