front metal basket and quick release

[Dan Daniel]

A friend had a bike shop install a front metal basket. It has flat steel going from the bottom of
the basket to the front drop outs. The front wheel has a quick release lever, and the bike shop
attached the steel plate to the drop outs by running the quick release lever through the holes in
the steel (there are no eyelets for attaching fenders or baskets on the fork).

Obviously this makes for inconvenience, but nothing major, in removing the front wheel.

But is there any danger? Will the weight of the basket, with books, groceries, etc., push the steel
against the quick release 'axle' and weaken it? Break it? Shear it off? Seems to me that using
clamps on the bottom of the fork is the way to go, but maybe I am being paranoid.

 

[A Muzi]

"Dan Daniel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A friend had a bike shop install a front metal basket. It has flat steel going from the bottom of
> the basket to the front drop outs. The front wheel has a quick release lever, and the bike shop
> attached the steel plate to the drop outs by running the quick release lever through the holes in
> the steel (there are no eyelets for attaching fenders or baskets on the fork).
>
> Obviously this makes for inconvenience, but nothing major, in removing the front wheel.
>
> But is there any danger? Will the weight of the basket, with books, groceries, etc., push the
> steel against the quick release 'axle' and weaken it? Break it? Shear it off? Seems to me that
> using clamps on the bottom of the fork is the way to go, but maybe I am being paranoid.

I've seen that done by the local hack LBS.

Here, as at many conscientious (read: anal) LBS, the rule is nothing on axles - nutted or Q/R. No
fender mounts, no newsboy baskets, no racks. We drill frame ends, add wiring harness bands, make
clamps or what ever is needed to keep accessories off axles. Mounting crud on axles makes puncture
repair needlessly complex and looks ugly. I leave the classsic Chicago Schwinn mudguard stays on
axles but I don't like 'em.

I have to admit that a careful positioning would not actually be unsafe but you gotta concede the
ugliness of it.

--
Andrew Muzi http://www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April 1971