<Sigh> Canti Straddle wire question

[Arch]

Right. I got the Galaxy powdercoated, and a new headset put in, and the old front cable hanger no longer fits under the top locknut onto the headset (it was the old sort with a notch to locate it in the headset, and is too narrow a diamter to fit over the current one). Clamp-on cable hangers designed for cyclo-cross bikes are meant to clamp on a 28mm stem, my stem is about 23 mm, so I'm thinking that would be way too much difference to shim. Never mind, I found a nifty Kona hanger that bolts to the forkcrown, and points upwards. Last night, thought I might try and cable the brakes up, but find that the straddle wire I bought to go with the cantis is too long, and the hanger point is too low. I can't seem to find the shimano straddle cables in any other size, although Sheldon suggests they are made, and indeed, my old ones (rather rusty) are shorter.

Looking this morning I've found the Clarks Universal brake straddle wire:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...alogId=10151&partNumber=678854&langId=-1#dtab

Will this do the trick? I guess I also need the little triangular hanger thingy as well to attach the main cable to (would Halfords also have them?).

As far as I can see, the options are a shorter straddle wire ( is there a source I haven't found by googling?), or using the old hanger and having it filed out to fit the new, wider headset (I have a mate who could do this, I think), or to have the clamp-on one and shim like crazy, which strikes me as a bit ugly, and possibly not safe (more to slip). Is there an obvious solution I'm missing? I'll go into a bike shop and ask if I think I know what I want, but I'd appreciate some advice from folk who won't make me feel small if I'm being stupid...

 

[P.H]

You can get spares for the Tektro cantis that include the straddle wire and Yoke, unfortunatly they come in pairs and you seem to only need the one;
http://www.zepnat.com Stock them, though any bike shop who stock Tektro should be able to get them.
If you can, stick with the up hanger, I haven't used one but they are supposed to offer better braking.

 

[Arch]

Oh, that's helpful, thanks. I suspect I do need a pair, because I've just offered the straddle wire up the rear and it seems too long too.

The actual canti arms are shimano, will tektro be compatible? I'm assuming the little nodule on the end is the key...

I'm glad you rate the up hanger - I was quite proud of myself for finding that online on my own....

 

[Landslide]

Have you got this sort of arrangement at the mo?

If so, then you can replace it with the straddle wire you linked to, or even an old (MTB nippled) brake cable (though it does make unhooking the brake a little bit more difficult). You'll need a hanger such as this:

Should be available in pretty much any LBS for about a quid.

 

[Arch]

Yes, that's the thing I have.

ok, well, that will work out cheaper. I thought it would work, I just needed someone to say so....

So, are those shimano straddle cables still made in different sizes? I just ordered a pair from SJS because they said they were compatible with the brakes - and they are, it's just the hanger that isn't compatible with them...

And people say bikes are simple. They are, until you try to rebuild one that's more than a few years old.... I suppose I could have been more oragnised about checking all these details, but you forget how many complications a simple thing like a cable can throw up....

 

[Landslide]

IIRC, the Shimano ones (as per my first picture) were made in a couple of sizes, but dependent upon the cantis they were being used with. The idea was to give a standardised cable geometry (which Shimano considered to be the optimum).

Using a generic straddle wire and hanger (as per my second picture) gives you more options in cable geometry, and lets you adjust the feel of the brake more (hard/spongy feel at the lever), and also affects the modulation and stopping power.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Arch is this for your galaxy, if so I took of the old avids off my galaxy and replaced them with tektros so I have probably got the avids in the shed if you get stuck let me know and if they are still there you can have them.

 

[John the Monkey]

Arch, I have the Kona hanger on my Long Haul Trucker, although I use Tektro CR720 brakes on that bike.

The Clarks universal wire should work - as I recall, the side with the cylinder + triangular shaped piece is the one you need for shimano brakes - snip the un-needed side off, thread through the straddle, clamp to the other brake arm & finish with a ferrule. As Landslide says, using a conventional straddle & wire should give you more options for set up.

 

[PpPete]

Those cantis like in Landslide's first pic....
IIRC they are not as powerful as the old wide-style Deore cantis (that look a bit like CR720s). If you are planning any loaded touring I'd be looking to replace with CR720 or these

 

[mickle]

Get your Gal to Acaster Arch.

 

[Landslide]

^^^
That'll sort it!

 

[Arch]

Get your Gal to Acaster Arch.

That's kind, but I'm getting a bit bloody minded about doing it myself.

If it all goes wrong, I'll come begging with my tail between my legs... Anyway, I'd have to push it out there!

Porkypete, I've being buying bits with a view to economy, and fully expecting to upgrade eventually. I just want to get out and riding and find the perfect set up in terms of bars etc. Before I do anything really serious, I'll invest more, cheers for the tip.

Phil, thanks but I think I'm set up for now, cheers for the offer though...

 

[PpPete]

That's kind, but I'm getting a bit bloody minded about doing it myself.

.

Attagirl !

 

[Arch]

Attagirl !

Just wait until it goes wrong and I have to go running to the kind gentleman...

I know I should be able to do it all, in fact I have rebuilt it once, although that was all with just the original bits after a strip and respray. But back them I had a guru on hand to check stuff with, and anyway, I wasn't trying to use new stuff...