[VaughnA]

I wonder how this fine piece of GMC machinery handles. The fork seems a little funky to me;-) I'm sure this guy thinks his new trek handles just a little better. This guy is lucky he didn't kill himself if he actually rode this thing


Link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nearly-New-GMC-...234598142QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[sol 518]

Maybe it's more aerodynamic that way. With the brake in the slipstream.

 

[Friction_Shifter]

the Klein in Seinfeld had the fork on backwards for a number of seasons.

 

[JP]

I think I need to tell him before someone gets hurt...

 

[estone2]

shite.

 

[FatTireFred]

what's so special about that? you'll see one every day in Walmarts across America........

 

[Visitor302]

Some us in the BMX world did experiment with the break calipers monted on the back side of the fork.... The thought was that they would be less prone to breaking off.
When you think about it, it sort of makse scence. Here's the thery..... When you pull the break, the rotation of the wheel pulls the break forward into nothingness. By mounting them behind the fork, when the rotation of the wheel pulls on the break, it actuly pushes it into the back of the fork, thus the fork makes a kind of brace for the arms of the caliper.
However,,, A neighbor of mine tryed this, and one day the center-bolt snaped off, and the whole deal wedged it's self in betwen the fork and the wheel, causing the poor guy to do his "Super Man impresion".....

 

[txgal]

My friend bought a walmart bike, put it together himself, and did this same thing. He crashed about 5 times riding it to and from campus in one day.

 

[handsomerob]

Can you imagine riding in your group and someone on this trainwreck asks to ride with you....

How did he get through 2 "mini" Tri's without someone clueing him in. With the nose of the saddle pointing at the sky, maybe he didn't have a line of sight in front of him

 

[JaeP]

A famous frame builder

Some us in the BMX world did experiment with the break calipers monted on the back side of the fork.... The thought was that they would be less prone to breaking off.
When you think about it, it sort of makse scence. Here's the thery..... When you pull the break, the rotation of the wheel pulls the break forward into nothingness. By mounting them behind the fork, when the rotation of the wheel pulls on the break, it actuly pushes it into the back of the fork, thus the fork makes a kind of brace for the arms of the caliper.
However,,, A neighbor of mine tryed this, and one day the center-bolt snaped off, and the whole deal wedged it's self in betwen the fork and the wheel, causing the poor guy to do his "Super Man impresion".....

There's a frame builder from Philly (I believe) who fashoins the rear brake caliper in this fashion. I can't remember his name but I think it was something like Hoovian.

 

[LBK]

I wonder how this fine piece of GMC machinery handles. The fork seems a little funky to me;-) I'm sure this guy thinks his new trek handles just a little better. This guy is lucky he didn't kill himself if he actually rode this thing


Link:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Nearly-New-GMC...234598142QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Maybe the owner wanted to copy this

 

[iliveonnitro]

Maybe the owner wanted to copy this

Sweet bike. It's always been an idea of mine to find a way to mount the brakes at the back, I didn't know some people/bikes actually did and were designed for this.

 

[comsense]

Brits used to do it

I remember seeing several Brit T T bikes in the '70s with the brakes behind the forks.
I think Dave Lloyd ( if I remember properly he rode for Team Raleigh at one stage) had a bike like that.

 

[bwana]

Actually, it puts the front brake in the same relative position as the rear brake. The frame has to be designed to accomodate the brake as it clearly is on that BH. Of course, I don't think that was quite the intention or the design with that GMC. More dangerous yet, I'm pretty sure that I read they have split handlebars!

 

[VaughnA]

Actually, it puts the front brake in the same relative position as the rear brake. The frame has to be designed to accomodate the brake as it clearly is on that BH. Of course, I don't think that was quite the intention or the design with that GMC. More dangerous yet, I'm pretty sure that I read they have split handlebars!

Yes this is the famous Walmart split handlebar & gripshift bike. They split the handlebar to put the 7 speed gripshifts on the bars. I've seen several mountain bikes in local Walmarts & Dick's sporting goods with the bars on upside down or backwards. I've even seen a backwards fork in an ad or two in the paper. That's why I go to the LBS...

 

[Cheezhead]

There's a frame builder from Philly (I believe) who fashoins the rear brake caliper in this fashion. I can't remember his name but I think it was something like Hoovian.

Harry Havnoonian. Local Philly frame builder. He has some intresting designs.

 

[ashpelham]

I just have to bring this old thread back to life. Does it ever cross your mind that OTHER things Wal mart sells might be faulty, or bad, but we just don't know about it, because we're not enthusiasts or educated in that product? For instance, I doubt someone who is very skilled at computers or is a computer afficiando would buy a PC from Wal Mart, right? Same with a cyclist, we wouldn't buy a GMC bike.

Split handlebars....wow....I think some things were designed by trial lawyers for the benefit of creating more business..

 

[spookyload]

Lets not forget the brake pads will do everything in their power to try and remove themselves from the brake shoes.

 

[tobu]

But imagine the increased stability of a bike with little or negative fork rake.... I wonder if I could ride it no handed, no legged and blind folded....

 

[Guest]

LOL

Probably not very comfortable on the hoods either unless you have superbendy wrists.