Hfn

I recently joined the forums here looking for a safe place to hang out and maybe find like minded people, too.

I thought I would relay what happened to my bike after I had put a homemade rack on the front.

I guess going over bumps without me being able to relieve weight on the front fork caused it to bend back some.

That caused the steering to be affected in a bad way. The caster, I think was lost and the bike was hard to steer. Normally the steering wants to slightly settle straight ahead. But mine wanted to settle to either side.

Fortunately, I had an old car on hand along with a concrete building block and some dimensional lumber. I was able to jam the forks both together at the same time under the bumper and push hard on the rear homemade wooden rack to undo the bend.

ironwood

How much weight did you put on the front rack? What kind of fork is it? Pics would help.

mulveyr 

People have been front-loading bikes for many, many decades without issue; problems with it are all but non-existent when carrying reasonable loads. I'm with @ironwood ; I'd like to see what kind of setup and weight would actually bend a fork.

Hfn

I would call it a classic ten speed type of fork. I hope it is OK to mention that my bikes, except one Roadmaster, are Huffies. I'm not sure about their reputation, but they have always been my favorite. I put about 12 pounds on there, an Omni 10, once when I had two melons, I think it was a honeydew and a cantaloupe. I seem to recall when it got bent carrying them. I went up a rounded curb pretty hard then, but wasn't going fast, about 8 miles an hour. The fork seemed to move back, and the bike slowed down some, too. That was with about 30 pounds on the rear as well, and I weighed about 140 lbs. I don't think it was the fork tines themselves that bent, but the spot near the lower head bearing. I feel reassured some that other people haven't had it happen to them.

Hfn

It seems like my estimate of 12 pounds seems like it shouldn't have hurt it, but maybe a rounded four inch curb could cause some trouble.

When I just eyeballed the fork, it looked bent back just a bit. I wasn't really sure, so I measured the distance between the end of the fork and the crank housing. Then I compared that my older looking bike of the same type that I had good steering on. The bent back one was about 3/4 inch less.

I have taken the rack off. I can try to get some pictures and put them up in a couple of days.

Hfn

Photos. The front rack used to be attached with rebar tie wire like the rear still is. I just set it back in the former mounting spot temporarily.

It occurred to me how the fork assembly got bent in more detail. When I hit the curb with the two melons on the front and 30 (or maybe 25) more pounds on the rear rack (in a cardboard box), plus my 140lbs, the momentum of the rear luggage drove the rear forward while the front was kind of pinned down by the front weight. It went beyond the elastic point of the front fork assembly, bending it.

ironwood

Were the melons organic or conventional?

Hfn

That sounds interesting that you ask. Most stuff I get is conventional. However, the celery that I bought today was organic. Usually I would probably get organic if it is similarly priced as conventional and the quality seems similar.

Photo of the box I carry produce in. It gets strapped to cross sticks on the racks. The racks and those hold down sticks on the box are Amir honeysuckle.

The other rack is on the older looking Omni 10. That particular Huffy has had worn-out sprockets and chain. I put a less worn rear wheel on and a new chain, yet the mesh is pretty poor. The pedaling effort is much greater than on my less used factory original bicycles.

ironwood

Non organic melons have been known to weaken bicycle forks. The pesticide residue weakens the steel. You should have wrapped the fork with duct tape, that would have prevented the pesticide residue from damaging the fork, and keep it from bending.

Maybe you can make a video of yourself riding the bike with the loaded racks.

FBOATSB

Well I for one applaud your resourcefulness, Hfn, in getting your bike work done! I hope you get your fork straightened out!

ironwood

Have you thought about patenting the design of these racks? If so do, it quick before a big company does.

Hfn

I could maybe try that if I had a camera that could mount on something like handlebars.

Hfn

I really appreciate that! The fork seems to be doing good since I undid the bend caused by the curb that time when I was riding back from the produce shop.

Hfn

Thank you! I think I have quite a few things that I think could be marketed if circumstances were more helpful in that regard.

mulveyr 

Perfect for camping in the outback; if you get desperate for warmth, you could burn the racks!

Rollfast

Hermiston seedless.

Staypuft1652

Not at all trying to be rude, I don't know your financial situation, but alot of people (including myself) have great luck with old 90's rigid mountain bikes, for carrying loads. They can usually be found pretty cheap. They work surprisingly well with non-knobby tires. I have had alot more success carrying loads on the rear though, or in a used child carrying trailer. Ten speeds don't have the strongest front forks to begin with from the best of my knowledge. Also carrying weight in the front, the lower the load, the better.

Edit: Also no offense, but your racks look possibly dangerous.

I have an old sturdy seatpost rack I've had over 30 lbs on, if you could use it.

Rowan

I like resourcefulness and inventiveness, but this is positively scary. Right down to the rear derailleur cable routing.

Hfn

Thank you. Depends on a person's life and how hard it is in general, and probably other things too. What could be scary for one person might be relatively minor for another.

Rowan

No. Not in this case. You've already proved it.

Hfn

A combination of economy, lightness and ruggedness are some things I need I in a bicycle. I also like high maneuverability, and the old style drop handlebars are good for that there.

The racks have been doing very good service for me. The first one has been working well for about twenty five years now. The bark is still on the sticks in that first one.

I am working on one now that holds a twenty by twelve inch box. It will be the lightest weighing one.

Hfn

Not sure what you mean, but you sure sound mean.

Rowan

Why do I sure sound mean? That is a really rude thing to say to someone who is trying to point out to you that what you have done, while creative and inventive, appears likely to be a danger to you.

Incidentally, I would suggest that the damage you have done to your fork might well be more severe than you think. Seeing the bend appears to have occurred at the crown, and you have bent it back, somehow, there is a good chance you have damaged the weld. Plus, I would be looking very closely for any deformation in the downtube and toptube right behind the steerer tube.

Comparing one bike's dimensions with another also is not a clue to the appropriate alignment that you have undertaken on another bike.

However, I find that when people start with the "you're mean" line, they don't really want to hear anything that goes against what they believe and what they have done.

Therefore, do what you like, even if it might hurt you.

Have a nice day.

Hfn

Thank you. Creativity is something I value.

When I bent it back, the resistance didn't drop off. That is a sign the metal wasn't fatigued.

My life is full dangers I try to balance as best I can with mitigations.

Have a nice day also.

ironwood

To my eyes, it looks good to go. Well maybe a little duct tape here and there.