Barracuda - Totally Driven!

I want to start this thread in hopes of rebuilding the strong tech forum that was a major thread of 'Cuda activity on the "old" (R.I.P.) version of this website. Please post any mods or ideas you have for customizing, modernizing, or improving our beloved bikes. No mod is too small, don't downplay it, it could be someone's solution to a problem. Let's see your ingenuity and artistry!

(This might be redundant since I posted it on my A2L in the Members Bikes forum but this is where it belongs)

If you are looking to swap out your brakes from cantilever to v-brakes but don't want to dump your shift/brake pods, take a look at your frame and you'll notice that you don't have cable stops to run your front derailleur and the rear v-brake. Before I forget to mention, you will need a pair of Travel Agents (see attached) to take up the cable slack that is created by using inline v-brakes. Jenson USA sells them for $16 each, they come in black or silver and have a cable adjuster if you desire. Okay, back to the cables... you will need to pick up a short length (a few inches at most) of nylon tubing (aka cable housing liner) from your local bike shop. That tubing will thread through the cable hole that your old cantilever brake cable went through. The front derailleur cable stop on the top tube will be your new v-brake cable stop. The front derailleur cable stop on the seat tube is rendered useless by this mod but the power of the v-brakes is worth it (IMO). You may consider get a brake booster for the rear seat stays, the v-brakes are powerful enough to bend your stays, so a brake booster solves that nicely. See the pics to illustrate what I mentioned above. If you have any questions, let me know, I'll try to answer them.

Good luck!

-DON-

p.s. Here's a link to Jenson USA:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ ... Agent.aspx

Hey-

I just finished another rebuild on my Barracuda A2L, this time I ran my v-brakes differently as suggested by the mechanic at my LBS (thanks Ben!). It's somewhat the same principle as I previously posted but this time instead of a long exposed front derailleur cable (see previous posted pics above), the housing runs all the way from the shifter to the cable stop on the back of the seat tube. The only drawback is the use of zip ties but that's purely aesthetics. The upside is a clean, lube'd, and protected cable... for smooth, crisp shifting! Since the cable mounts run under the top tube, they create a groove for the housing to sit in and all that's left is to secure with zip ties. I think it came out really well and it's the best solution I've found for running v-brakes.

Whatta 'ya think?

"...differently as suggested by the mechanic at my LBS (thanks Ben!). It's somewhat the same principle as I previously posted but this time instead of a long exposed front derailleur cable (see previous posted pics above), the housing runs all the way from the shifter to the cable stop on the back of the seat tube. The only drawback is the use of zip ties but that's purely aesthetics."

Say, Neo, I have a little bit tricker suggestion for the front
derailleur cable route that'll eliminate the zip ties. I have had
this on my 'Comp for years. You need a Shimano
SIS 5mm housing ferrule with the small end (they come
included with a Shimano bulk housing package).
That little end will slip neatly into the old brake cable
guide/braze on, then a short piece of SIS housing and
ferrule to the derailleur cable stop completes the
circuit and looks very stock. The der. wire goes
neatly through and doesn't (at least on mine)
rub the paint.
The pics of the A2L look great!
Corey

"The der. wire goes
neatly through and doesn't (at least on mine)
rub the paint."

Hey Neo,
Upon further observation, it looks like the
old brake guide on the your A2L is a bit further behind the
seat tube than on my 'Comp, so I suppose
a little bit of nylon guide tubing in front
of the braze on might be in order.
Cheers!
Corey

Hey Corey,

Thanks for the replies, I love hearing new ideas! I follow your idea, I think we may have mock'd it up but didn't do it for some reason. Do you have any pics or can you take some of your Comp? The pics would be great to have a reference in this section and I'm sure some of the other Cudaheads would appreciate seeing the mod.

Thanks again and best regards!

-D-

]Hey Corey,

Do you have any pics or can you take some of your Comp?
Thanks again and best regards!

-D-[/quote]

Hi Neo,
Yes indeed I have some pics, just been too swamped to get them attached
here and I do apologize.
I will get them loaded here yet this week.
Thanks!
Corey

Right on Corey... thanks man!

Two views of front der. cable routing;
the small-end SIS ferrule is inserted
in the brake cable guide. A piece of
plastic sheathing shoud be used at
the inlet of the guide so the cable
doesn't cut into the paint.
Food for thought here...

Talk to you guys later!
Corey

This is how I do it too.