If I remember my frame stuff right an older Raleigh should have about 73 degrees of head angle. To get it to ride well (Neutral handling) he would need about 1 3/4 to 2 inches of rake.
Any frame builders want to weigh in?
Steve Leitgen La Crosse, WI
On Nov 7, 2005, at 5:40 PM, dddd wrote:
> The reduction of a few mm of rake (offset) will have a very small %
> effect on wheelbase, but a relatively much larger % effect on the
> trail.
>
> As always, a smooth and free-turning headset is most crucial to
> hands-off riding. Many headsets are carefully adjusted with front
> wheel and bars removed, yet the mechanic doesn't secure a quill in the
> steerer when performing the adjustment. Result is often binding and
> quickly brinnelled headset races. Ouch.
>
> David "who trashed a NOS Dura-Ace headset once and still cringes"
> Snyder
>
> Auburn, CA USA
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bianca Pratorius"
> <biankita@earthlink.net>
> 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.