(Stergios=A0Papadakis) wrote:
snipped

I'm with Jobst. The simplest calculation
shows that normal braking forces put a
load on the axle that is larger than the
ISO standard which the skewers are
designed to. That should be the end of
the discussion.

The fact that certain skewers, when used
on certain forks, exceed the standard by
enough that failures don't happen daily is
irrelevant. Nobody can know which
combinations are safe and which aren't
unless all permutations are tested. That
would obviously be stupid. Standards are
created in order to make such
foolishness unnecessary.

Fork makers, put the caliper where it
belongs and be done with it. Then, your
marketing division can come up with an
ad explaining how the altered CG of the
fork improves both control when
descending and front-wheel traction
when climbing.

Stergios

The only _other_ solutions would be to add a cap to the end of the
dropouts, look at a motorcycle fork for a heavyweight example of this,
or some sort of "locking skewer" that _couldn't_ unscrew without some
voluntary action by the rider first. Maybe something along the lines of
the freehub lockring?

But I also agree with Jobst. simply putting the brake calipers in front
would be the easiest solution. And you don't need any calculations to
see this, it can be easily demonstrated. Hold your arms out in front of
your body, like a front fork, hold a wheel in your hands and spin it
"forwards".

Now have someone grab the spokes where the present location of a disk
brake caliper would be. You can feel the axle trying to pull itself
downwards, out of your hands! Now, in your imagination, add the inertia
of the bike, rider, etc...

Now try the same thing again, but this time have him grab the wheel in
"front" of your arms.

Repositioning the calipers wouldn't cause any problems with retrofit on
older frames, as the brake mounting has nothing whatsoever to do with
the attachment of the forks to the frame. The brake may end up on the
opposite side of the front wheel than the back, but that would ba a
small price to pay, I would think.

Sure, many front disks haven't evicted their wheels, but many Ford
Pintos didn't explode, either!

May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!
Chris

Chris'Z Corner
"The Website for the Common Bicyclist":
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner