Were these cantilever brakes assembled wrong?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
Were these cantilever brakes assembled wrong?
Just noticed this on my Super Strada. Seems to me the cables on the rear brakes should run inside
the rear racks frame instead of to the outside where they rub the rack?
the rear racks frame instead of to the outside where they rub the rack?
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 777
Bikes: Raleigh Classic 15, 84; Miyata 912, 85; Miyata Ridge Runner SE, 85; Miyata 610, 86; Miyata 100M, 86; Miyata Valley Runner, 88; Miyata Triple Cross, 89; GT Karakoram, 90; Miyata Elevation 300, 91; Marinoni Touring, 95; Long Haul Trucker, 2013
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 159 Post(s)
Liked 133 Times
in
80 Posts
Inside is more usual. Note that one often has to balance straddle cable length and position. Would moving the cable inside eliminate rubbing, or just move the rub to the inside?
#4
Hoards Thumbshifters
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Signal Mountain, TN
Posts: 1,155
Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 245 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times
in
191 Posts
Yes...
...try to readjust the cable hanger to where the bottom of it is basically where the cross bar is and then the single brake cable wire goes between the two rack supports.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1607 Post(s)
Liked 2,213 Times
in
1,103 Posts
Straddle cable is too long.
Straddle Cables Done Right – Rene Herse Cycles
Straddle Cables Done Right – Rene Herse Cycles
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
The original owner only rode this bike a few times so I'm fairly certain the bike
was set up by the shop where it was purchased.
was set up by the shop where it was purchased.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1607 Post(s)
Liked 2,213 Times
in
1,103 Posts
@robertj298 - send the link to the shop! The length of the straddle cable negates the purpose of having a brake that works correctly, much more important than it rubbing on the rack.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#8
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Optimal straddle length will create a 90 degree bend from the line that connects pivot-to-binder bolt and the binder bolt-to-straddle yoke. Normal angle pull gives the most leverage to the pivot. Set it up as close 90 degrees that you can achieve without rubbing on the rack.
#9
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
Perhaps they were trying to avoid the scenario where the brake cable snaps and allows the straddle cable to fall and catch on the tire?
Likes For ThermionicScott:
#10
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2295 Post(s)
Liked 2,042 Times
in
1,251 Posts
That would be cutting one's nose off...
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
Likes For robertj298:
#12
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
I mean, that was my best guess. I'd do it differently.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,265
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
701 Posts
I had an 85 Viva Touring, which was a level down from your bike, that was very low mileage and still had the original set up. You can see in this pic that the cable hanger was lower and the straddle cable inside the rack struts.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
As suggested I changed the cables to this which I think is much better
#15
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Yeah, my first thought was "Were they trying to rig up a straddle cable catch?"
My Univega was missing the front and rear stalks that served the dual purpose of holding reflectors and as straddle cable catchers. I thought about replacing those. But after recabling the bike I realized the odds of those massively thick brake cables snapping were nil. Those cables are much thicker than road bike brake cables, and I've never had one of those snap. I've had a few shifter cable fray, usually around the shifters themselves. But never a brake cable.
My Univega was missing the front and rear stalks that served the dual purpose of holding reflectors and as straddle cable catchers. I thought about replacing those. But after recabling the bike I realized the odds of those massively thick brake cables snapping were nil. Those cables are much thicker than road bike brake cables, and I've never had one of those snap. I've had a few shifter cable fray, usually around the shifters themselves. But never a brake cable.
#16
Senior Member
These appear to be cantilevers with horizontal (90*) arms. If that is the case, straddle cable length does not matter ( see canti-geometry.pdf (circleacycles.com) ). Set the length to whatever length is needed to clear the rack on the inside.
You might be able to simply unhook the straddle cable from the arms and feed the cable to the inside.
You might be able to simply unhook the straddle cable from the arms and feed the cable to the inside.
#17
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,181
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1562 Post(s)
Liked 1,285 Times
in
856 Posts
If those are the bike's OEM radial tires(?), you will experience a massive improvement in steering feel and overall handling if you install non-radial tires.
90-degrees to the line of action between the transverse cable anchor point and caliper pivot is not the optimum when greatest leverage is needed. Generally the power/leverage increases as the transverse straddle cable is made shorter, because the tension in the straddle cable increases for any given pull/tension at the lever.
90-degrees to the line of action between the transverse cable anchor point and caliper pivot is not the optimum when greatest leverage is needed. Generally the power/leverage increases as the transverse straddle cable is made shorter, because the tension in the straddle cable increases for any given pull/tension at the lever.
Last edited by dddd; 07-21-21 at 04:48 PM.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,742
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,862 Times
in
1,439 Posts
These appear to be cantilevers with horizontal (90*) arms. If that is the case, straddle cable length does not matter ( see canti-geometry.pdf (circleacycles.com) ). Set the length to whatever length is needed to clear the rack on the inside.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes