DIY Straddle Cable Bits?
 

My 1985 Miyata TerraRunner with Dia Compe cantilever brakes needs new straddle cables. Cannot find a source which can satisfy both length and style of barrel ends. Jagwire has the right type, but not the lengths I need.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c4b3149df.jpg
Ideally, I'd like to make mine own straddle cables. That way I can't adjust yoke height. But I cannot locate hardware bits. Something like this below or if someone has a better idea or solution, please share!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...97e94ec73f.png
Cable stops for DIY straddle cables

I'm assuming that I don't necessarily need the flared thumb grip on one end because it's just a quick-release convenience, serving no mechanical brake function.

Thanks!

Not sure which Dia-Compes you have (they weren't standard on the 85 TerraRunner), but Urban Velo in Toronto has the straddle cables I needed for my Dia-Compe 980s here.
BTW, the 84 TerraRunner was speced with 980s...maybe your is actually an 84?

Those fittings are called "cable knarps."

I once fashioned a long straddle cable for a mixte frame using a mold. I melted zinc (from clad pennies), which is easily done with a propane torch. It did not look pretty, but a bit of filing to fit and the bike was back on the road.

See this video for the general idea.

If the 380 mm cables that Urban Velo has don't suit you, Bike Doctor has 330mm ones here. They're a cheaper option than the knarps, here.

Wow! Is your middle name Miyata? Hehe, you know this family intimately. Here is a photo of one of the Dia-Compe arms and just as sure as you said, they're 980s.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...33ea1ff471.jpg
Dia-Compe 980 (from 1984 Miyata Terra Runner)

Not only did you pin down the exact Dia-Compe model number, but I think you've probably corrected me on the model year as well. I bought this bike new, but can't remember if was '85 or '86 and at the time I never really fixated on what the model year might have been. The last couple of years, however, taking more of interest in this kind of minutiae, I tried, but failed to nail down the model year. I did find some year/serial number codes but as I recall the person who supplied them refused to stake his life on them..

My Terra Runner's serial number is: MW68465

One of the reasons I wanted to try making my own straddle cable was to have the ability to adjust the height of the yoke. I have a rack and fenders on the rear of my Terra Runner and the straddle cable does rub slightly on the rack's horizontal attachment arms going to the seat stays. If I could only lower the yoke by 5-7mm the issue would disappear. Can't do that with a fixed length straddle wire because then it would be too loose. It's not a do-or-die thing at all, afterall, everything is original equipment and neither rack nor fenders were on the original.

Thanks for weighing in. You're first person I've ever encountered with the same Miyata!

bashley

Well, thank you for expanding my vocabulary with the term "knarps". Life probably would have been a whole lot easier for me had I this word in my pouch at the beginning of my quest!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db200830c0.jpg
Cable Knarps

Haha, these would do in a pinch! (pun half-intended) Nice little bits to have in saddle bag or shop. Thanks!

Hey Moe, thanks for the video. Very resourceful and impressive solution to the problem. And what it may lack in beauty, it makes up with soul! Based on some of the other posts here, it looks like I've got ready-made options available to me, although, I'd say they're lacking in soul. hehe

Thanks!

Thanks for pointing me to these resources, John.

Since these Dia-Compe 980s (thanks for the spec!) cantilevers have no dedicated centering mechanism, what do you think about the idea of an adjustable yoke? Now, that said, I've never really had any serious issues with these brakes, but they can be finicky to set up and staying set up. It seems to me that being able to fix the yoke in place might held achieve and maintain centering on the arms/pads.

bob

The adjustable yoke is a nice idea, but my 980s work well with the 330m cables, and there's one less thing to... adjust.

The cable did touch my back rack support a tiny bit, but I just took a pair of pliers and bent the support.

BTW, it's not that I know that mush about Miyatas, it's that I know where the catalogues are. I don't have a Terra Runner, but I do have a Ridge Runner.

Glad I read this.

I have been meaning to get a few spares of the Shimano Cantilever Link Wires ("A" and "B") for my Shimano CX-50 brakes. At $3.99 each, it beats all the fabrication here. For my setup (55cm frame), even the 330mm straddle wires would be pretty long. PLus once you suss out the adjustment process, they are actually easier to adjust than traditional straddle wires.

Thanks John. I'll probably just bend the rear rack arms a little to eliminate the rubbing. If you're using a 330mm on the rear I'd suspect your yoke could be sitting quite a bit lower than mine with a 380mm straddle cable. The front is 320mm.


Thanks for the Miyata catalogue link. On inspection, most of the 1984 specs for the Terra Runner do not match my bike EXCEPT for the DC 980s. The 1986 catalogue specs, however, match perfectly, and yes, DC980s are listed there as well. So, my reported memory in the original post was wrong. I'm pretty confident, now, mine is a 1986.

No, I'm using the 380 cable.

The 86 Terra Runner looks to have better specs than the 84...nice bike!

Agreed. I guess Miyata decided the Terra Runner deserved several improvements for 1986. Over the decades I've had many bikes, but I've never lost my original attachment to this one...except for those finicky DiaCompe brakes!

Sorry for misquoting you on rear straddle cable length.