Touring - front pannier racks on carbon forks?

Does anybody know how well or poorly front pannier racks perform on carbon fiber forks? My wife is intrested in purchasing a Bianchi Axis cross bike with a carbon fork. She's mostly going to commute, but we're going to tour as well. Any advice?
thanks for the help - dahveed

Similar to what I posted in your question about Cannondales...

We have tried this as well, on Cannondale R400 and R600. It does not work.

We could not get the rack tight enough to not wiggle without risking crushing the carbon.

I have had several of our leaders come with carbon forks, and some of them just get rear panniers with a super-size handlebar bag, and some with $$$ opt to get a trailer.

The consequence (dental surgery) of a failed carbon fork is not worth the risk.

Tim

If you want to use a front rack, then you must get a fork designed for one. The Fuji World comes with a carbon fork that has attatchment points for a rack.
Thorn in the UK developed a Carbon touring fork that is stronger than a racing fork but it is heavier than their lightest steel fork.

http://www.fujibikes.com/road/bike.asp?category_short_name=road&myArray=87,88,89,90,91,92,93,102,94,95,96,103,97,104,106,99,98,100,105,101,107,108,109,112,110,111,1 13,114&myArrayID=14&yr=2004

If you want to use a front rack, then you must get a fork designed for one. The Fuji World comes with a carbon fork that has attatchment points for a rack.
Thorn in the UK developed a Carbon touring fork that is stronger than a racing fork but it is heavier than their lightest steel fork.

http://www.fujibikes.com/road/bike.asp?category_short_name=road&myArray=87,88,89,90,91,92,93,102,94,95,96,103,97,104,106,99,98,100,105,101,107,108,109,112,110,111,1 13,114&myArrayID=14&yr=2004

I have a 2004 Fuji World which I toured with in France for 6 weeks with front & rear panniers. The attachments for the panniers worked fine. About 3 weeks into the trip fine cracking appeared at the interface between the crown and the forks themselves. Fortunately these did not get any worse and after a period of apathy on my part (and some 4,000km later) I finally organised their replacement under warranty recently. That bit was fine, until the replacements arrived. The had no mounting points for the panniers!!!!! It seems they may have dropped them for the 2005 model. I am now riding these temporarily while awaiting for some resolution as I bought the bike for loaded touring..... I've thought about changing to steel, but prefer to stick with how the bike came as I enjoyed the ride so much and don't really want to change the charateristics too much.

The LHT has a steel fork with mount points for a rack. :) I'd be afraid of carbon failure trying to clamp something to it, and from the sounds of it, the Fuji fork wasn't the best idea. IMHO you cannot go wrong with a purpose built touring frameset for commuting/touring/general purpose use. My racks are hanging on the wall of the garage right now while in commuter mode.