Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Windsor Death Forks!

So i'm picking up some parts at one of the LBS here in the berkeley area, and my late model windsor fixed is leaning up against a wall near the front of the shop...Some guy (Really nice guy, in case he's reading...) saw my ride and we started talking about it.

it's got an odd paint job but nice chrome lugs, and i guess it caught his eye...long story short, he asked me about the fork. he said that sheldon had a bunch of info on some "windsor death fork" that crapped out at particularly inopportune times.

i looked both here on BF and on sheldon's site, but found no info on the supposed death fork.

i just set up a front brake, and i know it'll be putting added stress on the fork, and i'd like not to experience this death fork. (unless of course it comes with a two drink minimum...)

any info?

Is it anything like a death star?

oh, here's my ride btw. in case y'all are wondering.

Is it anything like a death star?

Hardly. Who'd complain about a little death star?

I'm not sure if yours is a "death fork" but they do indeed exist. It was one of the first major recalls in cycling apparently. I thought they were found on Viscounts though...not Windsors.

well, from what i can see it looks like that fork has aluminum dropouts and crown, right? bonded to some other material somehow? i suppose the bondage (haha) point could be a weak spot, especially with a brake, perhaps? i dunno... you should ask a real mechanic or windsor or something.

From Sheldon Brown's site:

"Lambert/Viscount

A British "aerospace" bike. No great value, but some models had fairly nice, light fillet-brazed frames. Don't ride one if it has the notorious aluminum "death fork." See the Lambert article on this site"

The guy in the LBS is speaking outta his butt.

FWIW I commuted on a Viscount with death fork and
didnt die, nor did I die learning rollers.

From Sheldon Brown's site:

"Lambert/Viscount

A British "aerospace" bike. No great value, but some models had fairly nice, light fillet-brazed frames. Don't ride one if it has the notorious aluminum "death fork." See the Lambert article on this site"


Aargh. I searched only for "Windsor Death Fork" not just any ol' death fork.

Thanks all for the info...Will keep it in mind, and won't be running to replace said death star, err, fork, anytime soon.

I use the ole "death fork" story with every bike owner I encounter.

Use the fork luke!

Those forks had a tendency to separate at the crown. It MIGHT be ok, but would you really want to chance it?

I'm not sure if yours is a "death fork" but they do indeed exist. It was one of the first major recalls in cycling apparently. I thought they were found on Viscounts though...not Windsors.

- had one... rode it is San Francisco from Nob Hill down to Financial District and back every day for nearly four years in late '70s... (also did many trips over Golden Gate to Marin and back)...

- left my Viscount (wonderfully light chro-mo frame) sitting by a dumpster in Arlington, Va. on Aug. 11, 2004 and i've never seen it since...

:-(

Nice looking bike but your kickstand is to big, how do you carry that thing around?

:lol: :lol: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :lol: :)
Use the fork luke!

does someone need a track fork? holla back.