Rear Brake Cable Entering Frames on Drive Side. Why?

[Black Dog]

This is just bad design. I have seen this on several bikes from several manufactures and it makes no sense. Why have the rear brake cable enter the frame on the drive side and force a tight bend of the cable to get there? Oh wait, it allows for a straight shot to the opposite side of the top tube for the exit. Makes for easier and cheaper manufacturing but reduces rear brake feel and performance. Boo. :mad:

Canondale's new Al prottype:
http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2015/06/24-660x440.jpg

Trek:
http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.imdserve.com/images/bikes-and-gear/bikes/road/1411062574035-1ua0tbpa3qne-1920-1080.jpg

[nate2351]

Just out of curiosity, how does drilling the brake line on the right side of the frame as opposed to the left influence manufacturing cost?

[bobswire]

Great design by a guy who has never had to build up and performance tune his own bike, though it will never affect this old retro grouch.
Hey Daryl I'll be re building the Colorado up with some nice semi vintage campy silver bits I scored from the forum.

http://i57.tinypic.com/23uyjav.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/2me916o.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/15mdy04.jpg

http://i61.tinypic.com/2z9k1a0.jpg

[benb]

Maybe it's a nod-to right-side front braking... see the other thread. :cool:

Hard to say I believe this would have a huge impact on braking performance or feel compared to a bunch of possible issues. You can mitigate the bend based on where you have the housing exit the bar tape.

This might also reduce wear on the paint from the housing rubbing the top-tube. It probably doesn't matter though.

[Kirk Pacenti]

Makes no sense to me, either. Trek does it as well...???

The only thing that makes sense is right-side front braking, as mentioned above.

Cheers,
KP

[Dead Man]

Maybe it's a nod-to right-side front braking... see the other thread.

This is exactly what I was thinking the second I saw this. I've got a crisp new $1 bill that says that's the answer to the question.

That's also pretty cool.... 'cause routing the cable is actually my biggest grievance with right-hand-front. ;)

[oldpotatoe]

Makes no sense to me, either. Trek does it as well...???

The only thing that makes sense is right-side front braking, as mentioned above.

Cheers,
KP

I think what it does is allow the cable to run front to back without rubbing anything. If on the left side, a housing stop, it would need a guide or tube or something to get the cable to come out of the rear stop without the cable resting/rubbing on the inside of the tube. Can't change the arm side of the brake so hole on right side. I'll bet it does save $....just 2 holes, stops vs guide/tubes.

[bobswire]

Maybe it's a nod-to right-side front braking... see the other thread. :cool:

Hard to say I believe this would have a huge impact on braking performance or feel compared to a bunch of possible issues. You can mitigate the bend based on where you have the housing exit the bar tape.

This might also reduce wear on the paint from the housing rubbing the top-tube. It probably doesn't matter though.


http://i58.tinypic.com/1zdxg8p.jpg

Now imagine the bend if you had to enter the cable on the opposite side, as a guy who builds and tunes up two to three bikes a month, no thank you. BTW mitigating the issue by shortening the wrap besides looking fugly leaves you little space for comfort hand positioning.

[Black Dog]

Great design by a guy who has never had to build up and performance tune his own bike, though it will never affect this old retro grouch.
Hey Daryl I'll be re building the Colorado up with some nice semi vintage campy silver bits I scored from the forum.

That is doing it right.

[Black Dog]

Makes no sense to me, either. Trek does it as well...???

The only thing that makes sense is right-side front braking, as mentioned above.

Cheers,
KP

Trek has been doing it on its bikes that have a standard rear brake mount (not behind the BB) for a while now. On most of their bikes they have the cable enter the left side of the head tube!

[choke]

Now imagine the bend if you had to enter the cable on the opposite side, as a guy who builds and tunes up two to three bikes a month, no thank you. BTW mitigating the issue by shortening the wrap besides looking fugly leaves you little space for comfort hand positioning.It would look something like this....no big deal really IMO.

[cderalow]

Canondale's new Al prottype:
http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2015/06/24-660x440.jpg


If that's the new CAAD, that'd be an improvement over my 2014 CAAD10's placement at the front of the headtube.

http://www.infinitecycles.com/wp/uploads/media/2013/12/14caad10racingarrived-08-web-968x726.jpg

[bobswire]

It would look something like this....no big deal really IMO.

I guess it depends on how smooth a modulation you prefer for your brakes.The tighter the bend the more stress and cable rub inside the housing.

[benb]

I guess it depends on how smooth a modulation you prefer for your brakes.The tighter the bend the more stress and cable rub inside the housing.

And you already cut your housing really short/tight so what's your real point?

[choke]

I guess it depends on how smooth a modulation you prefer for your brakes.The tighter the bend the more stress and cable rub inside the housing.Theoretically you may be correct. But I can say that in practice that I don't notice any difference between the cables routed that way and the ones routed around the right side of the stem (one bike with stops on the right, three with old school center of the top tube eyelets).

[Dead Man]

We should do a cleanest routing photo contest...

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab6/bkb0000/IMG_13891_zpssenrpsl0.jpg

(notice I did not call for a cleanest shop/garage contest)

[R3awak3n]

would definitely not enter that contest, no chance of winning that one.

[denapista]

Tape on tape.... Not tape on bars... My local builders scream that.

[cderalow]

Tape on tape.... Not tape on bars... My local builders scream that.

For some reason no matter how tight I get the tape on tape concept, it always slides onto the bars partially somive given up on that.

[oldpotatoe]

We should do a cleanest routing photo contest...



(notice I did not call for a cleanest shop/garage contest)

Nor I

[fuzzalow]

I think what it does is allow the cable to run front to back without rubbing anything. If on the left side, a housing stop, it would need a guide or tube or something to get the cable to come out of the rear stop without the cable resting/rubbing on the inside of the tube. Can't change the arm side of the brake so hole on right side. I'll bet it does save $....just 2 holes, stops vs guide/tubes.

There is your answer. Whatever it takes to pop those suckers out of a mold, sticker 'em up and sent 'em on down the line. What a great time & step saving feature to not have to glue on cable guides. One shot outta the mold and done.

[Dead Man]

Nor I
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697902122&stc=1&d=1434054285



Dude... what is that brake??

[choke]

Dude... what is that brake??Campy Record Delta.

[oldpotatoe]

Dude... what is that brake??

Hardy har har....probably the very first ABS bike brake, commonly called a 'speed reducer', not really a brake. Molto bello, si?

[Dead Man]

No joke, man... hokey religions and ancient weapons ;)

[choke]

Hardy har har....probably the very first ABS bike brake, commonly called a 'speed reducer', not really a brake. Molto bello, si?I love Deltas, I think they work better than a dual-pivot. And yes, I know I'm in the minority there.

[thirdgenbird]

I love Deltas, I think they work better than a dual-pivot. And yes, I know I'm in the minority there.

I've got 95-2000 pads/holders on mind and think they work nicely as well.

[Dead Man]

Tape on tape.... Not tape on bars... My local builders scream that.

I'm not familiar with this one, but I love little details like that. Is there a practical reason, or just workmanship/vanity?

Finishing tape is pretty much the only thing I'm sloppy with.

[zap]

This is just bad design. I have seen this on several bikes from several manufactures and it makes no sense. Why have the rear brake cable enter the frame on the drive side and force a tight bend of the cable to get there? Oh wait, it allows for a straight shot to the opposite side of the top tube for the exit. Makes for easier and cheaper manufacturing but reduces rear brake feel and performance. Boo. :mad:



Klein did this for years………..zero issues (no problem with feel and performance on my Klein but then again I ride Campagnolo ;)) and silence (no clanging brake cable).