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