"sandranian@yahoo.com" wrote: """" Well, much to my chagrin, my NOS Mafac Racer brakeset isn't going to work on my 1970 Gitane. The steering tube is cut too short <snip> """"
Chuck Schmidt rpled: """ This is going to sound scary Stephan, but back in the day it wasn't uncommon to drill the stem for the cable housing stop and do away with the hanger. It wouldn't bother me personally to ride a stem like that, but it does create a place for the stem to break """
I add:
Hmmm, I can't really concur that it is a particularly good idea to do that on a rider, but the risks are spelled out: the stem can break. If that is an unacceptable risk you can get cable hangers that fit around the quil part of the stem rather than in the headest. These are usually not particullarly period looking as they are chunks of cnc'd Aluminum, but they are relatively low profile. I think they are qpb problem solvers available at almost all LBS's in the US's. I have used them in the past and the cable routing is a bit tricky, but less so with non aero brakes.
Later Potaters
Tarik
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Tarik Saleh
PO Box 1326, Knoxville, TN 37901
tsaleh at rocketmail dot com
Bicycles, bicycles, bicycles:
http://www.engr.utk.edu/
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