Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart

One of the issues that I sometimes have here is the difference between what the manufacturer and what some posters say is OK to do. This case of attaching a ft basket strut to a QR secured axle (and not onto a nutted axle) is such an example.

As the guy who had a target on their back for over 45 years (the target is called liability insurance and pretty much required for any true business) I made thousands of such decisions for my customers. What guided me through the possibilities of solutions (to a problem) and to what I was willing to do was considering the worse case scenarios and choosing to avoid them to the best of my ability.

Here we are asked about attaching an accessory (from a manufacturer other than the bike's) to the wheel that controls the bike's steering and control. Worst case might be the basket strut becoming loose from the QR/axle (and the number of cases of ft wheel loss during riding was what drove the CPSC to mandate secondary retention [dropout tabs as example] a requirement). This worse case might be from poor QR use, the QR end caps not fitting the strut and it's larger axle hole or some other reason. I can easily see a situation where that now freely hanging strut, from the bottom of the basket, gets entangled in the spokes and acts as a sudden lock up brake to the ft wheel. (Any one here ever watch the race scene from "Breaking Away"?). Remember that the basket will often be loaded with stuff further adding to the total weight acting on those struts. Also remember that most riders tend to take a plug and play view of this stuff and do little or no follow up monitoring or checking of attachment after initial use.

Were this to be a rear rack or rear mounted basket I would be FAR less concerned as a locked up rear wheel has a FAR less effect of steering control. But on the front, no thanks.

Related but not asked is the basket's sturdiness and stiffness. While there have been thousands of Wald (and other brands) baskets (ft and rear) sold and installed over the decades some of us have worked the LBS enough to have seen many failures too. Bad strut connections, ft baskets pressing on control cables, cracked and broken struts (usually right at the hole that was used to attach with). Thankfully I don't remember many crashes from this, as reported by customers. Still I am not one to suggest anyone else be the rider when the small odds come to be.

The best suggestion in this thread is to get a basket that is meant to better fit the OP's bike. The worst suggestions are to monkey rig the basket to what it is not intended to fit.

Please note that I have been careful to not use personal attacks or make claims of posters' personal traits. This subject is not worth getting mad about bit is VERY much worth getting right. Andy

Originally Posted by BillyD

Kontact and Koyote

You two guys need to find a way to get along. You have clearly disrupted this OP‘s thread. I would suggest you both use the ignore list, but if you insist and continue with hostilities all around the Forums, then the MOD staff will be forced to get . . . . unpleasant.

Originally Posted by BillyD

I would suggest you both use the ignore list, but ....