Bending fork legs
 

I have this Bridgestone 300 in my size, after I get the current project done, I was thinking of converting this to a 3 speed upright city.

The forks bother me. Would it be crazy to bend the legs to more of a curve at the tips, an inch or so further out? I don't know exactly how I would do it, but I have a vise.

Yes. You are better off getting a curvier replacement fork.

The only reason I can thing of he'd be better off is if the job gets botched. I had a CrMo Trek fork bent by a framebuilder to increase trail about 7 years ago, and it is in fine condition today, still aligned and keeping the front wheel under control. And it's far cheaper than building one or buying a new one.

there's a minor issue of raising or lowering the front end, but this won't detract much from the effect of changing rake.

have an expert bend it for you. It should cost around $40, he'll maintain alignment, and if what you want to do in particular is a bad idea, he'll tell you.

Get a replacement fork with the right rake. For that matter, dig up a frameset that was designed for that rake/trail combo.

-Kurt

I did it using a vice, wooden blocks and a piece of pipe. I needed to increase the rake of a replacement fork for a Raleigh Competition. The original for had a huge curve in it. The only problem I encountered was that the chrome was ruined and I had to grind it off and paint the fork. I didn't mind experimenting with the fork since I got it for $10 at a swap.

I only added about 10 millimeters of rake.

A bike co-op should have a cheap fork with the right rake in it already, for cheaper than a framebuilder's time I would imagine.

Thanks guys, I'll probably let this one stew for a while, maybe a better frame or fork will show, in time.

Bike co-op? I'm in Texas, I'm not sure they allow co-ops here. Maybe in Austin...