Braze on or clamp on ?

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

Moderators: robbosmans, Moderator Team

Post Reply
User avatar
Tiffster
Posts: 828
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:00 pm
Location: Scotland

by Tiffster

Just trying to find out which is going to be stiffer and offer better shifting, a braze on front mech with a carbon clamp or a built in clamp on front mech ?

Franklin
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:09 am

by Franklin

I'd say that the forces involved are relatively small and that it doesn't matter at all ;)

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
bikerjulio
Posts: 1900
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: Welland, Ontario

by bikerjulio

If it's a "braze on" then the stiffness is going to depend on the way the manufacturer has dealt with it.

I note that Campy has had to introduce a stiffening gizmo because on some frames the braze on is not stiff enough to handle their EPS FD.

My view is that a clamp on system is probably more reliable, and offers better adjustability too.
There's sometimes a buggy.
How many drivers does a buggy have?

One.

So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM

User avatar
stella-azzurra
Posts: 5066
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:35 am
Location: New York

by stella-azzurra

Always hated the clamp on. It marks up the frame. Braze on! BS on that stiffness bit.
If the frame can't handle a front derailleur then that frame is not worthy of components.
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

socratease
Posts: 160
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:25 pm

by socratease

Cervelo's "braze ons" come to mind as being particularly awful.

If building up a steel or ti bike, go with braze on. Same if the mount is integrated into a carbon frame's mould. Otherwise, you don't have much choice. Shifting on a clamp-on style front derailer will typically be a little better than using a braze with lightweight adaptor if your rings are problematic. However, I'd wager a braze fd with a parlee or k-edge adaptor would be a bit lighter.

thisisatest
Shop Owner
Posts: 1980
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:02 am
Location: NoVA/DC

by thisisatest

Clamp-on derailleurs mount very solidly. If youre going to be using a carbon clamp, however, youre removing the clamp-on derailleur's one possible benefit. Braze benefits mostly revolve on not requiring the seat tube to be one of three round sizes. The seat tube also no longer has to bisect the bb. Many companies pay too little attention to fd mounting stiffness and adjustability, although more and more are waking up.
A side note, why doesnt shimano include the fd support setscrew of di2 derailleurs on mechanical derailleurs? They would certainly be a benefit on some bikes w weak mounts.

Camilo
Posts: 355
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:31 pm

by Camilo

Won't dent your CF seat tube w/ a designed-in braze on bracket. (friend's Super Six dented @ FD clamp location)

User avatar
Rick
Posts: 2034
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

I don't think it matters much;
But I notice that on quite a few carbon frames, the "braze-on" tab is really a "pop-rivit-on" tab. In those cases I think clamp on would be more reliable and secure.

User avatar
stella-azzurra
Posts: 5066
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:35 am
Location: New York

by stella-azzurra

On my carbon colnago frame the braze on has 4 pop rivets. It not going to go anywhere.
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

User avatar
djconnel
Posts: 7917
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

by djconnel

No brazing torch involvement, so I'll vote for the "integrated clamp", since it's lighter and looks better.

spandexboy817
Posts: 172
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:55 am

by spandexboy817

socratease wrote:Cervelo's "braze ons" come to mind as being particularly awful.

If building up a steel or ti bike, go with braze on. Same if the mount is integrated into a carbon frame's mould. Otherwise, you don't have much choice. Shifting on a clamp-on style front derailer will typically be a little better than using a braze with lightweight adaptor if your rings are problematic. However, I'd wager a braze fd with a parlee or k-edge adaptor would be a bit lighter.



Cervelo's pop-rivet braze on hangers are awful. I have one on my slc-sl and it is FLEXY :oops: but my r5 has a molded carbon one that is very stiff and solid feeling :thumbup: .
Like socratease said, braze is lighter in most cases and can be stiffer if done correctly! If you run rotor or other elliptical chainrings, especially in large gearings like 54+, sometimes the braze on hangers don't have enough adjustment however. Same thing if you feel like running CX 36/46 gearing on a road bike (I don't know, just an example that I've tried!) - where the adjustment of the braze on is normally limited.

User avatar
stella-azzurra
Posts: 5066
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:35 am
Location: New York

by stella-azzurra

I doubt that the 54 chain ring would be a problem for a braze on.
Maybe a 60 tooth.
Also it would not be good to have braze on on ultra thin tubing walls.
For those a clamp is better.
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

spandexboy817
Posts: 172
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:55 am

by spandexboy817

Stella - I experimented with a 53 t rotor ring a while back to a 7800 front d and had to dremel a little material off of the braze on as I couldn't get the derailluer to sit high enough to clear the rings (eliptical, not round)... Can't quite remember what bike it was on - I think my Cervelo scl-sl but not sure. I don't think Sram front d would have this issue as they come with two mounting bolts for the front deraill and thus have a lot more adjust ability.

User avatar
stella-azzurra
Posts: 5066
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:35 am
Location: New York

by stella-azzurra

Thanks. My experiences were with round rings only.
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply