Originally Posted by
Duragrouch
Your reasoning is sound. Good to know. I'm not really a fan of the front block due to the short bolt span and long load cantilever, unless very low weight; I have a front rack with panniers and I think it's more sound to put loads on the top platform of the rack. That said, I do like that the front block load is not steered mass, if you're going for nimble steering.
The ultimate question is not whether the plastic material block is stronger, sturdier than the Al-alloy alternatives. It's a good question, but not the one that matters in the final analysis. The ultimate question is whether the Al-alloy front blocks are strong, sturdy enough. I don't have a data-based answer to that question, but at least I have identified the
right question. You are an engineer, are you not?