Brake cables
- tuco
- Posts: 2016
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm
Brake cables
Postby tuco » Mon May 14, 2007 5:01 pm
In the good old days of dragsters the brake cables always snapped up near the lever just when we needed them the most.
Is it still a problem?
- europa
- Posts: 7334
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:51 am
- Location: southern end of Adelaide - home of hills, fixies and drop bears
Postby europa » Mon May 14, 2007 5:29 pm
Richard
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Postby sogood » Mon May 14, 2007 5:56 pm
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
-
- Super Mod
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:32 pm
Postby heavymetal » Mon May 14, 2007 8:23 pm
I think on the old style brake levers, the cable was more exposed to the elements which caused it to snap. It's gear cables that snap now, where as in the past it was rare to snap a gear cable.
It was usually that little chain that went into the Sturmey Archer 3 speed internal hub that broke.
Kev.
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Postby sogood » Mon May 14, 2007 8:53 pm
I remember that chain. If you have an accident with your SA hubbed bike, it's quite easy to grind that chain to nothing. Terrible location. The little cover the put over it does bugger all.heavymetal wrote:It was usually that little chain that went into the Sturmey Archer 3 speed internal hub that broke.
I do miss SA's gear adjustment though. It's so easy. Just have to line up and that's it.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
-
- Super Mod
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:32 pm
Postby heavymetal » Mon May 14, 2007 9:00 pm
Unbelievably they were made out of plastic. I did eventually track down one made out of metal, but it eventually ground away after my many stacks on the dragstersogood wrote:The little cover the put over it does bugger all.
Kev.
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Postby sogood » Mon May 14, 2007 9:07 pm
Impressive. Did you ever try to service one of those SA hubs? I have poured through technical manuals but never had the guts to pull one apart. Still wondered how it all worked.heavymetal wrote:Unbelievably they were made out of plastic. I did eventually track down one made out of metal, but it eventually ground away after my many stacks on the dragster
I have to say it's way more convenient to maintain than these derailleurs.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
-
- Super Mod
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:32 pm
Postby heavymetal » Mon May 14, 2007 9:09 pm
Kev
- mikesbytes
- Super Mod
- Posts: 22160
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:42 pm
- Location: Tempe, Sydney
- Contact:
Postby mikesbytes » Mon May 14, 2007 10:05 pm
_________________________________________________________________________________
Burn plenty of Glycogen
Frame Size Calculator.....Park Tools Repair Guides Frame Size Calculator.....Rolling Resistance.....Rolling Performance.....Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info
training log.....Body-Mass Index, Waist-to-Height Ratio, Basal Metaboic Rate
Bicycle FAQs.....Bicycle Safety.....Cadence in Cycling.....Types of Bicycles
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
- Bnej
- Posts: 2880
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm
- Location: Katoomba, NSW
Postby Bnej » Mon May 14, 2007 10:48 pm
Shimano Nexus hubs are just as easy, you line up two red marks. Plus, the cable attaches to a gizmo that rotates around the axle, nothing sticks out to get broken off.sogood wrote:I do miss SA's gear adjustment though. It's so easy. Just have to line up and that's it.
I believe with the Rohloff hub you can even set the gear when the cable has broken directly on the hub.
One sun gear, probably four or more planets, then an outer orbital gear. By selecting which is locked to the input and which to the wheel, you get four ratios from such a system - though only three are used in a 3 speed hub.I pulled one apart once. I was never really able to get it to work properly after putting it back together. It seemed to have more neutral gears than three gears
See this article on epicyclic gearing.
Re. OP, you'd hope that you don't break two brake cables at once. I think normally cables start twanging and clicking before completely snapping, so as long as you start each ride with two brakes in good condition then you should be safe.
- tuco
- Posts: 2016
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm
- europa
- Posts: 7334
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:51 am
- Location: southern end of Adelaide - home of hills, fixies and drop bears
Postby europa » Tue May 15, 2007 3:54 pm
I don't think brake cables are an issue.
Still haven't got out to try the new levers ... some sod keeps sending storm clouds across my house
Richard
- Bnej
- Posts: 2880
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm
- Location: Katoomba, NSW
Postby Bnej » Tue May 15, 2007 4:05 pm
They can be, but yeah not normally.europa wrote:I don't think brake cables are an issue.
If you look at the ends for signs of fraying, esp if the cable loses it's cap and starts coming apart at the calliper, then you have a problem brewing. Likewise, if the pull of the brake starts feeling inconsistent, or developing more travel, you need to check it.
As long as you are checking for frayed ends and nothing strange is happening, then you ought to be safe from a spontaneously snapping cable. Never start a ride without two functioning brakes, and stop ASAP if you find yourself with one only!
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Postby sogood » Tue May 15, 2007 4:15 pm
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
- Bnej
- Posts: 2880
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm
- Location: Katoomba, NSW
Postby Bnej » Tue May 15, 2007 4:46 pm
Once they start fraying at the ends, it tends to get worse over time, and eventually it'll pop out because it's effectively getting thinner, so the nut won't hold it onto the calliper.sogood wrote:What does frayed ends have to do with it? Fraying ends are effectively out of the system as far as brake function is concerned.
That's why you have to have the cap on the cable to stop it from fraying.
Return to “General Cycling Discussion”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Cannondale
- Garmin
- Giant
- Shimano
- Trek
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.