[CR] Brake cable routing logic?

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

From: <Stronglight49@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 05:08:01 EDT
Subject: [CR] Brake cable routing logic?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


Well, just call me stupid, but I fail to understand the reasoning behind splitting up the brake cable housings beneath the top tubes on everything from Raleighs to Paramounts, and most every British touring frame. Even the best contrived set-up with a guide loop followed by a housing stop always seems to create additional cable drag where the bare cables struggle to exit the brazed-on stops.

On my other bikes, with housing guides for continuous runs of brake housings, either brazed or clipped onto the top tube, the braking action is consistently smooth, smooth, smooth - regardless of whether the brakes are Campy, Weinmann or Mafac. With the divided stops, it is always scrape, scrape, scrape as the cables fight their way through the additional metal obstacles. Regardless of how carefully aligned the housings may be, they never seem to remain perfectly fixed to always allow the cables to pass cleanly through the stops.

Was this design to avoid lengthy travel of gritty galvanized old cables through coarse unlined housings? This no longer seems an issue today with slick lined housing and silky smooth stainless steel or even teflon coated cables. Perhaps I have just missed the point entirely because I just don't get it. Can someone please educate me?

Thanks!

Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM, USA

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