Calliper straddle wire.

[compo]

What is special about straddle wires. My old ones on an old mountain bike look just like a very short brake cable, although there is a small piece of lead attached to the cable towards the nipple end. I cannot see the purpose for this bit of lead. What is wrong in simply cutting a break cable down and using the short length. The nipple end fits and the cut end is fastened by a fastener nut and bolt. I do need to get a couple of reflectors to give me a bracket to go under the wire prevent the straddle wire hitting the tyre in case of a brake cable fail.

 

[I like Skol]

You are right compo, nothing to stop you using an old (or new) bit of short brake cable as the straddle wire. The tabs or nobules near the nipple head are there to help you unclip the straddle wire when you need to release the brakes to drop out the wheel.

There are also some set-ups where the straddle is actually formed using a short fixed length cable and the main cable runs through this and a short length of housing to the clamp bolt.

 

[srw]

As it happens I was on the SJS website yesterday ordering other stuff, and they sell a straddle wire for not very much money - rather less than a brake cable. Of course you've still got to pay for postage.

 

[compo]

As it happens I was on the SJS website yesterday ordering other stuff, and they sell a straddle wire for not very much money - rather less than a brake cable. Of course you've still got to pay for postage.

Cheers for the heads up. I realise tailor made straddles are inexpensive but I have loads of brake cables kicking about.

 

[fossyant]

My XT ones have a coiled 'spring' type setup on one side where the brake cable runs through, and a short cable the otherside. This doubles up as a way of stopping the cable snagging the tyres in the case of a failure !

 

[I like Skol]

I'll just point out that we are actually talking about cantilever brakes, not calipers

 

[Steve Malkin]

I'll just point out that we are actually talking about cantilever brakes, not calipers

Old centre pull type brakes use straddle wires too, or do those count as cantilevers rather than calipers?

 

[compo]

I'll just point out that we are actually talking about cantilever brakes, not calipers

You are spot on! I did make an error in the title which I didn't realise until you pointed it out. I did mean Cantilever so cannot explain why I wrote Caliper.

 

[I like Skol]

Old centre pull type brakes use straddle wires too, or do those count as cantilevers rather than calipers?

View attachment 37063

Yes but with caliper type brakes the straddle wire doesn't drop into the tyre tread