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    Hack or Bodge?

    I’ve been experiencing problems with my front cantilever brake for years. This June I hit a pothole pretty hard during a race and went over the bars, and got banged up. And I’ve been on a search for a solution ever since.

    I tried a new LBS and the mechanic recognized the problem immediately and showed me his bike w the same brakes (Avid Shorty.) However, he had used the Tektro Fork Mounted Frame Hanger. It had fixed his brake judder. Eureka!

    When I picked up my bike he told me that all of the fork mounted hangers were sold out online (not true) and that he MADE me a sturdier hanger by MacGuyvering old parts from a bike rack.

    It works great, and my brakes have worked better. When I got home I scoured the internet for this elusive part and got one for $10 on eBay.

    Now before I hurl myself down a 5k descent, I’d like to ask the gallery: is this a “Hack or Bodge?”

    Am I gonna fly or die?

    by Ok-Carpenter5039

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    12 Comments

    1. Here_To_Browse_ on

      Whatever it takes man. Give it a hard pull. Does it flex? No? Then you’ve won 🥇. I have a 1978 Centurion Pro-Tour that has a solid piece of aluminum hanger off the headset. It’s the only pull that doesn’t flex out, and it brakes the best of all these style brakes

    3. Street-Dependent-647 on

      Looks good. I would consider it a bodge, but not in a bad way. My only criticism is that the barrel adjuster sits farther forward than the calipers and cable doesn’t come down in straight line.

    4. dedolent on

      sounds like you found one already but i’ve used this one for a long time: [https://origin8.bike/products/brake-hole-mount-cable-hanger](https://origin8.bike/products/brake-hole-mount-cable-hanger)

      compared to what you’ve got going on here, i think the origin8 and probably the one you bought have the main advantage of having a catch for the straddle cable. this will prevent the straddle cable from getting caught on the knobs of your tire and sending you flying if anything should happen to the cable to cause it to break. not that that’s a very likely situation but still.

      it bothers me a bit that the yoke hits the mount but i don’t think it’d cause problems.

      the plate that holds the barrel adjuster looks a little thin for this purpose, like it may bend under the cable tension.

      what is the L-shaped part made of? it looks surprisingly purpose-built for this, with the top being threaded and all.

      i wouldn’t take the chances with my front brake and i would’ve just ordered you a part built for this purpose. less liability for me! but despite all this truth be told i don’t hate it.

    5. rgcred on

      I’ve got concerns with this design…how is the bent tube that extends from the fork crown to the top bracket affixed to the crown, and what will prevent it from turning? Also, the geometry looks wrong – the top plate positions the triangle where it looks like that could interfere with the bent tube, but extending it it further will worsen the misalignment of the cables. Why not install V-brakes and solve all the problems, while greatly improving braking performance?

    6. Careful-One5190 on

      I’ve always had better luck with the stem-mounted cable stops. I understand they’re supposed to be more prone to judder but I’ve never experienced that.

      Was there a correlation between your brake setup and you going over the bars? You said you hit a pothole. Trying to draw the connection between your accident and the need to change your brake setup.

    7. Lovelyterry on

      Pardon my question but I’m not following the first paragraph. Your brakes haven’t been working for years and also you went over your handle bars in a crash? Are these things related ?

    8. drewbaccaAWD on

      I’d personally want a washer between the tube end and the crown, to prevent digging into the carbon fork.

      I’d buy a proper fork crown mounted yoke hanger. It will be better supported at the attachment point.

    9. Burphel_78 on

      Bodge. But it looks like a reasonably solid one, as long as you religiously check the tightness on all the screws before riding (maybe loc-tite them, too). I’d replace with a purpose-build piece as soon as practical. Too many potential points of failure for off-road riding for my taste. Get it down to where the only thing to fail is the mounting bolt, which is designed specifically to prevent rotation anyway.

    10. cowbythestream on

      Looking very positive, I’d say. Ride, and be sure to use your rear brake more heavily!

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