Why not some 6 or 10lb. test monafilament fishing line; its strong and less visible than hemp!
Michael Doleman wrote:
> I've come-up with an OK solution to the
> cables-rubbing-the-paint-off-the-head-tube problem, which does not involve
> having to dress the head tube or cables in any way. It's very simple...
>
> What you do is use a couple wraps of hemp twine around the cable and the
> fork crown, and pull it tight such that the cable passes just below the
> lower extremity of the headtube, just under the lower headset cup. You have
> to make sure that the twine is pulled tight enough, and also dab a little
> glue on the knot, otherwise it's sure to come un-tied.
>
> This method DOES put the cables through yet another radical bend, but I have
> not noticed any performance problems because of it. I imagine there might be
> some folks who don't care for the aestehtics of it, but to my mind it is no
> worse than having to mediate the articulation of the cable to the head tube
> with all sorts of extra tubing and what-not.
>
> I like my solution because it actually gets rid of the cause of the problem.
> In addition, it also acts as a steering limiter.
>
>
>
> Pete Imandt writes:
>
> >
> > With respect to the metal housing paint problems,
> >
> > Tom Adams wrote:
> >> ...beware of the steel housings rubbing paint on head tubes. My Raliegh Pro
> >> bears the marks of the steel bar con housings eroding the paint away.
> >
> > Bill Boston responded:
> >> I have found that a small length of "heat shrink" tubing slid over the cable
> >> housing before installation does a good job of preventing this.
> >
> > For a cleaner, and less obtrusive installation, I've used short segments of
> > clear plastic tubing on the bar con and rear changer housings. Fish tank air
> > line and med gas tubing seem to work equally well. Push the tubing, don't
> > pull on the housing, or you may uncurl it. Give the tubing a hot water bath
> > to ease the installation. Also, the tubing is more resilient than the
> > shrunk-on electrical insulation.
> >
> > Pete (no eroded paint) Imandt
> > Ramona, CA