Re: [CR]Origins of cable routing below BB

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: <NortonMarg@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 13:34:26 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Origins of cable routing below BB
To: heine@mindspring.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


In a message dated 6/10/02 9:25:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time, heine@mindspring.com writes:

<< Somebody please explain to me how the brake cable routing inside the top tube came about in the early 1980s (?). Hint: The 1952 Herse has that feature as well. >>

That's easy! Bike riders leaning (sitting) on their top tubes got tired of the "cable welt" developing on their back sides. It seemed it was always just above the chamois, and some enterprising soul had his cable internally routed. He then discovered the extra benefit of improved aerodynamics adding 2 mph to his top speed (at least it felt like 2 mph because he no longer had that linear painful welt).
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA