You are reading a single comment by @DFP and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@DFP
The cable is only a small part of the issue here.
On old well used brakes the bolt starts to corrode, this is the point which the brakes pivot around so the brake will feel very stiff.
In the case of a U brake, it doesnt pivot around a bolt but 2 x brake lugs.
Remove the brake, get out some emery paper. Use it to buff up the lugs/bosses to a shine.
Plonk some grease on it, reinstall brake (clean out the innards if they are mucky)
You should straight away notice a very smooth pivoting brake.
Now is the time to concern yourself with the cable. If its pretty old, consider changing the outer at least. DO grease the cable, good cables come pregreased, but stick some more in.
Then importantly, make sure the path of the cable has minimum bends. In the case that this is unavoidable. Get your self an odyssey Linear brake cable. cost the same as regular brake cable, but can be bent and twisted a lot without affecting braking.