<WARNING: the following includes some snipping for conciseness> Jerry Moos asked: Should a Brooks seat clamp, one used with a straight post, be installed such that the saddle rails run below the bolt that secures the clamp to the post, or above them? I usually see Simplex clamps, whether integrated into the post, or a separate piece, installed with the rails below the bolt, but I often see Brooks seat clamps installed with the saddle rails above the bolt. Is there a right and wrong way?
Steve Birmingham responded: I don't think it matters much mechanically...They'll work just fine either way. Personally, I think rails below the bolt on the seat clamp and logos facing out on the hangers just looks better. And there's also the question of Whether the bolt on the seat clamp goes in front of or behind the seatpost.
And, I opine: In general, I've always seen the saddle clamps installed with the bolt below the rails. I strongly prefer this, because it allows adjustment and tightening with almost any kind of wrench ("spannner"), without disturbing the saddle flap. Just common sense. I've done it the other way only to get a fit on bikes that were otherwise too big, as for very short people. That lowers the saddle significantly, and back then we sometimes took heroic measures for our vertically challenged friends and kids. Now, wrt whether the bolt goes in front of or behind the seatpost, that's pretty easy. I put the bolt behind the seatpost always, unless dealing with a very old bike with a very slack seat angle. Then it goes in front, to move the saddle forward to roughly the same position as I get on a modern bike with more upright seat tube angle.
Now, wrt cable hanger orientation, there is a clear factory preference from the design, at least for Weinmann & Universal: logo "wants" to be seen, and brake cable to pass through the slot, where it makes it hard for the straddle cable to be removed. I always reversed this assembly, to get the nut to the outside instead of the bolt head, because it was easier to work on. This generally meant that the brake cable was on the opposite side of the hanger from the straddle cable, which also made that easier to take apart. Never had one pop out. Darn the factory esthetics, I wanted easy access.
harvey sachs
mcLean virginia usa.
(but i don't feel strongly about this)