Maximum curve in brake cable

[KneesUp]

I'm about to swap my brake levers for some aero ones - I think that after 25 years the technology has proven itself

I also have a set of 3t Tiramisu bars like these:

What I'd like to do is fit cross levers on the extension bars so that I can brake from them. Although the bars are slightly too narrow, it's fine with a little padding (i.e. a bit of old inner tube)

I'm not sure it can be done though because I can't work out where to run the cables. The best I can come up with is something like this, using v-brake 'noodles' to guide the cable, but I'm not sure it would work (please don't be too in awe of my amazing photoshop skills)

I don't really care too much about the aesthetics as long as it works. What (apart from 'why are you bothering, it'll look awful') are your thoughts? Cheers.

 

[ColinJ]

Could you put the levers on the other way round so the cable comes out in vaguely the right direction?

 

[Drago]

Is it wise to be braking from that position? Drawn forward like that with your hands close together well in front often steering axis isn't the most stable position at the end of times.

 

[KneesUp]

Could you put the levers on the other way round so the cable comes out in vaguely the right direction?

Er, I don't know - I've never actually used cross levers before, let alone fitted them. These have been in my parts bin for a while because they were cheap - it sounds like it might work though - thanks.

 

[KneesUp]

Is it wise to be braking from that position? Drawn forward like that with your hands close together well in front often steering axis isn't the most stable position at the end of times.

I don't intend to do most of my braking there. I can brake from the hoods and the drops with the normal levers and I thought getting from the extensions to the drops to brake suddenly would be worse than braking from the extensions. My intention is that they will be there as a "OMFG (s)he hasn't seen me" option.

 

[Drago]

Ok, what levers you have in mind?

 

[KneesUp]

They're cross levers - the cable runs from the normal lever to them, and then onwards to the brake.

Mine are from a scrapped Giant, so are not branded, but look exactly like these:

 

[Drago]

Ah, interruptor levers. They won't work on their own at the end of a cable I'm afraid.

 

[KneesUp]

There will be a normal brake lever too - I just haven't put it on the diagram as I have no attention to detail - it will be in the normal place, so the cable run starts where I've drawn it, connected to a drop bar lever.

 

[Drago]

Ah, I see. I think I'm with Colin here. Cable from the aero lever, down the bar, along the detention to the second lever, then the only way I can see is for it to then arc outwards from the end of the extension and along the opposite side of the bike.

That'll be a long cable run with a lot of curves. I'd be worried it's gonna feel a bit mushy.

 

[KneesUp]

I've got non-aero levers with big old fashioned loops at the moment

 

[Drago]

Ah, then that might be better. I'd do straight from the back of the prime brake lever, across the gap to the aero bar thingy, rather than try and follow the shape of the handlebars. Might not look too untidy either.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Try the set up and see if the brake cable runs freely through it. If it does then ok. If it creates a lot of resistance then you will have to rethink.

One place to watch out for is where the ferules go into a housing. If the angle is too acute there it will eventually bend and restrict the cable function. These are probably the most important sites not to over stress.

 

[KneesUp]

I've just had a quick try with one on the wrong side and the wrong way around as @ColinJ suggested.

This might be genius because is means that I can run the cable through the inside of the opposite extension bar, which might be neater. I'm not sure about the exit though - as @Cyclopathic suggests, the angle might get a bit tight there when I use the secondary levers. But it's worth a try. More photoshop wizadry follows. That's not a real brake lever, believe it or not I drew it myself.

 

[simon.r]

I've never used them, but Nokon cables are supposedly good for tight curves. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/nokon-nokon-universal-cable-set-15m/

A tad pricey though