straddle cables

Nick said:

I've checked google, and can't see that this has been discussed here
recently...

Does anyone know where I can get straddle cables for Weinmann style
centrepull brakes? I need some for a 1970s Viscount aerospace (viscount
branded brakes)....

See: http://harriscyclery.net/site/page.cfm?PageID=49&Category=1080

Sheldon "Centerpull" Brown
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| "The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a |
| thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that |
| cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be |
| impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Adams, RIP - HHGTTG |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Nick' nickandoscar@REMOVE THIS TO REPLYtiscali.co.uk said:

I've checked google, and can't see that this has been discussed here
recently...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know where I can get straddle cables for Weinmann style
centrepull brakes? I need some for a 1970s Viscount aerospace (viscount
branded brakes)....

Quoted message said:

or does anyone know how to make a strong and reliable enough alternative?

Another good location to search for bicycle information is
www.bikelist.org, home of the internet-bob and classicrendezvous and
framebuilders mailing lists.

In particular, it was mentioned a few months ago on one of those lists
that many motorocycle repair shops have a capability make barrel-ended
cables of many kinds. If you have a single cable of the type you
need, call them up and see if they can do it. The weinmann cable is
110 mm in length.

I also think loose screws has it for $2.90 :

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Cable/Casing&sc=Straddle%20Cable/Link%20Wire&tc=&item_id=DC-B1270.11&id=31327827834

That's an exhorbitant part (i'm sure they cost $0.40 wholesale), so
also check your local bike shop to see if they have any used spares.
If you have a really early weinmann brakeset (1960's, no plastic
bushings) then this cable will be too short, if i remember correctly.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

In Sheldon Brown said:

Sheldon "Centerpull" Brown
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| "The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a |
| thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that |
| cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be |
| impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Adams, RIP - HHGTTG |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

This reminds me of the difference between 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive: when
you're stuck in 4-wheel drive, you're really stuck.

Thanks for your various suggestions!

Nick

"Donald Gillies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nick' nickandoscar@REMOVE THIS TO REPLYtiscali.co.uk said:

I've checked google, and can't see that this has been discussed here
recently...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know where I can get straddle cables for Weinmann style
centrepull brakes? I need some for a 1970s Viscount aerospace (viscount
branded brakes)....

Quoted message said:

or does anyone know how to make a strong and reliable enough alternative?

Another good location to search for bicycle information is
www.bikelist.org, home of the internet-bob and classicrendezvous and
framebuilders mailing lists.

In particular, it was mentioned a few months ago on one of those lists
that many motorocycle repair shops have a capability make barrel-ended
cables of many kinds. If you have a single cable of the type you
need, call them up and see if they can do it. The weinmann cable is
110 mm in length.

I also think loose screws has it for $2.90 :

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Cable/Casing&sc=Straddle%20Cable/Link%20Wire&tc=&item_id=DC-B1270.11&id=31327827834

Quoted message said:

That's an exhorbitant part (i'm sure they cost $0.40 wholesale), so
also check your local bike shop to see if they have any used spares.
If you have a really early weinmann brakeset (1960's, no plastic
bushings) then this cable will be too short, if i remember correctly.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

"Nick" <nickandoscar@REMOVE THIS TO REPLYtiscali.co.uk> wrote...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know where I can get straddle cables for Weinmann style
centrepull brakes? I need some for a 1970s Viscount aerospace (viscount
branded brakes)....

or does anyone know how to make a strong and reliable enough alternative?

Nick -

on the off-chance you didn't know about their fork issues, I'd
recommend reading this page regarding Viscounts:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lambert.html

-- Jim

Thanks again for advice - I have now obtained a handful of variously sized
straddle cables from friends who recycle bikes (shameless plug: lets hear it
for the excellent Cyclemagic in Leicester UK www.cyclemagic.org.uk)

Oddly, the Viscount brakes do not quite take Weinmann nipples, which are
about 1mm too thick. A little judicious drilling and filing was necessary.
All fine now.

Also oddly, the cables I removed were longer, and had globular nipples (!!).
Looked like long thin dumbells. What could they be?

Possible alternative to tracking down Weinmanns: Shimano cantilever cables
(the sort where you require two to make up the whole straddle) are almost
exactly the size and shape of the Weinmanns, and may be easier to find.
Also, an old-style LBS said; "we can always make some for you" 'You can??' I
replied incredulously. 'Of course we can' they replied. So worth trying.

And thanks to Jim and others - I am VERY aware of the Visocunt fork
problems: on this bike, the forks have been replaced.

best wishes
Nick Jones

"Jim Edgar" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Nick" <nickandoscar@REMOVE THIS TO REPLYtiscali.co.uk> wrote...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know where I can get straddle cables for Weinmann style
centrepull brakes? I need some for a 1970s Viscount aerospace (viscount
branded brakes)....

or does anyone know how to make a strong and reliable enough

alternative?

Quoted message said:

Nick -

on the off-chance you didn't know about their fork issues, I'd
recommend reading this page regarding Viscounts:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lambert.html

-- Jim