Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Metal loops on the frame

What are the little metal loops that the brake cables go through called? Is there any way to take them off the frame?

cable stops I think. And I guess you could use a hacksaw and saw them off then file it down. BUT it will depend on your frame material.

any little part brazed to the frame is called a braze-on. more specifically you are talking about cable guides (or possibly cable stops).

there are several ways to take them off, the easiest just being pliers.

, the easiest just being pliers.

Don't do this- if your guides are properly attached, this can easily ruin the tube.
Hacksaw then file- it's the safest/cheapest way.

there are several ways to take them off, the easiest just being pliers.


http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/38/wizbraze.jpg

I http://www.psalm40.org/heart.gif The Wiz.

Do not use pliers.

And did I mention, do not use pliers ?

The bigger question is what do you have against innocent cable guides and stops that you want to remove them... especially since they are there to guide your brake cables which someone might want to re-install when you decide to part with your conversion and but a dedicated fixed gear frame.

And did I mention, do not use pliers ?

Don't do this- if your guides are properly attached, this can easily ruin the tube.
.

yep ... done it myself ... and that was on cheap tubing .. thin tubing would be even worse.

Don't do this- if your guides are properly attached, this can easily ruin the tube.
Hacksaw then file- it's the safest/cheapest way.

They're called "cable guides."

The safest way to deal with them is just to leave them alone.

Why would you want to get rid of them?

If you're worried about clothing/etc catching on them (as in polo), you can just tape around the whole top tube where the braze-on is with some nice thick athletic tape.

Although we're all being intentionally obtuse, and the obvious reason is that the OP just wants that "clean look" of a "track bike" he saw on TV.

OP, don't worry about it. You're gonna get much more cred by just riding it and not making yourself look like a poser by filing off the cable guides on your Varsity. You won't fool anyone. If you want a track bike, buy a track bike frame. There's plenty of affordable options.

Although we're all being intentionally obtuse, and the obvious reason is that the OP just wants that "clean look" of a "track bike" he saw on TV.

OP, don't worry about it. You're gonna get much more cred by just riding it and not making yourself look like a poser by filing off the cable guides on your Varsity. You won't fool anyone. If you want a track bike, buy a track bike frame. There's plenty of affordable options.

im just worried they're gonna rip my jeans. my bikes a little too tall for me and they snag onto the jeans somtimes

im just worried they're gonna rip my jeans. my bikes a little too tall for me and they snag onto the jeans somtimes

pliers will fix this right up

howabout some pics of your bike?

http://img14.imageshack.us/i/img20101113124254.jpg

http://img822.imageshack.us/i/img20101113124316.jpg

Motobecane Mirage supposedly from the 80's. Anybody know how to date?

img tags not working..dont know why

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI4yQLXdZ9A

http://listicles.thelmagazine.com/wp-content/upload/ironhide_facepalm.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI4yQLXdZ9A

Seriously?

Not that this video was posted with bad intentions, but I can see nothing other than kids busting their conversions over this. That or super sick high-fives because someone makes their bike sleek as funk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI4yQLXdZ9A
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Jesus_facepalm_6845.jpg

im just worried they're gonna rip my jeans. my bikes a little too tall for me and they snag onto the jeans somtimes

Come on man, I addressed this specifically.


If you're worried about clothing/etc catching on them (as in polo), you can just tape around the whole top tube where the braze-on is with some nice thick athletic tape.

im just worried they're gonna rip my jeans. my bikes a little too tall for me and they snag onto the jeans somtimes

This:

If you're worried about clothing/etc catching on them (as in polo), you can just tape around the whole top tube where the braze-on is with some nice thick athletic tape.

Or wear taller shoes and tighter pants. Get a smaller frame.

Who gives a crap? Just remove them.

Who gives a crap? Just remove them.
I think all the panty-twisting was about particularly how to remove them, yanking with pliers being the least desirable and most likely to damage the tubes followed by hammer and chisel or powered cutter (such as Dremel).

I http://www.psalm40.org/heart.gif The Wiz.

nobody beats him...

A dremel is fine- great actually, so long as you're careful to stay off the tube. I did it because one of my cable stops was too rusty to save prior to repaint, so I ground off both the rear brake stops on the top tube and ran full housing (geared bike). You just cut off the stop leaving extra at the tube surface, then switch to a grinding blade and file it down until it's smooth and consistent with the rest of the tube. You just don't want to go beneath the surface, and you really don't want to punch through the tube.

Who gives a crap? Just remove them.
Darn right -- I don't care much for tight jeans either.

OP -- just make sure you're wearing undies if you do this.

What if you end up wanting a brake? They'll be nothing to guide the cable!

What if you end up wanting a brake? They'll be nothing to guide the cable!
Full-length housing with metal clips or zip ties to attach it to the frame.

Gotcha 1nput. But I feel as though that would defeat the OP's original intention of making the frame look slick. I dunno.

there is not a single point in time ever where i've looked at a conversion and though "wow, I almost thought that was the cleanest track bike ever, but those huge braze ons threw me off"

but i have looked at conversions with unbelievable effort put into grinding off braze ons and derraileur hangers and repainting and thought "stupid ****ing hipster should have just bought a windsor hour. what a stupid bike"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI4yQLXdZ9A

"If your frame's that nice, sell it and buy a fixed gear frame"

lols.

Full-length housing with metal clips or zip ties to attach it to the frame.

This is the embodiment of ugliness.

This is the embodiment of ugliness.
I didn't say that it would look good. I merely explained how it would be possible to mount cables without cable stops. I agree with you on zip ties, but I don't think the chrome clips are so bad.

nobody beats him...
178253

This is the embodiment of ugliness.And the brakes might feel slightly "spongier" because there is more cable housing crush.

"stupid ****ing hipster should have just bought a windsor hour. what a stupid bike"

Rename this thread to that.

Rename this forum to that.

Hey my name is Douchy McIdiot from Shiftless Bastards Racing. Look at my dumb hat. If you don't have power tools, Get in here like this.