Would anyone buy an undrilled carbon fork with an integrated removeable Keirin brake?

Like it says in the title, is this something anyone would be interested in. I haven't got one to sell at the moment, just had a bit of an idea for a design and wanted to guage interest before taking it any further. If I do take it any further I will of course post details here :)

hmmmmm, not sure the top off the legs would be a good place on carbon legs for a clamp.

What's the point?

Most aftermarket undrilled carbon forks look like they can be drilled anyway, sounds like a solution in search of a problem.

Surely the best place to integrate a brake would be to drill a hole through the top of the forks?

Not going to lie, principle purpose would be aesthetic, a lot of people just seem to like the look of a track fork without a brake hole, but the idea would also be that you could ride to the track and take off the brake to ride on the track. I thought that was the whole idea of the Kierin brake thing. I realise that it's realy not that difficult to undo a standard brake and take it of, this would just be a bit quicker and a bit more elegant, but like you say this could very much be a solution in search of a problem, which is why I floated the idea here :)

hmmmmm, not sure the top off the legs would be a good place on carbon legs for a clamp.

Have a cunning plan to make this clampless because absolutely a clamp and carbon would be a very bad idea.

won't be quicker, you'll have two bolts and clamps to remove, as opposed to one little bolt.

What's the point?

yeah, and you?

Not going to lie, principle purpose would be aesthetic, a lot of people just seem to like the look of a track fork without a brake hole, but the idea would also be that you could ride to the track and take off the brake to ride on the track. I thought that was the whole idea of the Kierin brake thing. I realise that it's realy not that difficult to undo a standard brake and take it of, this would just be a bit quicker and a bit more elegant, but like you say this could very much be a solution in search of a problem, which is why I floated the idea here :)

If you have a fork with super tight clearances there may not be enough room to drill even if you wanted too and you might need some ultra short drop brakes to even get the pads near the rims. Hence the clamp on solution.

won't be quicker, you'll have two bolts and clamps to remove, as opposed to one little bolt.

Have a cunning plan to make this clampless because absolutely a clamp and carbon would be a very bad idea.

The OP has cunning plan though.

If you have a fork with super tight clearances there may not be enough room to drill even if you wanted too and you might need some ultra short drop brakes to even get the pads near the rims. Hence the clamp on solution.

Thanks for this, sounds daft, but I hadn't thought about the fact that you might use a keirin clamp because there was no room for a brake drilling. In which case I've got an idea for a carbon track fork, with supertight clearances and a removeable brake, anyone interested, or is this still a solution looking for a problem?

I'm not taking the piss, thanks everyone who's posted, if this is a daft idea that no-ones interested in, better to find out now, rather than after I've built the bloody thing!

could be an large investment for a small outcome???

If its asthetics you're interested in...
How would an intergrated system on each leg, be less ugly than a little hole in the crown?

+You'd lose all versatility in caliper choice

I thought the idea with clamp on brake calipers, was to allow retro fitting a brake to a undrilled fork (solution to existing problem).

If you are designing a fork, instead of including a problem and then a solution. Why not put a hole in it and design a nice plug for it?

Bar end plugs, but you get the idea :)

Thanks for this, sounds daft, but I hadn't thought about the fact that you might use a keirin clamp because there was no room for a brake drilling. In which case I've got an idea for a carbon track fork, with supertight clearances and a removeable brake, anyone interested, or is this still a solution looking for a problem?

I'm not taking the piss, thanks everyone who's posted, if this is a daft idea that no-ones interested in, better to find out now, rather than after I've built the bloody thing!

I wouldn't take your idea to the Dragon's Den if I were you, the business case doesn't sound like a strong one.

A) Not many people actually want or need to ride their track bike to the track, as most will take it in the car
B) Not many track racers are bothered enough about the aesthetics of having a small hole in their fork crown so the minority that do ride would probably just use a drilled fork.
C) Aesthetics to that level are for anal people on forums rather than people who use their bikes as a tool to race on.

IMO of course :-)

I wouldn't take your idea to the Dragon's Den if I were you, the business case doesn't sound like a strong one.

A) Not many people actually want or need to ride their track bike to the track, as most will take it in the car
B) Not many track racers are bothered enough about the aesthetics of having a small hole in their fork crown so the minority that do ride would probably just use a drilled fork.
C) Aesthetics to that level are for anal people on forums rather than people who use their bikes as a tool to race on.

IMO of course :-)

To re-inforce this point, @ Herne Hill there are couple of containers full of bikes where people (like me) store their track bikes to avoid the need to ride them anywhere on the road and have to change gearing remove brakes etc. to ride the track. And another container full of hire bikes people have paid to rent for the season also to avoid using their 'road' bike on the track. And a carpark full of cars with bikes in the back.
And if you are semi serious you will be riding on tubs (possibly ultra-light super narrow ones) which you also would also want to avoid riding on the road ever.

You are aiming at a niche within a niche with this one.

I might just leave this one on the drawing board then.

I might just leave this one on the drawing board then.

Reckon we could market my 'brake hole plugs' (needs snappy name) though.

I was thinking various colours + chome effect and carbon effect ;)

in fact, the "keirin brake" was developed especially for people to ride NJS bikes on the street. Supposedly for the odd keirin rider to ride across town to the race, but I'm not sure how much I buy that one. But the reason wasn't particularly to do with drillling the crown, it was all about clearence, like ADT said. There's a load of stuff somewhere in tomity's thread where it shows a frame builder drilling fork crowns, because that particular model has enough room for a brake, they are not all super-tight.

as for carbon? personally I agree with kerley and adt, I think it's mad.
but having seen some of the lengths people on this forum go to when it comes to aesthetics I can't rubbish the idea too much. You would obviously have to design and make the fork yourself.

If you're looking to design something for people who ride to track, how about having a go at re-desigining the sprint wheel carrier ?

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/components/cyclo-sprint-wheel-carrier.html

Or alternatively how about an easily removable road style brake lever that isn't a bmx or cross lever ?