Shimano and SRAM have both filed patents that show a brake lever with a hose that attaches close to the handlebar. It seems likely that this is related to the current trend for bike manufacturers to run cables and hoses through the upper headset bearing. These levers would allow the hoses to run from the headset to the brake lever in close contact with the handlebar, potentially getting rid of the loose loops of brake hose which normally run in front of the head tube. The hoses could even be run through the handlebar and stem. In combination with wireless shifting, this could create a visually cable-free bike.
Perhaps the brakes have been developed in response to manufacturers putting cables through the headset, or perhaps bike manufacturers, who know what's coming from component manufacturers years before we do, have already been designing bikes to take advantage of these brakes. This possibility was hinted at by Merida when we asked various manufacturers about their thinking behind
this style of cable routing:
 | Particularly in view of the brakes that might be introduced soon, which will route the cables much closer to the handlebars, we expect that headset cable routing will become more common among brands.—Merida |
In the case of Shimano's design, the master cylinder is offset from the hose port and a hole perpendicular to the handlebar connects the two, allowing hydraulic fluid to flow from the master cylinder into the hose. While most brakes work by directly pushing the master piston when you pull the lever blade, which in turn forces hydraulic fluid through the hose into the caliper, this design appears to work by pulling the piston towards the lever blade, which then forces fluid down the hole, then into the hose. For this reason, the architecture of the lever body is quite different, with the master cylinder further away from the bar and not aligned with the hose.
In SRAM's design, the basic lever architecture is similar to their current offerings, but the lever body now sits flush with the handlebar. The hose port is angled at around 45 degrees towards the handlebar, such that the hose bends to follow parallel to the handlebar close to the lever body. This design might be well-suited to handlebars with internal hose routing, as the hose could easily enter a slot in the bar near where it enters the lever. Indeed, one of the drawings (figure 14) shows the hose running through the handlebar. The patent shows many different embodiments (forms) of the design but all have the hose port close to the handlebar.
Although these designs could be used with internally routed handlebars and/or through-headset cable routing, there's also no reason why you couldn't use them with conventional cable routing.
346 Comments
I'm trying to visualize if the close to handlebar hose routing would be worse for normal cable routing. And I'm thinking for brakes, it is probably ok-ish, but for anything with actual cables inside (dropper, derailleur) to be routed along side it, you're looking at a lot tighter bends, and more friction/wear.
But IMO both of these point to headset cable routing getting worse (more common), before it gets better.
I like to run my shifter and dropper farther inside than my brakes, and SRAM's design makes that much more difficult.
I like the idea of keeping things closer to the bar in case of crashing, but don't like the reduction in choice that it enforces on your controls.
Also, death to headset cable routing
The next step after that is a solid, single piece brake/bar/stem/steerer/fork combo, where you actually have to remove 4 bolts and have the front of the head tube come off to swap/install the brake/bars/stem/steerer/fork combo!
#if no one buys headset cable-routed bikes they will fade into obscurity as another dumb idea that came from our shaved-legged bretheren.
If you clean and regrease your bearings every time you do a lowers service you shouldn’t have to change an upper bearing for years. If that’s a problem for you, or if you don’t service your suspension, then I don’t want to hear your complaints about bike work.
Not sure Sram and Shimano would like it anyway...
www.instagram.com/p/Cl8t3VRMvc-
www.instagram.com/p/Cl8t3VRMvc-
The difference is,
having a good looking bike ruined by internal headset routing VS having an extremly ugly bike right from the start
Headset cable routing creates Problems on a completely different scale. And those can't even be glossed over by marketing with promises of "increased performance".
WE DON'T NEED HIDDEN SHOCKS OR HOSES....WE NEED AFFORDABLE BIKE
I’m off to go do e-brake slides in the snow now, thanks
images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/honda-civic-1975-2dr1200-ka-rear-brake-shoe_big00026315B__20_25da.gif
Round analogue gauges, round headlights, keyed ignitions and no "infotainment" system (replaceable head double DIn sets make way more sense), please.
