juliansparrow

Hey mechanics, I'm in great need of your assistance! I looked through the archives and found this thread (which I swiped the title from) https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in...p/t-45894.html however the suggestions are out of date if only because the item suggested at what is now loosescrews.com are no longer available.



So the plastic top tube guides have fallen off minus one and I'm looking for a nicer solution than the previous owners tape or my temporary solution of a zip tie. Any suggestions? I also want a nice looking way to solve the holes in the frame the broken guides have allowed. It seems like the cable guides available at loosescrews.com will fit 1" top tubes and smaller- however this Cannondale is larger than 1".

The frame is a Cannondale 3.0 Criterium Aluminum from the 1990's (I guess- I haven't dated the bike yet) with full Shimano 600 group minus the 105 crank. I hope that helps and thank you for any and all help!

Bianchigirll 

Hello Julian welcome to the forums. did you try your local cannondale dealer or contact cannondale via the web?

canopus 

Cannondale Parts:
https://www.vintagecannondale.com/can...storation.html

Another option is to replace them with these
https://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-...-TOP-TUBE.html

There was another thread on this not long ago that had the plastic ones for sell also but I can't find it now.

BCRider

The original plastic clips are a fine option but the link to Cannondale for the parts seems to be broken. Perhaps if someone can find that other thread or you may need to email Cannondale directly.

Another option would be to get some sheet aluminium and form your own cable guides. A + shape where you drill two holes in the upper and lower arms for pop rivets and bend the two side arms up and over a housing sized rod would produce a few neat and easy to make guides. Or instead of aluminium if you were to get some 1/16 Kydex plastic similar to what is used for making up knife sheaths you could form these up in the same sort of way really easily with heat from a heat gun or very careful use of a propane torch. I've used the Kydex for a couple of my own projects and it's great stuff to work with.

Come to think of it you could even form some nice pop rivet cable guides from stiff wall plastic tubing or thin and soft aluiumium tubing. Just cut the ends with a strong slant and mash the tails flat to allow drilling for the pop rivets. The housing then slips through the hole in the intact part between the two riveted ends.

By the looks of the picture you've got quite a restoration project ahead of you.

demoncyclist

I would contact Cannondale directly. BTW, a 3.0 frame is late 80's. My SM400 is a 3.0 frame, and I bought it in 1988.

rccardr 

Check with Mike's Bikes in CA. They are out of stock now but normally keep a few sets around. PArt # is A113.

milkbaby

If you don't need fancy, these are some metal cable clips that you can clip on to hold the casing:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/c...are-brake.html
https://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Single-.../dp/B002U166TQ

I saw these plastic ones too:
https://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi...d=563889717287

juliansparrow

Hey all! Thank you very much for all the great replies! For the last week I've spent a considerable amount of time tracking down the original or comparable-type top tube guides and I've got some news regarding them for you all.

vintagecannondale.com links to Cannondale's website which brings up a dead link as BCRider mentioned above- I found out from someone at Mike's Bikes that Cannondale no longer makes them. The two Mike's Bikes I called didn't have any in stock and when I mentioned their website listing the item- and if they could make sure it was in stock- it was discovered that the listing actually represents a 3rd party distributor's listing and that they too were out. For the heck of it I'm going to call a few more locations because if one were to have the part they said they could send it to a local location.

Then I checked out roughly... 9 bike shops in San Francisco hoping to luck out but nothing turned up. A few suggested a zip-tie secured guide but I wanted to stray from zip-ties.

Now, BCRider, I'd like some more info on what you were talking about. I've never fabricated parts or basic parts before but I'm interested in learning! Would you have a photos of these sheet aluminum guides which I could go off of? I have plenty of tools laying around because half my family were automobile mechanics so I ought to have what's needed for the project. Thank you!

BCRider

Here ya go. This should be pretty much self explanatory.

Oops, forgot to include the size for the anvil. It should be 3/8 wide and at least 3/8 deep to withstand the clamping and bending forces while forming the sheet aluminium around the shaping form.

The sizes shown will give you an easy fit for housing. I've allowed for .25 inch where housing is closer to 0.20. If you want a tighter fit you can start with a smaller rod or file down the rod where the ears bend up and over. Or just put a wrap or two of electrical tape around the housing where it sits in the guides to aid in pinching it into place.

juliansparrow

Thank you!

benthefolker

I'm very late to the party, but after seeing this post I found a guy that does 3d printings of the cannondale top tube cable guides. Spendy, but easy solution.

cannondale top tube cable guides | eBay

bradtx

cannondale cable guide by eclg on Shapeways

Brad

fietsbob

Pair of round jaw bending pliers and some 16 gage stainless wire may do (14ga spoke may be a bit thick)

benthefolker

Brad for the win. Thank you!

OldsCOOL

Another happy Criterium Series lover!