hybridbkrdr

I wanted to buy a frame partly because of the tire clearance but it has internal cabling. It's made for disc brakes but I have a regular wheelset. So should I just buy Problem Solvers adapters to use external cabling?
I know how to measure caliper brake reach, just wanted to know what is workable.

zacster

Does the frame and fork have a brake mounting hole? Does the rear cable have an exit at the top to reach a rim brake caliper?

veganbikes

So is the frame designed for what I am assuming you mean as side pull rim brakes as well? If not you need to use disc brakes. There is really not a benefit to using side pull calipers for wider tires and generally most disc brake frames aren't set up to use rim brakes especially more modern stuff. You might want to figure out what you have and what it is compatible with and maybe show some pictures.

In terms of cabling you can run internal cables for rim brakes it has been done a bunch but probably won't work so well on a bike not designed for rim brakes but the whole rim brake thing won't likely work anyway. However if somehow it would all work you could run things externally with say a Problem Solvers mount.

Andrew R Stewart 

I'll second the use of external cabling! Assuming the frame accepts caliper brakes (of some form) and the caliper is designed to accept the end of the cable casing (most center pull calipers don't, as example) the caliper won't care what the cable does between the lever and the caliper. This is the first resort when the internal routing gets messed up and you have to keep going with two brakes (or shift cables for that mater). Simple zip ties can be used to secure the cable/casing to the frame if the frame isn't round enough, or a size available, to use a commercially made cable clip. If the frame tubing where the cable will be routed along is round and of the right diameter there have been bolt on casing stops made. These let you have an interrupted casing, a section of the inner cable can be exposed. They also work as an adapter when converting from cantis to linear pull brakes to allow clean cable casing routing and containment. Andy

hybridbkrdr

pic of the frame

FBinNY 

BITD internal brake cables on steel road frames wasn't exceptionally rare.

There were two types. The most common arrangement had a continuous tube brazed within and took the full cable threaded through. So essentially the same as external routing, but prettier.

Some, however, had fulcrums (stops) where the cable was threaded, so only the inner went through.

If the routing is in the right place, and assuming you can mount the brake, there's no reason to opt out of internal routing.

bboy314

Is there a way to run the cable internally to a road caliper brake or does it just run down to the disc caliper mount? If the latter, then you have your answer - external is your only choice.

zacster

The frame in the pic does have rim brake mounting holes, so it can take them. Hard to say from the pic whether there is an exit to the rear rim brake bridge. I doubt it.

FBinNY 

Looking at the photo, you have no reasonable internal option. That is unless there's a pair of holes on the hidden side of the top tube.

hybridbkrdr

So for the front caliper, it would be no stops required but for the rear caliper I'd need two single cable stops on the top tube. Then the cable for the rear derailleur could go internal (would go with single chainring up front).
Anyway, can you tell from the pic if takes an internal or external headset? (It doesn't say, just an Aliexpress frame.)

FBinNY 

I guess this is a case of adding 2+2 and getting 17. I have no idea how you got from what was posted by myself and others to the 2 stops on the top tube conclusion. So to be clear, clamp on cable stops are not an option. First of all decent clamp on stops are virtually non-existent. but more important, you cannot rely on a clamp on stop not to slip under brake cable loads. So, in your case the answer to whether full external cables are required is YES, and only YES.

As for the headset, we'd have to be psychic to know for sure from that photo. However, the large diameter crown area on the fork, seems to be designed to mate with the head tube, which would make the most sense with a hidden headset fully nested within the head. Of course, the only way to know would be to look inside the head tube.

Andrew R Stewart 

These have been around for a quite a few years. I've installed stops like these (IIRC the Back Stop brand) and serviced some bikes with them, usually used for the canti to linear pull conversions (although they make a great ft der casing stop too) and have had zero issues or concerns. Andy

FBinNY 

Your experience notwithstanding, I don't believe these make sense used as pairs to avoid using full housing.

First of all, I suspect a pair of these weigh more than the 18" of housing they might save.

Plus, while these may be more reliable than the pressed clamps from BITD, I'm not willing to trust them not to slide in an emergency stop.

Ultimately, it's a personal decision, however the OP asked for opinions, and that's mine.

icemilkcoffee 

1. You said you wanted tire clearance. Disc brakes are best for tire clearance.
2. There are long reach caliper brakes with tire clearance. But the mechanical leverage is worse because of the long arms.
3. The frame has holes where the brakes could go. But I assume these are not recessed holes. So you would have to convert the brakes to old fashion nutted style
4. There are no brake cable guides anywhere so you would end up with zip-ties all over

Seems like you are creating a lot of hassles for yourself by not using the right disk brake wheels. And you'll end up with a worse performing bike.

bboy314

Why not just buy a frame made for the wheels you want to use? Or use the right wheels for this frame?

bboy314

Why not just buy a frame made for the wheels you want to use? Or use the right wheels for this frame? Getting a frame with canti studs will give you more clearance than you’ll have with decent caliper brakes anyway.

hybridbkrdr

Are you saying I can't put Tektro or Shimano caliper brakes on the frame?

BTinNYC 

I'm saying you shouldn't. "I have a wheelset" isn't a good reason to pound this square peg. Also the top tube doesn't appear cylindrical, so the cable stop clamps may not work.

bboy314

You say you want to go this route for more tire clearance. What size tire do you hope to use?

oldbobcat

FYI, all brakes that aren't drum brakes or old Raleigh-style lever brakes are caliper brakes.

The tapered tubes say this is a hydroformed aluminum frame. The shift cables are internally routed through the down tube. Run the cables as designed for the frame. It will be easier than trying to grip tapered tubes with clamps. You should be able to detect cable stops at the top of the down tube and at the rear of the drive-side chain stay. You might need a plastic cable guide where the cables exit below the bottom bracket. The shift cables will run externally from the handlebar to the frame and the bottom bracket to the derailleurs. The front brake cable will be completely external. The rear brake cable will enter the front of the top tube and exit through the rear of the top tube. You will need housing where the rear brake and shift cables connect. Use a flashlight and an old spoke to help thread cables through the openings.

icemilkcoffee 

If you look carefully at the front brake mounting hole, you'll notice that it's not even parallel to the plane of the brakes. There is a taper in the tubing there and the hole is on a slant. So this would be a very unsteady mount for the brake caliper. It's not too clear how the rear brake mounting hole looks, but that one looks to be sheetmetal. So that would be a poor, flexible mounting point for the rear brake.
Just a bad idea overall to try to put caliper brakes on this frame which is completely not designed for them.

Mackers

So does your rear wheel even fit?

I'm going to guess that frame is spaced for at the very least, 135mm.

bboy314

It’s possible, but I’d be surprised if a bike made for disc brakes had the brake cable entering and exiting the top tube.

oldbobcat

Oops, I forgot about that.

grumpus

Enough has already been said about your question, and more generally, but I feel I must add:
the types of caliper brake are - side pull, centre pull, hydraulic rim, and hydraulic disc. I expect when you state "caliper" you mean a sidepull caliper rim brake (cantilever rim brakes are also centre pull or side pull).
And when you state "regular wheelset" you mean "rim braked wheelset", because discs are so common now on quality bikes that they're really the new "regular".