TT Cable Routing Evolution
02-11-14, 04:48 PM
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TT Cable Routing Evolution
Why did bicycle manufacturers move the rear brake cable from the underside of the TT to on top of it in the early 80's? Tucked underneath seems like the perfect spot to me, unless maybe they were trying to improve routing at the seat clamp.
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02-11-14, 05:04 PM
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I don't think there was that much of a correlation with time period. It's just a style thing that went in and out of fashion.
Top of the tube is better if you shoulder your bike like in cyclocross - bottom of tube is better if you're going to leave out a chunk of housing.
Top of the tube is better if you shoulder your bike like in cyclocross - bottom of tube is better if you're going to leave out a chunk of housing.
02-11-14, 05:08 PM
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They actually "de-evolved" to go back to the side (especially on internal routed ones), then more towards the bottom of the TT with late 80's/early 90's bikes. As in the case of the late 80's Peugeot 753 "Chorus" model bike. I think it was pretty much back to the bottom.
02-11-14, 05:36 PM
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The problem with mounting on the side, assuming side pull brakes, is that you might pick the wrong side. 50% chance you'll get it wrong. With top mounting, that chance goes up to 100%.
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02-11-14, 06:04 PM
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02-11-14, 06:12 PM
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Well in theory top mount guides give you a more ideal cable run a result of nit picking Japanese engineres who likely never road a bike they built. For practicaly purposes classic under the top tube makes mor sense and works better.
02-11-14, 06:16 PM
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02-11-14, 06:17 PM
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My 75 Fuji has the metal clamps holding the rear brake cable ON TOP of the toptube.
The '84 Univega has the braze-on cable guides on top of the toptube.
The '90 Trek 1100 I had was internal routing
Some later 80s went to the internal cable routing, while others went to the under-mounted guides...
Which is better or 'best'? I dunno....
The '84 Univega has the braze-on cable guides on top of the toptube.
The '90 Trek 1100 I had was internal routing
Some later 80s went to the internal cable routing, while others went to the under-mounted guides...
Which is better or 'best'? I dunno....
02-11-14, 06:19 PM
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02-11-14, 06:38 PM
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When using the clamps for routing, it was better to have the hardware on the bottom of the tube. With center pulls, having the cable centered kind of made things look symmetrical. I don't really know, just speculation. What I don't understand is why only two braze on cable guides on the Colnago? The cable housing between can slap on the tube making a nasty mess of the fragile paint. Most of the clamps I have seen counted three on the TT. Who else only used 2?
02-11-14, 07:50 PM
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When they were introduced in the 40's the aluminum brakes from GB and their competition were as high end as could be, and even the (now much maligned) Weinmann side pull brakes were considered excellent. I really don't know why campy decided to do it backwards, but they sure were influential.
But anyway, right or left, it's really a matter of age and country of origin, isn't it?
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02-11-14, 09:05 PM
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Re: Routing, I've had 'em all over the map:
Modern: under the TT at 7 o'clock, under the TT at 6 o'clock.
Modern: through the TT on the L side
Titanium: under the TT at 7 o'clock
Steel: through the TT enter/exit on top at 11 o'clock, through the TT enter/exit on the L at 9 o'clock, through the TT, enter at 11 o'clock and exit at 7 o'clock.
Plus a myriad of them on top of the TT.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 02-11-14 at 09:15 PM.
02-11-14, 09:32 PM
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Capo #2 picture is as-bought, somewhat rough, but with all original components except that silly 58T outer chainring, which I have since replaced with a sensible 49. I never have cared for the low routing of the rear brake cable, preferring to go over the top of the handlebar.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
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02-12-14, 07:26 PM
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Watch out, if Shimano is monitoring this thread, they may get the idea to introduce cable-free, wireless electronic brakes... 
02-12-14, 07:53 PM
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With clamps I sure wouldn't want the screws up on top where my goodies my make accidental contact. If I had to guess, I'd say designers thought brazed-on loops should go where the clamps used to go, and loops would make assembly easier. I sort of like the top loops and the top clamps, but maybe that's because they mean continuous housing. But they all work.
If I had to guess, I'd say designers thought brazed-on loops should go where the clamps used to go, and loops would make assembly easier. I sort of like the top loops and the top clamps, but maybe that's because they mean continuous housing. But they all work.
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02-12-14, 09:53 PM
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Further proof I'm a noob. I thought it was something logical...
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