Non-areo cable routing
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Hump, what hump?
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Non-areo cable routing
What's the classic/preferred brake cable set up? In front of the bars or behind? Left crossing over right, or vice versa?
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There are no real rules, it's whatever works best fro a particular bike. When there's plenty of forward extension, over the bar lets the bar support the cable and lad it nicely to the top of the top tube, bu this doesn't work as well when the stem is short. It also works less well if the cable goes to brazed-on stops n the bottom/side of the top tube.
Generally I prefer not to run the cable over the bar because I've seen it snag the rider's hand, but that's not a common event so over or under whichever you prefer.
Generally I prefer not to run the cable over the bar because I've seen it snag the rider's hand, but that's not a common event so over or under whichever you prefer.
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I personally like to go behind on both, so they don't interfere with a handlebar bag. I have no idea what the correct way might be, nor do I care.
Edit: I realize that second sentence sounds crusty, but that was not the intention.
Edit: I realize that second sentence sounds crusty, but that was not the intention.
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Left lever controlling the front brake is pretty much the classic "norm" Some attribute this to racers wanting to still have their hand on the "good", which is the front caliper, when thy have to shift with their right hand with the down tube shifters....which makes a lot of sense as the shifters require a bit of finesse (for voershifting and trimming those older derailleurs, so right handers (which I assume is a bigger percentage of the population) will want to always shift with their right hand..... Shifting the rings on the crank is much easier to do even with the left hand, at least in my experience......
#5
Hump, what hump?
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Left lever controlling the front brake is pretty much the classic "norm" Some attribute this to racers wanting to still have their hand on the "good", which is the front caliper, when thy have to shift with their right hand with the down tube shifters....which makes a lot of sense as the shifters require a bit of finesse (for voershifting and trimming those older derailleurs, so right handers (which I assume is a bigger percentage of the population) will want to always shift with their right hand..... Shifting the rings on the crank is much easier to do even with the left hand, at least in my experience......
I'm more interested in whether the cables cross over the bars or cross in front of the bars. Having them cross behind the bars would allow for use of a handle bar bag, or a water bottle holder mounted on the stem.
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#6
Hump, what hump?
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Not crusty at all. I'm more interested in function than fashion. But I've never used a handlebar bag.
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I run them behind the bars. I find it keeps the cables from sagging coming out of the levers and allows for a more graceful bend in the housing especially for the front brake. From a functional standpoint, smoother arcs in the housing would allow for smoother brake action.
#8
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Behind the bars, like Eddy did it
Usually this works out better, but I would run them so you get the smoothest transition for the cable run.
Usually this works out better, but I would run them so you get the smoothest transition for the cable run.
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It really depends on how your cable stops are arranged on the bike. Smoothest arc = the right way.
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I generally do it like Mr. Merckx. Exceptions come on bikes that have brazed on top tube cable stops wher the route similar would not be a fair lead to the brake lever. In setting up my kid's bikes I also observed that a short stem changes things too.
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There are no real rules, it's whatever works best fro a particular bike. When there's plenty of forward extension, over the bar lets the bar support the cable and lad it nicely to the top of the top tube, bu this doesn't work as well when the stem is short. It also works less well if the cable goes to brazed-on stops n the bottom/side of the top tube.
Generally I prefer not to run the cable over the bar because I've seen it snag the rider's hand, but that's not a common event so over or under whichever you prefer.
Generally I prefer not to run the cable over the bar because I've seen it snag the rider's hand, but that's not a common event so over or under whichever you prefer.
There's people that say "it's OBVIOUSLY behind the bar" or "it has to be in front of the bar" or "Eddy did it..."
I mentioned this in the other thread- John Zeni overhauled one of my bikes- when I got it back I wasn't happy with the cable routing- one went over, the other went under and they didn't cross the stem. And it bothered me, so I was going to change it- but I objectively looked at what was going on- and John made the best choice in terms of the most gentle cable arc and the possibility for rubbing against paint... It doesn't interfere with any front bag or handlebar bag I use. I really like the decision he made, and the next time I re-do a cable route- I'm going to make the decision based on the angles from the brake lever to the brake, or cable stop or cable guide.
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like this usually:
even with center-pulls.
but if they're side-pulls with the caliper's cable stop on the same side as the lever, i do it like this:
even with center-pulls.
but if they're side-pulls with the caliper's cable stop on the same side as the lever, i do it like this:
Last edited by eschlwc; 12-15-14 at 10:30 PM.
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I go for the smoothest arc of cable but also based on:
Whether a front bag will be used
Top tube cable clamps may be left side, top or right side type OR same for braze-on guides
Type of rear brake - L or R side of a side pull type OR center pull
Lastly-
habits (already explained above but if one rides motorcycles, sometimes the natural grab for front brake control makes it second nature)
Whether a front bag will be used
Top tube cable clamps may be left side, top or right side type OR same for braze-on guides
Type of rear brake - L or R side of a side pull type OR center pull
Lastly-
habits (already explained above but if one rides motorcycles, sometimes the natural grab for front brake control makes it second nature)
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Always behind the bars. Crossed usually works best.
Left or right control of the front brake is a personal choice and a question you didn't ask.
Left or right control of the front brake is a personal choice and a question you didn't ask.
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Left=front for me. Gotten used to it over the years.
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Another vote for smoothest arc.
Unless you have an exceedingly short-reach stem, you almost always want the front cable to go over-and-back. Arguably the best solution is the drilled Nitto stem on my mountain bike, with a direct feed to the SunTour RollerCam front brake.
If your rear brake cable is routed along the top of the top tube, then over-and-behind makes sense there, as well. However, if you have a Peugeot UO-8 or an early Nishiki, with the brake cable routed low along one side of the top tube, you may want to try an under-the-bar routing, although I personally do not care for the look. I run my UO-8 over-the-top on both brakes, with the barcon cables under the bars, and it seems to work nicely. The one I am still debating is the 1960 Capo, which has crummy-but-original brazed-on brake cable clips hanging directly under the top tube. A previous owner not only mangled the shifters, for which I have replacements, but also routed both brake cables in front of the bars and allowed someone to cover the 531 sticker with a San Diego bicycle license.
Unless you have an exceedingly short-reach stem, you almost always want the front cable to go over-and-back. Arguably the best solution is the drilled Nitto stem on my mountain bike, with a direct feed to the SunTour RollerCam front brake.
If your rear brake cable is routed along the top of the top tube, then over-and-behind makes sense there, as well. However, if you have a Peugeot UO-8 or an early Nishiki, with the brake cable routed low along one side of the top tube, you may want to try an under-the-bar routing, although I personally do not care for the look. I run my UO-8 over-the-top on both brakes, with the barcon cables under the bars, and it seems to work nicely. The one I am still debating is the 1960 Capo, which has crummy-but-original brazed-on brake cable clips hanging directly under the top tube. A previous owner not only mangled the shifters, for which I have replacements, but also routed both brake cables in front of the bars and allowed someone to cover the 531 sticker with a San Diego bicycle license.
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