Why Do Lots of Carbon Forks Have Alloy Dropouts?
Moderator: robbosmans
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Some carbon forks are 100% carbon composite material. Some have alloy dropouts. But why?
Are alloy dropouts on carbon fork blades bendable with a dropout alignment tool if they are misaligned?
Are alloy dropouts on carbon fork blades bendable with a dropout alignment tool if they are misaligned?
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- lancejohnson
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They can be aligned, they can be repaired or replaced, and they can be machined more precisely than carbon can be molded so you have faster wheel changes (felt claimed that with the Garmin bikes a couple years ago anyway)...
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"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens
"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens
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I reckon they are more durable for sure!!
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No one's mentioned cheeper?
I imagine making a tube (which is what the fork blades are) is easier than making a structure where the only opening is the top of the steerer tube? That and 100% carbon forks don't appear on cheep bikes. That's not to say they're better or worse, just cheeper?
I imagine making a tube (which is what the fork blades are) is easier than making a structure where the only opening is the top of the steerer tube? That and 100% carbon forks don't appear on cheep bikes. That's not to say they're better or worse, just cheeper?
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I also think that it may be easier to construct lawyer tabs on aluminum dropouts.
I've noticed that on the last three frames that have come into my house (models from 2009, 2011, 2012), all have aluminum dropouts with large lawyer tabs. The two frames prior to that, in 05 and 07, had carbon dropouts and really no lawyer tabs.
I do kind of like the aluminum tabs as well, simply because on the nights before early races, I often will leave my bike sitting on the ground with the front wheel removed.
I've noticed that on the last three frames that have come into my house (models from 2009, 2011, 2012), all have aluminum dropouts with large lawyer tabs. The two frames prior to that, in 05 and 07, had carbon dropouts and really no lawyer tabs.
I do kind of like the aluminum tabs as well, simply because on the nights before early races, I often will leave my bike sitting on the ground with the front wheel removed.
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