Cable through steel frame?

[3narf]

I'm renovating a steel singlespeed bike, and was looking at the possibility of removing the ugly cable guides on the top tube, and routing the rear brake cable through it.

Is it advisable or even possible? I don't want to weaken the tube unduly. I assume there are some frame grommets available to keep the weather out...

Ta

 

[And]

It is possible, but to do properly is not necessarily an easy task - here's one way:
http://noviceframebuilder.co.uk/personal-articles/internal-top-tube-cable-routing

 

[midlife]

Turn it into a fixed with no rear brake?

 

[S-Express]

Remove the cable guides, and put a cable boss underneath the top tube at either end, then run an open wire between them. Much neater. Unless you run a tube internally which is brazed at both ends, then grommets will never guarantee a proper seal..

 

[3narf]

Turn it into a fixed with no rear brake?

not likely!

 

[mcshroom]

Not sure this helps much, but I like the look of the cable running along the top through those guides.

However the picture makes it look like that frame is bent

 

[3narf]

Yeah, it's just the camera. It's definitely not bent.

Always thought the cable guides looked a bit of an afterthought...

Not sure this helps much, but I like the look of the cable running along the top through those guides.

However the picture makes it look like that frame is bent

 

[burntoutbanger]

Don't know but all I hear about internally routed cables is that they rattle like mad. Certainly puts me off, not convinced by the aesthetics either.

 

[3narf]

Thx all, it doesn't sound like something I can be bothered to do as I think the cables will emerge almost at 90° unless I drill them oversized or file them into an oval.

Slotted guides below the top tube would look OK...

 

[Globalti]

It's been done. Google pics of brake cable entry fittings to see how.