Why would you want to cover up the detail work at the BB with a 626/s clip? Or clutter up the seat tube with a clamp-on stop which isn't necessary.

I understand your desire not to simply loop the wire around the bare BB shell, or to drill it for an unnecessary guide.

Before spending a penny on stuff that you don't need, and that would not be true to the period, try my suggestion of running the housing from the existing stop, under the BB and ending someplace between the tops of the chain stays and an inch or so short of the FD arm. The housing loop will use the existing cable stop, and help maintain the period correct appearance.

If you want you can fit one of those little cable boots over the open end to keep the inside clean though we rode for years without it, until deciding that the housing wasn't necessary except to prevent some minor grooving of the paint under the shell.

BTW- the 626/a open clip was introduced the same year as Nuovo Record, roughly 1969 or 1970, which is when Campy did away with the cable stop leg of the FD. I still have an older Record FD from 1967 on my old Frejus with the clip, but I doubt you have it since it has well over 50,000 miles and 20+ years of all season riding on it. And yes, it shows it's age.

I might have a spare of the same vintage. I'll check in the "old stuff" box and let you know id I do. Meanwhile if you take my suggestion, you'll see that it's the least obtrusive option, and has the benefit that if you ever find the right FD you won't have left any clamp marks on what looks like nice paint.

After all of the possibilities mentioned above, I still think an under-the-bottom bracket-shell cable guide is the best and least unsightly solution. As noted, you don't have to bolt, or even glue it in place and the serial number, etc. will still be available to see.

Just a note: I did not mean cut the braze-on off the bike, I meant cut to cut off the RD side of the cable guide........ I only assume that is what you were thinking.

Here's my solution on my 80's Univega - that desperately needs a paint job. I don't see why you couldn't sneak that bracket under the pump peg.

The Campy bracket in the above post needs to be inverted and the RD portion removed. I think mine is a Suntour.

I think Puget Pounder thought I meant to cut off the braze-on for the RD – from the frame – when I meant cut off the RD ramp from the bolt-on clamp! [Edit: Cape Codder & I were on the same page here.]

There are excellent suggestions here. The prospect of “clamp marks” caught my attention. Hmm. I’m finding it hard enough to tighten the FD clamp!

My 1963 bike has guides on the underside of the BB originally brazed on. I certainly get that. I also put the cables through a couple small pieces of cable liner that helps them slide better thru those BB guide tubes. BUT, both cables go under and the other guide/cable stops are aligned with this routing.

This bike probably could run under the BB for the front, but it seems such a kludge when the RD cable runs above. The Campy clamp can look quite elegant. The one I had was rather old and beat. I was annoyed when it broke, but not surprised. Before it snapped, I was able to see that it might fit just right. It’ll look like most C&V frames of my time did/do. It’ll take a day or two for a new one to arrive. I’m willing to cut off the RD ramp and see how it lines up. BUT, I will be thinking about those marks. . .

Frankly, I’m not around that many people who look very closely. If people around me look at my nicest bike, they might say “Hey, that’s a pretty bike.” They aren’t the kind to say, “Hey, is that a third-generation Rally? Are those Phil Wood hubs? Nice lug work.” So, I guess I just want to feel I have done right by the bike. I’m doing this build in an entirely personal way.

The weekend is over. If I’d not broken the old clamp I had, I’d probably been out for a test ride. Given my workweek schedule, I’ll probably not have a chance until next weekend. Sigh. Such is life. In these times, one is grateful to have employment!

Thanks, guys!

Granted, the lugwork on this old French beast isn't as pretty as the new English steed, but this clamp doesn't hide much.



Still, I will give thought to going under the BB. I need to chat with my LBS guy to see if he's got a spare plastic plate &/or some cable lining I can have. . .

Nicely done. And period enough correct- I've got some of those. (single sided even- most likely huret or shimano, VERY doubtful on campy) I can have pics up tomorrow if you're at all interested OP.

If you're stripping a frame for repaint, you can still get the braze-on Campy style over the BB guides from Nova cycle.

https://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-...BB-GUIDES.html

I would suggest you knuckle down and buy one more derailleur. As far as I can determine, Campy only made one front derailleur with a housing stop (edited) after 1968 , which was the push rod or pill box derailleur. Believe it or not they work very well and actually arch bottom to top following the step of the chainrings. Here is a picture from Velobase https://www.velobase.com/ViewComponen...=113&AbsPos=14. I have one mounted on a Vintage cross bike I built up. Looks like the pictures below. They are still available on ebay and some are in really good condition. As you can see, there is a tab with a cable hole that is a housing stop. If you want components that will get attention, this is it!

The suntour compe-v and spirt both have cable stops and are also both "high-normal" derailleurs. I have one of each.

The push box derailleur was a Gran Sport, and later offered in lower groups such as Valentino, but there was also the pantograph Record derailleur produced with a cable stop and compatible with the older 626 clip. The 626 clip had a noodle for the RD and a fulcrum (housing stop) for the FD.

The FDs and clips had cable stops and used a housing flex from through 1969, when Record became Nuovo (new) Record, and the stop was eliminated when the 626/a clip and braze-on guides were introduced.

Yeah, I don't know where my head was at when I wrote that as I own an original Record FD with a housing stop (I think I meant after 1968). Anyway, as far as I can figure, the pill box derailleur goes back to the 50's and the original Gran Sport. When Nuovo Record came along, Campy continued to make the same derailleur (cage bolt was moved from top to the front) as Valentino. Then sometime around 1973 the pill box derailleur became part of the re-introduced Gran Sport gruppo, which was a cheaper version of their Nuovo Record gruppo and came to be called Nuovo Gran Sport; a couple of years later it was dropped from the catalogs. So when you think about it the pill box front derailleur had about the same run (time wise) as the Nuovo Record rear derailleur.

That "pill box" derailleur, and a similar design from Simplex were nice derailleurs, who's only serious drawback was that the cage would get loose from the shaft. When it did so it would rotate down and jam onto chainring teeth. OTOH it was otherwise a reliable unit that was very accommodating of various chainring combinations. I always liked that the cage could be adjusted to match the curve of just about any chainrings, unlike modern FDs.