Wilde Spelljammer Steel Fork — 700c Randonneur, Rim Brake, Black

Wilde Spelljammer Steel Fork — the Pacenti PBP crown, finished in black

This is the companion fork to the Wilde Spelljammer frameset, sold on its own. It is the same fork Wilde designed for their randonneur project — same crown, same curvature, same mounting points — painted gloss black with Wilde logos rather than matched to a frame colour.

That black finish is worth pausing on, because it is what makes this fork genuinely useful beyond the Spelljammer. Black goes with everything. A vintage frame in faded metallic, a repaint in a colour nobody sells a matching fork for, a touring build that has been rebuilt three times — a black steel fork of this quality slots into all of them without asking questions. Fork blades this curvy in a colour this neutral are rarer than they should be.

The Pacenti PBP Bi-Plane crown

Wilde did not want an off-the-shelf crown on this project, so they went to Pacenti and asked permission to use the PBP — in their view the randonneur fork crown, and the reason this fork costs what it does. The Bi-Plane construction gives it the flat, layered profile you can pick out from across a room, and it is the single detail that tells you this is not a generic steel fork with a nice paint job.

Below the crown, the blades are deliberately curvy and deliberately compliant. The 55 mm rake is more offset than convention, which produces a lower trail figure — and low trail is what makes a bicycle steer predictably with weight on a front rack or in a handlebar bag, rather than flopping into corners under load. If you are building anything that carries weight at the front, this is the geometry you want.

Mounts, everywhere you would want them

The Spelljammer fork was drawn around the idea that a randonneur carries things. Double eyelets at the fork ends take a low rider and a fender simultaneously. Mid-blade mounts accept low riders or platform racks. Three-pack mounts on each blade handle cargo cages or bottles. Underside fender mounts let metal fenders install cleanly, without visible hardware bridging the crown.

Internal dynamo routing

The wire runs inside the blade, with the exit positioned for either a crown-mounted or rack-mounted light. No zip ties down the fork leg, no cable rubbing through paint over a winter. On a bike built for long days and unpredictable weather, this is the detail you appreciate most on the third night ride.

The frame it was drawn for

This fork exists because of the Wilde Spelljammer frameset — the hand-filed, fillet brazed randonneur frame in Oxblood, built in one production run and never again. Worth knowing before you order: that frameset already ships with its own fork. This one is for a replacement, a second build, a contrast fork, or a project that has nothing to do with a Spelljammer at all.

Specifications

• Material: chromoly steel
• Crown: Pacenti PBP Bi-Plane
• Colour: black, with Wilde logos
• Axle to crown: 395 mm
• Rake (offset): 55 mm
• Hub spacing: 100 mm
• Wheel size: 700c
• Tyre clearance: 700c x 45 mm
• Brake type: cantilever mounts — cantilever or V-brake, no disc mount
• Mounts: double eyelets at fork ends, mid-blade mounts, three-pack mounts, underside fender mounts
• Routing: internal dynamo routing with exit placed for crown or rack mounted lights
• Designed for: the Wilde Spelljammer frameset, straight head tube with EC34/34 headset
• Country of manufacture: Taiwan
• Warranty: Wilde Bicycle Co. manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship

What is included

The fork only. Headset, crown race, star nut or expander, brakes and light are sold separately.

Frequently asked questions

Will it match my Oxblood Spelljammer frameset?
No, and we would rather say so plainly. The frameset is Oxblood, a deep brownish-red metallic, and this fork is black. It is the same fork geometrically, so it fits and rides identically, but it is a contrast fork rather than a colour match. Plenty of people build a Spelljammer this way on purpose — a black fork against a dark red frame is a classic randonneur look — but if you want the matched finish, that fork comes with the frameset.

Will it fit a bike other than a Spelljammer?
Very possibly. The numbers you need to check are 395 mm axle to crown, 55 mm rake and 100 mm quick release hub spacing, and your frame needs to be built around a cantilever or V-brake rear end to make sense. If your existing fork has a similar axle-to-crown figure, the handling will stay close to what the frame was designed for; if the offset is very different, the trail changes and so does the steering feel. Send us your current fork specification and we will tell you honestly whether it works.

Can I run disc brakes on it?
No. There are cantilever posts and no disc mount, and there is no safe way to add one. This is a rim brake fork by design — that is exactly what allows the blades to be built lighter and more compliant than a disc fork of the same material.

What tyres and fenders will fit together?
The stated clearance is 700c x 45 mm. If you are running metal fenders, plan on dropping a few millimetres from that so mud has somewhere to go — a 38 to 40 mm tyre with fenders is a comfortable, well-proportioned combination on this fork.

Can you fit it for me?
Yes. Our workshop at L'Hirondelle Bike Shop in Meppel cuts steerers, fits crown races and sets up headsets and cantilever brakes as a matter of routine, and we can wire a dynamo light through the internal routing at the same time. Bring the bike in or send us the frame — this is straightforward work and we would rather it was done properly than guessed at with a hacksaw.