Originally Posted by
mikeread
I have a custon built frame with brazed on cable guides under the bottom bracket. At the time it seemed like a good idea, the builder certainly thought it was a step up from the basic moulded plastic cable guide.
As an Engineer, a steel cable running in plastic ((I assume it is nylon or similar) is a much better engineering solution than one running on steel. Add a paste of mashed paint and a bit of rust that will develop in the steel guides over time and they seem even less of a good idea.
Having said this I have had no problem with my custom frame, I just cannot see the point of brazed on steel cable guides under the bottom bracket.
Am I missing something?
No you're not missing anything except to stress over a detail that's pretty minimal. I've done the brazed on cable tubes thing for a few decades and excepting once with a neglected galvanized cable and an electrolyte drink spillage have never had any issues with cables, corrosion or friction. However I, too, stress over tiny stuff (or why would I make my own frames
) and will likely go to plastic bolt on guides in the future. Here's a shot of such a set up that I made in 1985. Andy
