I'm building up a Pake Rum Runner and have most of the parts picked out but don't know a whole lot about forks. I see the rake on the Pake Unicrown fork that it's usually matched with is a 38mm rake. Could I go less than this for tighter clearance but still make it?

I'm looking for either a steel (Not unicrown, I believe they're just called lugged) or aluminum fork. Is the steel worth the supposed more absorbing ride. Is the aluminum worth the lighter weight? I know it all depends on design more than material but I don't know which designs and brands are good and which aren't.

My price range doesn't have to be anything super cheap but nothing over $120.

Thanks for any input.

The rake of the fork makes an important difference in the handling of a bike. The tightness of clearances has almost no appreciable value for anything. Your prose was a little confusing. Do you want a unicrown fork or a lugged fork? Honestly, the pake fork seems like your best bet. Soma makes a lugged straight blade track fork with a 38mm rake.

I've had a good bit of experience with a cheap steel unicrown fork but have no other experience to compare it with. In the OP I meant that I wanted a lugged fork (due to hearing that they're better in general quality of ride and long term wear, but again I have no experience to compare with). Is there a sort of average rake (I'll be riding only on the road) that most people use for easy but quick handling, sort of an in between of the two extremes? Or does it depend more on the frame?

You should try to stay with a rake close to what the frame was designed with. When you change the rake (and nothing else) you alter the trail measurement. If you go too far in either direction you can ruin the handling. Read more about trail.

Unicrown vs lugged are not really the factors that determine ride quality. It's more about the tubing itself, tapers, and bends.

Are you racing or competing? If not, weight shouldn't be your first priority, ride quality should be.

Don't forget that your new fork should have the correct (what the frame was originally designed with) axle-to-crown measurement too.

I would personally avoid aluminum and would stick with steel or carbon (w/ alloy steerer). I had an aluminum fork on my first cyclocross bike and man it sucked (even riding on the streets).

And I'm just the opposite - I'd prefer an aluminum fork (but that said, I'm in the minority).

soma fab lugged steel fork, its 38mm rake and 90 bucks at outsideoutfitters.com

looks damn good too, me and another guy on pedal room run it on our pakes. you won't be disappointed.