Raleigh Sports Cable Clamp Thingy?
 

Okay, so it finally happened: the stupid metal clamp thingies that hold the Sports' cable to the top tube caught on my pant leg AGAIN (irony: it was my first pair of "real" bike capri pants with padded rear end) and one popped off, never to be seen again. So now I have one cable clamp instead of two.

Which is okay, as the cable isn't going anywhere, but I have to admit, it looks awkward with cable flapping around. And yet... I hate those cable clamps. They have these weird little upturned edges that catch on EVERYTHING I wear. So...

What should I replace them with? I want to ditch them both. Zip ties don't have the vintage appeal.

I'm referring to the metal things on the top tube in this picture:
http://rideblog.files.wordpress.com/...ancouver10.jpg

I just rotate mine so the lips are underneath the tube. Or away from where they will catch on things.

Aaron :)

Yeah, or , though not stock, some nice chrome, bolt on ones might be nice.

Some of the older models of those cable clamps had sharp steel edges, and I ripped a nice hole in my pants on that thing--twice! I agree that the 1970s bolt-on ones would be nice.

Neal

Duck tape! (quack, quack)

Seriously, Rootboy's suggestion is probably the best. Your Sports top tube is the standard 1" diameter of all (except French) top tubes, so all those fancy chrome (or sometimes stainless steel) clamps you see on high end racers will fit yours. You can get Campy, Shimano, Dia-Compe, Huret, Cyclo, REG, Simplex... anything you want, for a price.

There are also plastic ones made just for this purpose; better than zip ties, but I don't know where to find them.

Alternately you could drill holes in the lugs and run the cable internally. That would be pretty slick.

I have a few of those, SP, in black. I'd be glad to send them out. Let me know.

Neal

Dia-Comp ones cost a whole 10 buck for 3 from VO

It also looks like the lower clamp on the rear brake cable could be moved much closer to the seat tube. Perhaps that would move it out of range of your pedal stroke?

Benn there, done that... :). They slide. Grrrr.

I assume these are the VO ones that would work?
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ing-clips.html

Oh c'mon, what have you got against zip ties?
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=212375

(shamelessly procured from another thread)

I like these;
http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-Two-Shimano-...#ht_500wt_1361
You don't have to get the Shimano ones. Just google for cable clamps.

That would be them. They are really nice clamps and won't slide around. That's also a really good price on them. They usually are closer to $20 for 3.

Oh, yeah. Here's some Campy ones!
http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMPAGNOLO-cable...#ht_657wt_1344

+1

Or just lose the brakes. All they do is slow you down.

Gawd! another darn hipster!

Mine never stay in one position. They rotate, they slide... I'll order a new set of VO ones. Cheap, and they'll work. Thanks, guys.

I have never had an issue with that. Maybe because I squeeze them tighter when they are off the bike then spring them back on?

Aaron :)

I have never squeezed mine at all :). New screw-shut clamps on the way, and the Raleigh is headed into the shop while I'm in Ireland to get a tune-up. When I return, all will be clamped and greased and tightened!

Sounds pretty exciting.

You're going to Ireland to get tuned up Snarky? Pray , tell more. ;)

Unfortunately, I will not be receiving a tune-up. In fact, it may function the other way...

I'm taking 8 kids, with another chaperone, on a 9-day biking tour of Western Ireland. :)

I would "almost" be willing to volunteer for that! What aged kids? BTW I have mega experience as a BSA and GSA leader :D

Aaron :)

Wow. That sounds challenging indeed, but, I'll bet it might just end up a tune up for your soul. Sounds like great fun. I know we can look forward to some great pics upon your return.

The kids are high schoolers, and are great. My colleague and I took a group of 15 (16 to start, but one had to go home after what we now refer to only as "the incident with the fake sword") to England last year for 10 days. No riding. We just walked them nearly to death. It was great.

Jonwara helped us enormously with this route, incidentally.