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friction shifter clamps, brake cable clamps, bottle cage clamps (clamps as an alternative to brazed mounts)

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Bryce

New Rider
Hub Hero
Dear bike fans,

Very soon I'm having a new Reynolds 853 frame made by Mercian (UK) and if possible I would like to avoid adding brazed mounting points for everything (shifters, brake cables and even bottle cages) and keep the tubes total clean. Does someone know where it's possible (or if it's possible) to buy brake cable clamp mounts (for the top tube and downtube) and bottle cages with clamp mounts? I have friction shifters with their own clamps already (shifting solved - no brazed mounts needed). I will be using standard sized tubes (1 inch or 28.6mm).
 
Dear bike fans,

Very soon I'm having a new Reynolds 853 frame made by Mercian (UK) and if possible I would like to avoid adding brazed mounting points for everything (shifters, brake cables and even bottle cages) and keep the tubes total clean. Does someone know where it's possible (or if it's possible) to buy brake cable clamp mounts (for the top tube and downtube) and bottle cages with clamp mounts? I have friction shifters with their own clamps already (shifting solved - no brazed mounts needed). I will be using standard sized tubes (1 inch or 28.6mm).

Hi,

Housing stops are quite difficult to find in my country - even for the common tube diameters.

I Googled and found this 28.6 mm housing stop (Amazon affiliate link). Not sure if it's any good.

For the UK, I suppose that the SJS Cycles may be a better option:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/286-jtek-clampon-double-frame-cable-stop-silver/

Relja
 
Hi,

Housing stops are quite difficult to find in my country - even for the common tube diameters.

I Googled and found this 28.6 mm housing stop (Amazon affiliate link). Not sure if it's any good.

For the UK, I suppose that the SJS Cycles may be a better option:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/286-jtek-clampon-double-frame-cable-stop-silver/

Relja
Hi Relya,
Thanks for your reply. I suppose my real purpose of posting my question was my concern about drilling holes into expensive bicycle tubing. Mercian produce steel bikes with traditional methods and I'm opting for hand-cut lugs which are expensive. I think it's interesting that before I pay the deposit, I have a unique moment to make choices that few people ever have. My natural instinct is to reject the idea of drilling nasty holes into the frame tubing just to hold bottles onto the frame. I don't drink sip sip sip like many people when riding. I stop, get off the bike and unscrew the bottle top and drink from the bottle like a cup and I don't like using the squirting method that these bottles offer. This is important because I naturally don't drink while riding.

What do you think about the drilling of holes into the tubes? Does it damage, weaken of otherwise negatively affect the integrity of the tubing? I also will not get bosses for cable stops because I've bought downtube friction shifters with clamps for 28.6 tubing. I will have bosses on the top tube for the rear brake. And I'm thinking of getting bosses for cantilever brakes instead of caliper brakes. What is your opinion? Perhaps you have a post about that already.

Thank you.
 
Hi Relya,
Thanks for your reply. I suppose my real purpose of posting my question was my concern about drilling holes into expensive bicycle tubing. Mercian produce steel bikes with traditional methods and I'm opting for hand-cut lugs which are expensive. I think it's interesting that before I pay the deposit, I have a unique moment to make choices that few people ever have. My natural instinct is to reject the idea of drilling nasty holes into the frame tubing just to hold bottles onto the frame. I don't drink sip sip sip like many people when riding. I stop, get off the bike and unscrew the bottle top and drink from the bottle like a cup and I don't like using the squirting method that these bottles offer. This is important because I naturally don't drink while riding.

What do you think about the drilling of holes into the tubes? Does it damage, weaken of otherwise negatively affect the integrity of the tubing? I also will not get bosses for cable stops because I've bought downtube friction shifters with clamps for 28.6 tubing. I will have bosses on the top tube for the rear brake. And I'm thinking of getting bosses for cantilever brakes instead of caliper brakes. What is your opinion? Perhaps you have a post about that already.

Thank you.

I rode steel frames that are older than me (and I am old LOL), and they're still rolling. If properly done, those mounting holes should not make the frame break - even though, strictly technically & theoretically speaking, they do make it a tad weaker.

Housing stops can make one's life simpler, since getting them aftermarket can be a hassle (I have a steel frame without those, full length housing, and it sucks in terms of robustness in foul weather compared to normal housing stops).

Similarly, watter bottle mounts can be used to mount all sorts of things - for example, mine is used to hold my lock (so I don't have to haul it in a bag on a rack or similar.

I like having those options, even when I don't use them (in that case, the mounting holes are "plugged" with matching bolts, with washers and anti-seize applied, of course.

Note:
High quality steel frames with lugs holding the tubes and all the attachments brazed (not welded) can be repaired (damaged tube replaced and similar), and if built properly, those are very, very good frames.
 
Hi Relja,
Thanks for your awesome answer. I think I'll go with brazed on bosses for housing (stops) because I totally agree that cables are better exposed instead of being inside the housing the whole way along. But I would like to avoid holes drilled into the tubing and I'll ask the frame maker about that.

I'll keep you posted about how the build goes. I wish I could visit you and have a beer in Serbia but I'm in Bangkok (I'm Aussie, from Sydney born 1969... old school before the internet). But I might be able to ride my bicycle around Europe in the summer for a few weeks. I'll say hello from time to time.
 
Hi, Bryce.

Drilling steel seems to be safe, but if you are unsure you can get clamps for almost everything.

I'm currently rebuilding a 1980s Orbea frame with damaged brake cable houses. Finally they seem to be ok but I considered just removing them and getting some clamps, quite easy to find (just search "brake cable housing clamp", "chainstay cable stop clamp", etc) and can look nicer than brazed/drilled stuff. Not to mention hacking the cable housings you can get a free pump holder.
 

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