Compressionless brake housings for cable discs.

[PH]

Leaving aside the practicality of using gear cable, I'm not convinced that if replacing 14" with compressionless made such a difference there wasn't something wrong with the original. Is it known how much normal brake cable compresses? What else might be going on?

[Mick F]

The way I see it - and watched it - the S bend probably opened up the spiral of the brake outer round the tight bends. When the brake lever is squeezed, you could see the S flex and move as the spiral compressed and shrank.

Now, with the gear compressionless cable - coated in heatshrink too - it doesn't move at all. Not in the slightest.

You could see the standard cable move as you operated the brake, so no matter why that was, there were losses.

[Mick F]

PS:
The cable at the front end is tightly wrapped in 'bar tape and held firmly. Obviously it exits then goes down to the boss on the frame. Maybe that length would compress, but as it wouldn't be allowed to move, and the bends not so tight, it may not be much of an issue.

The front brake ditto, but the open-air run down to the front calliper is a straight line.

That's my take on it.
Someone could give a better explanation perhaps.

[Mick F]

like I said before, you can buy a metre at a good LBS or on ebay

Good well-stocked LBS are in short supply round here.
I spent a while the other day searching for a metre length. Found a few on eBay but with zero stock. I gave up after a while.

Found some!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jagwire-Comp ... m570.l1313

................. and ordered.

[reohn2]

End caps/ferrules?

[Mick F]

Got loads of them in the spares drawer, or could use the ones that are on. I've got bits and bobs at the bottom of the toolbox too.

That Jagwire Kevlar stuff as a complete brake kit is 30odd quid.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/jagwire-road-pro-brake-kit/

[reohn2]

Got loads of them in the spares drawer, or could use the ones that are on. I've got bits and bobs at the bottom of the toolbox too.

That Jagwire Kevlar stuff as a complete brake kit is 30odd quid.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/jagwire-road-pro-brake-kit/

A lot cheaper from High on Bikes and free P&P too:- http://www.highonbikes.com/jagwire-road ... O0QAvD_BwE

[Mick F]

Well spotted.
I don't need a complete kit, so one metre is more than enough for the two sections of rear. If there's not sufficient for the long front ......... much longer than a normal bike due to the long way down to the small wheel ........... it won't really matter. If It does bother me, I'll buy another metre. The front cable is about a foot longer than a 700c bike.

[the_twin]

I’ll try some on my moulton with v brakes. The rear always seems a bit mushy.

[Mick F]

Let us know how you get on.

[Brucey]

I’ll try some on my moulton with v brakes. The rear always seems a bit mushy.

the stays are flexy, so you may not get a huge benefit

cheers

[reohn2]

.......I posted up thread that I haven't used compressionless housings on three bikes I've built with BB7 discs and all brake very well indeed.
However when I get chance I'm going to buy some for my Vaya and see if I've been wrong all along.
I'll report back on ths thread in due course

I've been out for a ride today on said Vaya and decided I can't better my brakes an more than the ability to lock them up,with superb modulation to boot ,so I won't be bothering with the compressionless housings after all.

[the_twin]

I’ll try some on my moulton with v brakes. The rear always seems a bit mushy.

the stays are flexy, so you may not get a huge benefit

cheers

I suppose I could go proper old skool and fit a purple anodised brake booster.

[Mick F]

I’ll try some on my moulton with v brakes. The rear always seems a bit mushy.

the stays are flexy, so you may not get a huge benefit

I don't understand.

Flexy stays?
If you mean the rear triangle stays, they are very rigid on mine. I have absolutely no experience with V brakes at all.

[Mick F]

Found some!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jagwire-Comp ... m570.l1313
................. and ordered.

Arrived in less than 24hrs.
Been busy this afternoon and evening, so yet to fit it, and also busy tomorrow - plus riding Mercian for a change.

Looking at the cable and feeling it, it's a very stiff cable. Much stiffer than standard gear cable.
I'll be fitting it and testing it out maybe Thursday and/or Friday.