Originally Posted by
Pompiere
I think the straps were more popular in the early days, when the only trails available weren't made with bikes in mind. The bikes weren't as capable either, so carrying the bike over rough terrain or obstacles was more common.
Correct. Based on my spotty memory, this would have been seen most in the years before suspension forks. The strap and fork aren't related, or exclusive of each other. I'm just thinking about the historical timeline.