Brompton - removed mudguards and got front brake cable problem

[phatbuoy]

Hi

I'm a proud new owner of a Light weight Brompton/raw laquer finish. looks oh so sweet. defected from a dahon speed pro tt after a tortuous 3 months of waiting for sram to be fixed by UK distributors. finally got offered full refund and took it and invested in my first brompton. (I now have experienced first hand that Dahon parts in uk can be subject to serious delays)

Anyway, I removed the mudguards yesterday and realised that removal of front one means the brake cable rubs in tyre when I turn right. I'm certain there must be a quick fix for this eg re-routing cable but to avoid trial and error can someone please give me a bit of guidance.

Cheers

[LittlePixel]

Here's how I have it setup on mine; I used mildly modified V-brake braided 'noodle' added to the length of the correct cable for the handlepost I have - in this case an 'S' type. The noodle allows for a tighter angle of attack for the cable coming in to the bottom of the caliper and I've had no problems with rubbing once I fitted this. My front cable also runs to a lever on the left of the bars which admittedly is a non-standard thing to do but it also seemed to help - if you are up for making the polar leap of swapping brake handles (my Brompton has no rear brake and it's good in the UK to have left for the front so you can signal right at junctions and brake at the same time)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2174770626_0cee782fd8.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2173982773_033ca45f56.jpg?v=0

[jur]

An Englander with a LH side front brake??

[somnatash]

Hi...
Anyway, I removed the mudguards yesterday and realised that removal of front one means the brake cable rubs in tyre when I turn right. I'm certain there must be a quick fix for this eg re-routing cable but to avoid trial and error can someone please give me a bit of guidance.

Cheers

Hi, brompton sells for models without mudguard a special alu-disc which fits in the small ring at the left fork side and which holds the cable away. It should be possible to get that as a spare from brompton. Cable re-routing is not necesary. Good luck.

[invisiblehand]

An Englander with a LH side front brake??

Funny, Sheldon always recommended RH side front brake in the US for the same reason as LP ... plus since more people are right-handed, having better control and power for the more important brake is an advantage in his opinion.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

[LittlePixel]

If I'm approaching a right turn then I'm in the middle of the road. I need to signal right as well as slow down which is hard to do with only one brake, especially if the lever is on the same side as the arm I need to signal my intentions with...:) So having it on the left works well. You ride on the left in Aus too non Jur?

For the record : I'm a sinister dexter too so it suits me perfectly...

[mulleady]

Nice bike LP. Did you build it from the ground up? Not that I know much but it looks like a fixed gear Brompton and very light? Fast tyres too. You must be quite fit lol.

[LittlePixel]

Nice bike LP. Did you build it from the ground up? Not that I know much but it looks like a fixed gear Brompton and very light? Fast tyres too. You must be quite fit lol.

Thanks! I did yeah - it's actually an Alloy 'Merc' frame rather than a steel 'Brompton' one but the other Ti parts are official Brompton parts, bought from St John St Cycles. Rather than hi-jack this thread - there's more about it here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=364890

and recent q/r stem customisation towards bottom of this thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=400500

[phatbuoy]

thanks guys. a noodle or an alu-disc from brompton. Wikll get on the case.

I do however want to use it for my commute tomorrow, so I'm gonna try putting the cable around the front as a quick fix rather. I hoping it will still fold, but if not I guess its better than not being able to turn right.

[phatbuoy]

Oh and one more thing, LP I like your bar ends. where did you get them? cheers

[LittlePixel]

@Phatbuoy. Grips/barends are integrated Ergon GC2s - really nice as they bolt to the bars so you can take them off without mangling the rubber parts and you can move the ends to your heart's content to get the right position. A bit heavy - but very comfy and looking at their current range you can go carbon for lightness if you fancy a punt.

http://www.ergon-bike.com/en/grips/index.html?WYSESSID=g58io3cu7jkrdub0339g4peio6

One thing I dislike about them is their distinctly un-green packaging - lots of un-biodegradable plastic parts for no real reason. Kinda out of character for a German company but there you go...

[doco]

LittlePixel, very classy build on your Mercton. Alot of thought went into it, Very Classy


what length campy crank on that ?165 or 170mm ?

also are the Stelvio's fairly puncture resistant

[LittlePixel]

LittlePixel, very classy build on your Mercton. A lot of thought went into it, Very Classy.
What length campy crank on that? 165 or 170mm? Also are the Stelvio's fairly puncture resistant?

To quote Colin Chapman, of Lotus Cars fame, I tried to 'Add Lightness' :)
Thanks for the comments.
Such a fun bike; Thinking about bullhorns for it today. Bromptons with bullhorns rock haha...
Cranks are 170mm I believe - Campag Centaur - I got a good ebay deal on 'em.
So far I've not got no puncture's (though it's not a madly high-mileage machine as yet). Saying that - though you've prolly just jinxed me by asking me that! :O