fork mod question re handling

[FarHorizon]

I originally posted this question in the recumbent forum, but there isn't a lot of traffic there. I'm hoping that frame builders, being highly technically astute regarding geometry questions, might be able to provide insight.

My SWB recumbent was originally designed with 650c wheels and a fork with no rake. I'm replacing the fork and wheels with 26" MTB stuff so it'll be durable enough to handle my weight.

The problem is that my (rigid) MTB fork has some rake, and the original fork didn't. If I mount this new fork "conventionally" (with the fork rake in the direction of bike travel), I'll have less trail, making a bike that some already call "squirrely-handling" even more so.

Might I mount the fork "backwards" (with the fork rake pointing toward the REAR of the bike)? If I do so, I increase the trail significantly, thus (theoretically) increasing the bike's straight-line stability. On the other hand, an already SWB bike becomes even shorter wheelbase via this modification. Will the increased stability from more steering trail be completely offset by the shorter wheelbase?

Other considerations: The new MTB fork is bossed for "V" brakes. Can I just mount the brake shoes backward as well and have this contraption work properly?

Thanks!

[Peterpan1]

I have a SWB recumbent, so I think I understand what you are talking about. I think your better bet might be to try to straighten out the bend in your forks. It can certainly be hand bent in ,so why not hand bend it out? Try one blade at a time, and if you can find something else to clamp on other than just ripping on the steerer, it might turn out better. I'm sure you could get more people to comment on taking rake out than on recumbent geometry.

My main worry about the flip it around thing is it would be such a HUGE change in trail, and would raise the front a little.

[FarHorizon]

If I straighten the fork by cold-setting, then the front of the bike will be MUCH higher! I don't think that is a viable option...

I would buy a straight fork with no rake if I could, but it would have to be 1" threadless steer tube and I've not seen any of those. Do you know where I might find one?

[Peterpan1]

"If I straighten the fork by cold-setting, then the front of the bike will be MUCH higher! I don't think that is a viable option..."

Well it should be about 1/2 the elevation you get by reversing it. I did a run at it in a cad drawing I have of a 26" tourer with 1.5 inch wheels, and 50mm of rake. 12.6" forward, 11.4" with the curve straightened out, and 10.9" with the thing reversed. So the bike height goes up 1.2 iches witht he straightened fork, and 1.7" with it reversed. That's a 70 degree tube angle which makes maters worse. In this case the trail is 1.96 with the forward podition, and 6.7 with the reverse.

[FarHorizon]

...Well it should be about 1/2 the elevation you get by reversing it...

Understood. Thanks!