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1971 Super Course FD Cabling Question

I'm running this bike with thumbies. I have installed a downtube cable stop just above the nub on the downtupe that was meant to keep the shifters from sliding down. There's an integrated cable stop about three inches above the bottom bracket on the downtube. There is not a guide at bottom bracket on the left side, but there is an integrated one on the right. My front derailleur is constructed without a cable stop. I want the cables to be proper on this bike, but I want to know what my options are.

Is there such a thing as a seat tube stop?
Can I simply insert a length of cable housing in the downtube stop without it working itself out and setting the shift cable up to self-descturct by rubbing on the stop?
Are there FD options (period correct or otherwise - but not completely dorky looking) that have an integrated stop -like a SImplex Prestige) that can handle a triple?

Thanks in advance.

Not an April Fool's thread, honest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAZorro (Post 20864061)

I'm running this bike with thumbies. I have installed a downtube cable stop just above the nub on the downtube that was meant to keep the shifters from sliding down. There's an integrated cable stop about three inches above the bottom bracket on the downtube. There is not a guide at bottom bracket on the left side, but there is an integrated one on the right. My front derailleur is constructed without a cable stop. I want the cables to be proper on this bike, but I want to know what my options are.

Is there such a thing as a seat tube stop?

Yes, you can find clamp on cable stops for both one and two cables. They work just like the cable stops that you clamped on to the downtube.

Quote:

Can I simply insert a length of cable housing in the downtube stop without it working itself out and setting the shift cable up to self-descturct by rubbing on the stop?

I assume here you are talking about the lower stop on the downtube. If the stop is low enough, you can run a short length of cable housing from the downtube stop underneath the bottom bracket and then just connect the cable straight to your derailleur. There will be no need for a cable stop in that case.

Quote:

Are there FD options (period correct or otherwise - but not completely dorky looking) that have an integrated stop -like a SImplex Prestige) that can handle a triple?

Yes. Look for older Suntour models. Many have an integrated cable stop and will be able to swing across a triple crank. Shimano May have made some too, as well as Huret. But as I noted above, you have other options for the cable run.

I had the same problem on my 68 supercourse when I installed this Campy derailleur. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b3690040d.jpeg

I couldn’t find it myself because I didn’t really know what I was looking for. I had a bike shop order it for me.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...348a2504f.jpeg

I was hoping for silver but they only had black
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...95a9e063d.jpeg

It doesn’t really draw attention though.
I did find a modern seat tube clamp. It’s 28.6mm

Thanks for the advice/suggestions. I have two options that I'm exploring. :thumb:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcampeau (Post 20864513)

Nice looking SC. That stop is a double for an upper downtube, obviously works just fine for this too. Could have wire brushed off the black and rounded the sharp corners to blend in more, would have been a bit of work. ;)

I’ve never considered wire brushing but that’s a good idea.

That cotterless Stronglight crankset is such a good match for the Super Course visually!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schreck83 (Post 20865339)

That cotterless Stronglight crankset is such a good match for the Super Course visually!

Thanks, I wish I could find some larger sized dust covers for it.

Heres a couple of ideas. The gold bike is my Peugeot PR10 with a non stock Shimano Exage FD (broken Simplex replacement). I used the existing black plastic cable guides, to route the cable with housing to the Exage, which has no cable stop. The green bike is my '73 Super Course with Sugino AT triple. The previous misguided owner removed all of the brazed on guides, so I found a Campagnolo dual cable guide, which routes the bare cable straight up to a Suntour Cyclone II FD, which also has no cable guide. If you don't need a dual cable guide there are single ones out there too. I tried several solutions on the Super Course, including running cable and housing under the bottom bracket, and using a clamp on cable stop, but the Campy bracket seemed to look and work the best. Each iteration left its scars on my fresh paint, but so far so good this time.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c2ab3b9b16.jpg

Sorry for the blurry pictures.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cddecf92c.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dd418494f0.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...47b58cb498.jpg

The first generation Campy record front derailleur has a cable stop, but finding one would be difficult and expensive. Many 70s era FD had a cable stop. If you look in that era, you'll find something. Simplex, sure. I'd probably go for an early Suntour for this bike.

Clamp on stop is a possibility. I'd probably avoid it myself, entirely for the aesthetics. Maybe there's a vintage chrome steel one out there. That'd be OK.

I had this issue. Used a seat tube stop but then eventually found a shimano 600 arabesque fd with an integrated stop.