Replace fork to carry panniers?
Hello everyone.
My carbon fork doesn't have rack mounts, and I was wondering about replacing it for one which has them.
Do you think it's worth it? Or there are simpler solutions? I know you can't attach hose clamps to carbon tubes. Carbon forks are quite expensive, and while I could try to sell mine, which has about 15.000 km, I'm not sure there is much market for that. I could also attach a bag to the handlebar, but that seems less practical when traveling; I could use a bag for the frame, but it's smaller, and both solutions make the bike's barycenter higher than panniers on the fork.
Also if I indeed choose to buy one, is the size and shape important? Or it's just enough that it's tapered and that it fits to my 28" wheels? I wrote to the manufacturer (Conway), and, to my amazement, they answered they don't have the specs for their own forks, as they get them from another supplier.
Thank you.