Fender stays from bicycle forks

I plan to run a set of Mark Bull's excellent quality cycle wings on my Modified (I know that it's easier these days to run open wheels in the UK but I'm going to take it France and I can do without the h***le from the French Police).

I've been thinking about how to do the fender stays and I think that heavy round bar or strap can look a little agricultural - OK if you like that look or are going to leave the cycle wings off more than they're on - but I'm looking for something a little sleeker.

I'd seen some references to Aussie rodders using bicycle forks but not seen any photos. Nevertheless I decided to give it a try. I thought that the best sort of forks would be from an old sit up and beg Raleigh as they'd be more substantial. I found someone dealing in vintage bicycle parts on eBay and bought 2 pairs of forks for £10 inc p&p. Doesn't matter if they aren't both the same as you will split the blades.

They arrived yesterday and they seem absolutely ideal - the material is thick and the curve and taper of the forks is very elegant. The fork blades themselves are oval in cross section but even that is complex as they are rounded on the outside and flat on the side that goes next to the wheel.

I've laid them out with the mudguard so you can get an idea of what they'll look like. I will need to make a fixing point at the wide end, a lug in the middle for a second bolt and weld an appropriately shaped length of strap to the drop out to bolt on the fender.

I'll start in on them tomorrow and post pics.

 

Someone ued rifle barrels and i thought they looked great, nice taper. Study fome Bugatti GP cars with wings for ideas.

 

Nice idea...I'm watching

 

That's just cool.

 

Don't you guys over there have any rebar?

 

they look ideal....nice curve to them .....the fat end on the backers has enough depth for a good bushing ....they should work well and be reliable

 

That's what I was thinking - if I make a shoulder on the bushing I can then space it off as needs be... I'll probably link the two struts with a curved length of strap.

Have you been reading those tech tips in Ol Skool Rods? If I used thin rebar I could do it in a spider web stylee - I'll just see if American Chopper is on so I can pick up some tips on that. Or maybe email Paul Jnr direct...... ;-)

 

Don't forget the Maltese crosses.

 

Yes - that's what I thought. I think these are 1940's or earlier so unlikely to be chromoly. They are certainly a much heavier gauge than modern bicycle tubing.

 

Finally got around to putting this idea into practice - a newborn, another project and 6 months in hospital will slow you down....

Just finished the front drivers side fender stay - seven more to go!! I've just started working full time on the Modified so hoping to see some real progress now.

The fasteners will be changed for something more in keeping and I will probably link the upper and lower stays using 5mm round bar. Fender will sit straight when the lower stay is done and it is all bolted up.









To the guy who suggested rebar and maltese crosses - sorry, it hasn't turned out like you were hoping....

 

stealing this idea for sure. i even got a bunch of old bike forks lying around in my shed

 

Feel free - I'll post some how to pictures when I do the next ones.

What you have to watch out for is that the forks are usually brazed into the crown - you need to cut that bit off because you can't weld stuff that's previously been brazed (not easily anyway). You can re-braze it though.

 

That looks so good it almost makes a person want to run fenders. Smart idea.

Don

 

Finished the drivers side today;


Couldn't resist shooting some primer on to see what it'll look like in paint.


Going to paint the drums silver so I can pretend they're Alfins.


Front view - note the scoops.


Side view - sort of... Not much room in the workshop


Sits nice and close to the Deluxe Champions.


Sits nice and straight - more by luck than design ;-)

 

REALLY good idea. Looks great...better than round tubing, and much stronger and less flexy than flat stock. I happen to like the "cycle" style fenders made from vintage spare tire rings...at least on the front.

 

Great idea, but that is some serious toe-in you are runnin' there!
That's gonna drive like a *****!!
Yehaaaaa!

 

It's Ackermann - the other wheel is dead straight ;-)

I've got everything disconnected so I could have the fender stays, wheels and backing plate on and off easily. Must have ***embled and dis***embled 50 times getting it all to sit in the right places.

 

Great idea! Good work.

 

I saw so many broken brackets and chunks missing from backing plates, back in the 60s.


I honestly think the drilled outer edges of the plates will make it crack even sooner. Just keep an eye on it, because I'd be shocked if it never cracks.

But they do look nice, and fit sweet

 

Great idea! Looks very sturdy. If it helps anyone else having the same idea I have buckets of old forks I have no use for. Most are forged with flat blades. PM or e-mail me.

 

It's work worth doing. Look at the result!
I especially like the transition from the fork tubing to the cantilever-shaped flat over the tread.
Aesthetics abound! (Ackermann excessive) chuckle optional...

 

when I read "bicycle forks" I pictured the old Schwinn style with the flat blades rather than tube forks.

 

Very cool. I have cycle fenders in my future, these look really swoopy. I'll also be ripping this idea off, for sure. Nicest looking stays I have seen in a while.

 

Just noticed the air scoops on the backing plates as well. Have you been reading my mind, or have I been reading yours. NICE!

 

Shut him up in a hurry.

 

I need to drill a few more holes behind them now that everything is positioned.

 

Not got a lot of choice about adding the brackets - got to run fenders over here. In the UK people run fenderless and take a chance. Many get away with it or just get a small fine. I want to take the car to Le Mans and the French police will confi****e a fenderless car if they want to.

The backing plates are not rare parts so I can keep an eye out for cracks and remake them if necessary. I'm wondering if it would be worth de-brittling these parts by heating to 220c for 3 hours (I think that's right - would appreciate advice from any expert on this process).

 

I grew up when fenders were a must have, as far as the law, so I love them. Especially the spare tire rings like yours, with bobbed stock rears.

I just try to read all the styles of brackets, but it seems like we are fighting physics

I did recently have some front and rear backing plates that came off a 50s built 34 coupe and big chunks were missing on the edges. But those were welded on. I even thought some sort of thin rubber washers might help, but it seems like you "fix" one area, and it cracks someplace else.

Like I say, I love the look. I would not build a fenderless car, because I never saw them here, back then, and it does not look familiar to me


Ha, one local old time hamber has a 50s built A roaster, and one spare-tire type rear fender broke part-way off, going over a very long busy city bridge. He said it got hung up under the tire, so as he could not stop there, he had to keep driving, spinning and s****ing, till he could pull over in a safe spot.

he later took the other rear off when at home.

He still is missing his rears, but the fronts seem OK.