Question: Brake cable bending radius

General Help
1

Hi all,

I am almost finished building my Pompino, and will attach the brake cables tomorrow.

Based on the layout of the brake arms, the routing of the cables from the bars to the arms is a bit nasty looking, particularly for the front brake.

Here’s a pic of the bike with the same brakes on the On-One web site:

Here’s a pic of my bike pre-fitting:

Would it make sense to pull the brake cable out from under the bar tape a few centimetres before the end of the tape to increase the bend radius a little? Or am I just trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist?

Thanks!

2

I’d run the front cable a touch shorter and the rear cable a bit longer so it loops nicer.

Or just go on Shifter Dan’s Instagram for cable routing porn.

3

Nah the front cable to the noodle is fine, you want the path of least resistance, Luke

4

left lever for front brake makes for better cable routing.

Never understood why the arms on the front aren’t switched to avoid those tighter angles. Maybe there’s a reason

5

Coz america/euro.

6

Sometimes with vee’s you’ll need to exit prior to where you might want to finish your bar tape. You can wrap past this and can sometimes mean smoother better routing, especially on smaller bikes and with less pileable brake outers.

7

Hi all,

Thanks for the great replies!

I agree with the following:

  • Path of least resistance
  • That it’s annoying that the manufacturers don’t make the front arms the other way around. I imagine it’s mostly for cost reasons

I could just reverse my levers… But then I need to re-train my brain. Having said that, I can drive an auto car with both feet and then switch to a manual without any dramas :wink:

Lorday, that’s what I was thinking I might have to do. I suppose I can cut the housing a touch long and then see what works best.

8

you’ll still have brakes in both hands, half of my bikes have backwards brakes.

Just run the cable slightly longer if you’re worried.

9

You’re overthinking this.

I’ve never had an issue cabling drops to linear brakes (mini vees) with RHS to front, even with compressionless housing.

Cut your housing a little long if you’re worried, then you can always trim it a bit shorter to improve the line. (take the inner out first!)

If you get truly OCD, there is a brake that the hardware can switch arms on, I forget which, or there’s the cane creek direct curve linear brake.