In a message dated 6/28/03 11:07:21 PM,
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
>For various reasons, I want to use a set of center pull brakes (Mafac
Racers) on a frame >that has a Campy NR headset installed and no room for a normal
Centerpull housing stop >in the headset.
(clipped)
>Or should I drill a cable route/stop through the stem? The stem is a Nitto
>Technomics with a 9cm extension. Would a drilled Nitto stem be safe?
>How big do you make the top and bottom holes? How far out on the extension
>do you drill?
I did this to a Pivo stem with excellent results (still no problems 25 years later). The bottom hole was drilled just a bit larger than the cable, but this made it a bit of a trick to thread the cable (since you're trying to hit the hole from the blind side). I soldered the ends of my cables and had no problem, but now I think I'd just drill a bigger hole. The top hole was drilled just large enough to accept a metal cable housing end (not the blunt ended one, but the one with the tiny sleeve-shaped extension, like you would insert in a brazed-on chainstay housing stop. As to the location of the holes, drill them in such a way that the cable runs parallel to the head tube... This gives the nicest appearance and assures that the direction of pull is exactly perpendicular to the brake arm pivot axis (if it's not, upper part of the brake arms will flex a bit as the brakes are applied, and there will be a bit of an increase in pviot friction as well).
This may not be a "traditional" approach, but I feel it is very much in keeping with the design philosophy of the bicycle... simplicity, light weight, and elimination of any unecessary parts.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA