brake lever - cross-type, Q...
- simonineaston
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brake lever - cross-type, Q...
Sitting thinking about my impending drop-bar setup y'day, I suddenly thought about something... I am planning to fit a pair of cross-type brake levers, in addition to the Campag. Ergo shifters. I understand that the cross lever operates on the cable outer, pushing it, as opposed to regular levers which pull the inner.
My brake cables differ, front and rear, as do most bikes', I imagine, in that the front is a single simple length starting at the lever (or levers!) and ending at the brake. The cable outer is one piece and is not tethered in any way. So Far, so Good!
The rear brake cable is different. Not only is the outer separated into 2 sections, but the cable inner is routed through several guides on its way to the rear brake. How is the cross lever for the rear brake going to work? The front section of cable outer is fixed firmly into a cable stop up near the front of the cycle - surely a cross-type lever can only work if the cable outer is in one piece and floating free to move up and down the inner?
My brake cables differ, front and rear, as do most bikes', I imagine, in that the front is a single simple length starting at the lever (or levers!) and ending at the brake. The cable outer is one piece and is not tethered in any way. So Far, so Good!
The rear brake cable is different. Not only is the outer separated into 2 sections, but the cable inner is routed through several guides on its way to the rear brake. How is the cross lever for the rear brake going to work? The front section of cable outer is fixed firmly into a cable stop up near the front of the cycle - surely a cross-type lever can only work if the cable outer is in one piece and floating free to move up and down the inner?
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
The cable outer will be fixed at both ends, one at the main lever/shifter and the other end at the cable stop, the cross lever in between, the gaps between cable stops, where you have bare inner cable don't matter they are a fixed points and it will be just the same as having a full length cable outer. When you pull the cross lever the brake will operate just as the front does. I don't think I have explained it very well, but, trust me it will work
Neil
Neil
If it aint broke, fix it til it is.
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8077
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
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Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
I'm a trusting sort of fellow, Neil
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
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Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
Stand alongside your bike and look at the run of outer between the (main) brake lever and the cable stop where that meets the frame.
Now imagine that that bit of outer can be lengthened by a centimetre or so.
There
Now imagine that that bit of outer can be lengthened by a centimetre or so.
There
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8077
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
- Location: ...at a cricket ground
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
Ta for the suggestion - but I still can't imagine it! It's enough to know they'll work When I've got them fitted, I'll wiggle them to and fro' and admire the way it all happens!
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
Are you aware that you have to cut the outer cable and the cross top levers go between the two cut ends and pull them apart when you use the brake.
As everything else is fixed, making the outer cable longer is the same thing, at the brake end, as making the inner cable shorter.
As everything else is fixed, making the outer cable longer is the same thing, at the brake end, as making the inner cable shorter.
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
I've run them on several bikes with different brake/cable run configurations - when set up correctly it doesn't seem to matter how, it just works!
Convention? what's that then?
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Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
Its all about the relative length of the inner wire and the outer cable. Lengthening the outer is just the same as shortening the inner. (like using the barrel adjuster)
A cross-top lever wouldn't work if the outer cable was rigid and fixed between 2 rigid stops.....but it isn't.
A cross-top lever wouldn't work if the outer cable was rigid and fixed between 2 rigid stops.....but it isn't.
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Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
My wife found they didn't work well on her spesh dolce, no matter what i did, the movement of cable outer was not enough to give good braking, front or rear. she was much happier with them off.
i didn't like them when i tried her bike, too mushy. ok for slowing, no good for stopping.
i didn't like them when i tried her bike, too mushy. ok for slowing, no good for stopping.
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Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
andrewjoseph wrote:My wife found they didn't work well on her spesh dolce, no matter what i did, the movement of cable outer was not enough to give good braking, front or rear. she was much happier with them off.
i didn't like them when i tried her bike, too mushy. ok for slowing, no good for stopping.
That's a clear indicator that they were not set up properly - in my 10 year experience I've found them to be as good, sometimes better than the main levers.
Lets get this right because its important, the cable outer should not be moving as such, rather it is being compressed - if spiral outer is used it doesn't work properly, you have to use linear brake outer.
Convention? what's that then?
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
I find the cross lever gives far better braking than on the hoods and as good as on the drops.
That is with normal spiral wound brake outer casing, I dont think I have ever heard of, or noticed any body, using any different outer casing because of cross levers before.
That is with normal spiral wound brake outer casing, I dont think I have ever heard of, or noticed any body, using any different outer casing because of cross levers before.
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
A cross-top lever wouldn't work if the outer cable was rigid and fixed between 2 rigid stops.....but it isn't.
the cable outer should not be moving as such, rather it is being compressed
I think that both of these statements are really open to being mis-interpretted.
Last edited by beardy on 3 Jun 2015, 9:12pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
beardy wrote:I find the cross lever gives far better braking than on the hoods and as good as on the drops.
That is with normal spiral wound brake outer casing, I dont think I have ever heard of, or noticed any body, using any different outer casing because of cross levers before.
This was my experience also.
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
foxyrider wrote:.......... the cable outer should not be moving as such, rather it is being compressed - if spiral outer is used it doesn't work properly, you have to use linear brake outer.
Would that be the linear brake outer also sold as non-compressible outer?
Of course the outer is moving....cross top levers work by moving the outer, other levers work by moving the inner, mostly.
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bike-set-up-2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Re: brake lever - cross-type, Q...
beardy wrote:A cross-top lever wouldn't work if the outer cable was rigid and fixed between 2 rigid stops.....but it isn't...................
I think that both of these statements are really open to being mis-interpretted.
Go on then.
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bike-set-up-2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/