Thanks for the thoughtful reply, including the joke. I have found that the infamous shimmy debate re the kog etc is a function of what kind of rack connection one has on the front fork; if it was attached to the front brake bolt, and one had a slightly wobbly load = easy to shimmy. Notable exception, nitto m12 rack which has a robust connection compared to the mark's rack or other flat strut connected racks, which tend to pivot around the attaching point). And, on the Kog, if one used the 2 top mounted fork bolt attachment point - no shimmy no matter what the load, unless one worked at inducing it intentionally.So re front loading on longer trail bikes, I've been very careful with that, ie getting the rack properly (to my way of thinking) connected.
So I'm not so concerned with shimmy, because with the right rack / rack attaching, I think it's a moot point (also how much time does one spend riding at high speed with a heavy front load (look ma, no hands?)). Back to my original ellipitcal question...what's gonna happen if I swap out a fork, and i guess the answer is that I'd have to find out myself? Which then leads to part 2...where to get the right fork...I guess back to the Kog list? (ie rather than having a costly one built for $350 just as a trial?). I have 3 bikes in rotation right now; the kog with it's custom front rack, a Saluki with a velo orange front rack / (which I put up for sale as it's overkill for me, no need for decaleur etc etc), and a Bob Jackson with a front rack and medium sized basket. The Saluki and the Jackson with my standard front load (10 lbs of my daily stuff) - not great when climbing out of the saddle, or making high speed turns. So that must be the issue of trail (nb, a nice issue to have...oh dear, trail is effecting my carrying of 10 - 20 lbs of 2009 era acoutremont). On Dec 18, 11:13 am, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <[email protected]> wrote: > rb: There was a discussion herein maybe a year ago about a guy who > experienced some handling issues (shimmy?) with his Atlantis when > front-loaded and riding at high-speed no-handed, and I seem to recall > that he either re-raked the fork, got a new fork, or both, to achieve > low trail, and he reported that the handling was more to his liking as > a result. Later he got a custom bike built that was apparently the > answer to all his front-loading/no-handed goals, but, curiously, the > custom bike had fairly high fork trail... > > On Dec 18, 5:48 am, rb <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Good point, ie how much weight and for how long - for me, it's 10 > > bulky pounds normally, and then a few times a week closer to 20 lbs. > > For approx 20 very hilly miles, but continuous, so not a lot of start > > and stop; so I really notice the trail and steering issues when > > climbing 10 - 13% grades standing with 20 lbs in the front. With those > > 20lbs on a back rack (and sometimes more, ie up to 35 lbs) I feel the > > corresponding to front wheel flop sensation on the back, ie the weight > > flopping the bike back and forth from the rear. The front load on low > > trail allows one to subtly compensate for this, so there is not a > > waggle all over the road. So....what'll happen if I replace the fork > > (a bolt of lightening perhaps from Riv HQ?) > > > On Dec 18, 12:53 am, amoll68 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Beautiful machine, Brian. Thanks for sharing. > > > > ATMO, medium trail is smart design. How much weight do you really > > > carry up front, and for how long? When I put a half-rack of beer up > > > front, I'm usually only carrying it for a mile or so. When unloaded, > > > or lightly loaded (which is most of the time for me,) medium trail > > > works great. I front-load my AHH and most of my other bikes - works > > > just dandy. Trail is an important part of the equation, but it's not > > > the only factor involved. > > > > Thanks again Brian. > > > > R/ Alex -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
