What is going on with this brake setup?

[WayneJ]

I saw this bike in a magazine and thought it looked weird. Wanted to get a better look, so I went to the website and found the same thing on a different bike, so it is deliberately done.

CycloCross | Zinn Cycles website

WTF is going on here? Where is the cable stop and what is up with that cable angle? I'm not judging and I don't know anything about the brand. Just trying to figure out what's trying to be accomplished there. Maybe there is a cable stop hanging off one of the stem bolts?

Here's another:

Zinn Cycles: Zinn Magster Magnesium lightweight cyclocross bike | Zinn Cycles website

[e-RICHIE]

Jon Page was doing that in 2001 atmo.

[Gradient]

I predict screaming banshees!

[WayneJ]

Jon Page was doing that in 2001 atmo.

Richard,

What exactly is being done? Is there a stop hanging off the stem?

[j44ke]

Looks like Leonard is bolting a Surly cable hanger onto one of the stem bolts. There is endless debate about front brake chatter and so forth in his columns on VeloNews where Zinn is/was a tech guy. He evidently answers email, so you could ask him directly.

[WayneJ]

Looks like Leonard is bolting a Surly cable hanger onto one of the stem bolts. There is endless debate about front brake chatter and so forth in his columns on VeloNews where Zinn is/was a tech guy. He evidently answers email, so you could ask him directly.

Cool. I believe you're right - looks just like the Surly stop.

[e-RICHIE]

Richard,

What exactly is being done? Is there a stop hanging off the stem?

We took a POS pressed steel seat lug ears hanger and bolted it behind one of the two (or for) stem plate bolts atmo.

[Bssc]

hanger is bolted off a stem bolt goofy old MTB thing try it you may or may not like it

[WayneJ]

hanger is bolted off a stem bolt goofy old MTB thing try it you may or may not like it

I don't see any benefit and it doesn't pass my aesthetic test with the cable pulling the brakes at that angle. Basic rules should apply ... If it looks bad, it BETTER have a significant performance advantage.

[musgravecycles]

Doesn't that make the problem worse (meaning a longer flex arm)? Also not sure that I feel comfortable loading the stem with braking forces...

[Dorman]

You should have to put spoiler on any thread that has bad bike pictures in it. I'm not going to be able to sleep now. I thought this was just going to be about controversial cable attachments....

[R.Liverman]

You should have to put spoiler on any thread that has bad bike pictures in it. I'm not going to be able to sleep now. I thought this was just going to be about controversial cable attachments....

The housing going from the seatstay to the rear derailleur in the second link give me the heebie jeebies.

[Too Tall]

Zinn'd

Just for giggles Wayne, take a look at a few of Len's personal bikes. He has purveyed any number of oddball theories and setups that don't make alot of sense to me. Don't ask me to be specific, he is tall so I've got to go easy on him "just because". Nahhhh. Len, you need a bicycle stylist. XXOO

[e-RICHIE]

...a bicycle stylist. XXOO

Ugly is expensive no matter how little you pay for it atmo.

[WayneJ]

Ugly is expensive no matter how little you pay for it atmo.

When I first saw the red bike in the back pages of a cycling magazine, something about it looked strange. I noticed the front brake cable angle and focused on that. Now after taking a second look, I noticed the front and rear tires don't match. While perfectly acceptable on a cross course or training ride, it seems like a poor choice for a magazine ad. Is it me or does the front center look a bit long on that bike?

[Too Tall]

When I first saw the red bike in the back pages of a cycling magazine, something about it looked strange. I noticed the front brake cable angle and focused on that. Now after taking a second look, I noticed the front and rear tires don't match. While perfectly acceptable on a cross course or training ride, it seems like a poor choice for a magazine ad. Is it me or does the front center look a bit long on that bike?

If you are talking about the black bike, it is prob. that AlphaQ fork. They are two bags of ugly and are also very excellent CX forks.

[rmplum]

I'm so glad I'm not tall. Ugh.

[GrantM]

He should know better by now,
the solution is a fork crown mounted cable stop,
which removes the cable "tug" caused from the moving
backwards of the canti pivots relative to the location
of the housing anchor point. @epic fail Lenny.

-g

[Too Tall]

I'm so glad I'm not tall. Ugh.

Hey, start a short(er) forum ;) We are ADA, 508 and Über OverSize UOS compliant.

[Saab2000]

Being tall does present it's own problems, especially with off-the-shelf bikes. One of my main riding buddies is 6'7" and I have tried time and time again to get him to call any of the builders here. He insists he knows better and is awaiting delivery of a Canyon in their biggest size. I'm halfway hoping it sucks for him so that he'll finally listen to me when I tell him that there are custom builders who get it when it comes to the tall guys. Ride with Josh and you'll know what I mean. Does not ride like a 6'8" rider. I'd have to ride under the top tube to ride his bike. His Spectrum rocks!

Anyway...