I scrapped a car last year because buying a replacement [£550] for the very slightly faulty electronic handbrake was more than car was worth. It needed testing to even know there was a problem. It was binding slightly. It would have been a quick cable tension on an old skool handbrake. A shame as car was great for carrying bikes and even kayaks inside.
Further clean design and performance orientated improvements could be achieved by having the rims, spokes and hubs be fully integrated with the freewheel and cassette to reduce weight, and derailleur permanently integrated into the bike frame to reduce the weight of the hanger, mounting bolt, and ensure alignment is near perfect until the frame is due to be replaced.
Of course, the bicycles will be manufactured with carbon and metals from green certified companies, and a frame recycling program turning the disposed frames into city artwork will be implemented, so we can advertise that the environmental impacts of the new approach are negligible.
(I am available for senior leadership positions at major bike brands, contact me with offers).
Bend radius and number of turns matter a lot. Ask any electrician that’s pulled wire through conduit.
#thelessyouknow
However I don't want my cables to go into my headset...
The rear hose would get to stem then make a huge loop off to the side of the bars to make it back to the frame. Instead of the loop making a nice tucked shape in front of your bike you would have huge hoops sticking off to the side.
And NO!
Also, NO!
I think I forgot something... What was it again?... O! I remember!
NOOOOOO!
Lets the big brands do big brands things. And all is pink bike purists can buy reebs, bionicons, and geometrons.
Which, when you think about it, is kinda the way it went with moto too. Weird shitty big brands made weird shitty big brand shit so normal (Yamaha? Honda?) . And the offshoot little guys went and won mad races (ktm). Then they were the weird big brands doing offshoot little guys stuff : ahem, 350 4 strokes. That riders everywhere rode a ton. And all worked out.
Its being rammed down our throats so it HAS to be an improvement.
Everyone knows your levers should never move on the bar. Not for bleeding the brake, not even during a wreck. What could go wrong?! Can we make it so I can't get to the flare nut without removing the lever from the bar? Can we integrate all the bar controls so the have to come off in a group? And then we can run a $90 single use, hard to obtain during covid hydraulic hose through a $10 pair of chinese bearings on a critical joint so it all needs to be replaced for the first service in 90 days? Can there be proprietary, dealer only tools for the headset? Any why doesn't sram have a proprietary double the cost brake oil yet?
Man that would be AMAZING
*gets progressively louder*
AND WOULD SURELY FOSTER BETTER ACCESS TO THE SPORT FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE INDUSTRY!!!!
Next up, handlebar manufacturers making their products suitable for these new levers and headset cable routing.
Hope this innovation will save our planet!
Seen it
Happen less
I hate headtube routing more than anybody - and I'll fight for that title. But I'll hold judgement on this until I see it actually show up and demonstrate that it's worse than the layout of today. We might get lucky and be just fine.
So while this "innovation" is only driven to archive a "clean look" here's a question:
Do we get revised shifters for derailleurs, dropper-posts and lock-outs as well? So these cables run parallel or closer to the handlebars, too?
Otherwise an almost cable-free look is not really possible, isn't it?
And NO(!) - I´m team hydraulic/mechanic (the real K.eep I.t S.imple) and don't plan to get any electronic devices for shifting or dropper. Apart from light or navigation no batteries for me.
Hard pass
Not to mention brake bleeds are way more often than bearing changes.
I’m probably getting downvoted but to me some people are just miserable and want to find something to bash.
I, myself can’t wait for this new stuff come out along with inside handlebar cable routing. Clutter free bike. Form and function.
Now bring your torches and pitchforks.
This should have always been the way.
magura.com/en/EUR/technology_innovation/bicycle/magura_cockpit_integration
I love how SRAM already found a way to build in a flaw to the design. Line going straight into the reservoir? Nah, let's make it bend right at the fitting!
m.pinkbike.com/news/magura-cockpit-integration-the-first-symbiosis-of-handlebar-and-brake-with-no-external-cables.html
Wouldn’t buy that stuff no matter where the hose is.
I guess I jus don’t enjoy bleeding breaks…
Shhhh____t!!!!.........
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