C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive General Category => C5 Chatroom => Topic started by: kamilb1998 on 07, January, 2013 - 20:36:52

Title: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 07, January, 2013 - 20:36:52

I took my C5 up and down the close earlier to check if it was good for another 200 miles + over the next few weeks and at applying the brakes before entering the garage, I heard a snapping noise and lost all brakes. Lucky it was on entering the garage and not when approaching a junction at rush hour tomorrow.

I rang my local cycle shop to confirm their opening times, "We shut at 5 sir, that's in 2 minutes" Oh, bugger. You see, I really need to source a brake cable tonight for my Sinclair C5. Mine's just snapped and I have no replacements at home. "Ah, yes. I remember you. Give me a ring when you get here and I'll open the shop up for you"

Result! Now I have brakes that can hopefully be trusted for another 6 months.

Worst of all is that the cable showed no signs of fraying anywhere along it's length prior to snapping and it was replaced about 6-8 months ago.

Check your cables the next time you're near your C5. If they show any signs of fraying anywhere, especially if they're frayed at the lever end,  simply replace them.

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: Luke S on 07, January, 2013 - 20:44:17

Very lucky. How did you stop when you entered your garage :-\ :-\ :-\

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 07, January, 2013 - 20:52:36

Quote from: Luke Salsbury on  07, January, 2013  - 20:44:17

Very lucky. How did you stop when you entered your garage :-\ :-\ :-\

The driveway leading into the garage is on an incline so I pulled the front brakes, stuck my feet out, closed my eyes and hoped for the best  ;)

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: Lancealot on 07, January, 2013 - 20:56:46

Lucky considering the mileage you do...............

 :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

Lance

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 07, January, 2013 - 21:06:01

Quote from: Lancealot on  07, January, 2013  - 20:56:46

Lucky considering the mileage you do...............

 :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

Lance

Certainly was. If it had snapped on the commute I would have probably returned home with very brown underwear!

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 07, January, 2013 - 21:29:53

Regarding brake cables there are a few types about ..What you have to do is the check out the inner cable for thicknes and get the thicker one ..And hopefuly it should last longer ...Befor fitting it take out the inner and grease it then push it back ...
Bye Chas

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 07, January, 2013 - 22:31:34

Quote from: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on  07, January, 2013  - 21:29:53

Regarding brake cables there are a few types about ..What you have to do is the check out the inner cable for thicknes and get the thicker one ..And hopefuly it should last longer ...Befor fitting it take out the inner and grease it then push it back ...
Bye Chas

The one I got today is certainly a fair bit thicker than the old one was, but I wasn't aware of there being different types. I just thought the old one was a cheap Chinese item.

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: KarlG on 07, January, 2013 - 23:15:12

Much better than greasing are the Gore Ride On cable sets. It also pays to buy the stainless cables set, one they are stronger than ordinary steel, and two they don't rust.

EDIT: Spelling error.  :-[

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: Luke S on 08, January, 2013 - 17:48:30

Quote from: kamilb1998 on  07, January, 2013  - 20:52:36

Quote from: Luke Salsbury on  07, January, 2013  - 20:44:17

Very lucky. How did you stop when you entered your garage :-\ :-\ :-\

The driveway leading into the garage is on an incline so I pulled the front brakes, stuck my feet out, closed my eyes and hoped for the best  ;)

Hope it dose not happen to me soon, not when I am out

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: mhurt on 08, January, 2013 - 19:00:20

I had that happen to me as I approached a roundabout, downhill, at about 20mph. Sheer luck and steering into a coned off area for roadworks meant that they didn't have to scrape me off the wheels of several wagons and cars. Not something I ever want to repeat :p
Glad you're OK!

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: Karl on 08, January, 2013 - 20:34:31

I tend to replace mine every other year, and all are replaced on those I refurbish or repair. For such a cheap item it makes a lot of sense to be cautious  ;)

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 08, January, 2013 - 20:37:18

Yup, for £7 for fronts and rears and with my mileage it makes sense to replace them every 6 months.

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 08, January, 2013 - 20:40:50

Quote from: KarlG on  07, January, 2013  - 23:15:12

Much better than greasing are the Gore Ride On cable sets.

I have Googled these and it seems the company has shut down as of 31/12/12. Do you have a link?

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: KarlG on 09, January, 2013 - 01:00:50

Where did you find this report as I can't find anything?

Sorry I'm lost concerning your request for a link. A link to what?

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: kamilb1998 on 09, January, 2013 - 07:49:40

When you go on their website (http://www.rideoncables.com/en_us/) you get the following message;


GORE® RIDE ON® Cable Systems are no longer available as of Dec. 31, 2012. All confirmed orders will be shipped per the purchase order agreements. For questions about confirmed orders or warranty information, please call 800-488-5544 or email rideon@wlgore.com.

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: KarlG on 09, January, 2013 - 13:48:07

SRAM claim that Gore will still produce sets for them.
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/gore-shifts-out-of-cable-business-35104/ (http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/gore-shifts-out-of-cable-business-35104/)

Anyway I have never bought any Ride On material from dealers, I just wait for a reasonable private sale in ebay and if the bids are low enough I place a bid. But to be on the save side I will start to look for reserve material.

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: KarlG on 09, January, 2013 - 13:58:38

PLEASE READ AND TAKE TO HEART.

With the first ride on a brand new bike  I had to go down a very steep hill, halfway down the hill the cable end pulled off one of the cables, and the other brake had very little braking effect. Net result was I shot into the main road at the bottom of the hill at a very high speed, as luck would have it there wasn't any traffic. I was in such a state of shock I had to sit down for 15 minutes, and my knees were still knocking for over an hour later. When I bitched at the shop they said the brake cables were of the cheap sort and that the cables were also not prestretched, hence the low braking effect on the second brake. Since this time I have always fitted my bikes with the best cables I can find, prestretched and stainless steel.

I don't know about you lot, but it doesn't matter how old I am, I'm too young to die.  ::) ::) So save your money on the brake cables, this will help to offset the cost of your funeral.  :-\ :-\

Sorry that I appear to be a killjoy once again, but I find this to be a very serious subject.

Title: Re: Check your brake cables!
Post by: Luke S on 09, January, 2013 - 16:13:48

I'm taking less and less trust in my brakes, I don't ever want to be in a situation that you had Karl :o :o :o :o :o