Drilling the fork U-bridge
 

I have an old bike with a Rock Shox Judy suspension fork. I want to mount a fender on it, but the existing threaded hole on the U-bridge has stripped. Can I drill the hole clear through for a mounting bolt and expect the bridge to still be stong enough?

TIA.

http://www.zipcon.net/~louie32/bike/DSCF3720b.jpg

Go for it. I'm not a rock shox lawyer, but I would do it to mine if I were in your boat. Looks like the V-brake cable clearance might be an issue from your pic though.

I say just drill it and put a nut on the back. My Sr Suntour fork has no threads in the U-bridge.

If you're worried about it being strong enough you could always get one of those brake boosters to reinforce it.

http://www.bikepro.com/products/brak...kg_booster.jpg

... Or get a fender designed for suspension forks like Topeak's defender that has an expander plug which installs in the underside of fork steerer. No clearance issues to deal with.

http://www.topeak.com/2007/products/...defenderfx.php

Why not re-tap the hole? A new tap is just a couple of bucks at your local hardware or home improvement store. Lp

mac & spinz: I'm citifying the bike and would prefer a full fender. Also, I figure retapping the hole would still be no stronger than the original that stripped, and cost more (tap vs. new bolt). Finding the right metric bottom tap might be much harder than a tru tap.

Thanks for all the thoughts.

Just find a bolt or a screw that slides through the hole...add a few washers and a nut and that will be strong enough to hold a fender, reflector and it's bracket, and whatever you want to hang off there. No need to over think it.

Right now, the hole doesn't go all the way through the bridge.

Ahhh...I see...then you can either use a self-tapping bolt/screw, tap the hole to the next size bolt (SAE or Metric), or take the fork off and drill the hole straight through with a drill press (at least I would to keep things lined up and not oval the original hole which might happen with a hand drill).

Use a zip tie, then add a mud flap with duct tape and you have added a touch of trash to a cityfied bike, the more the trash the smaller the lock you need to pack.

Coroplast and zipties for everything from fenders to racks to cargo boxes. ;)

ok now you have to show me how to make a coroplast rack!

Well, you need enough to basically make multiple racks, each inside the other, with the corrugations alternating for strength.

The design would be pretty much the same as a rack made from strap steel.

Something like these:
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/images/Front_Rack.JPGhttp://www.bicyclinglife.com/images/Rear_Rack.JPG

And instead of zipties I'd recommend Mr. McGroovy's Box Rivets.

Now bear in mind that it wont last forever and I wouldn't use it for touring but if you engineer it right it should be able to take a 12-pack or some groceries.