The Most Unsung Component

Today I noticed a particular component on my LHT. Never knew it was there. Initially I thought it was a part of my front brake. It is attached to the steerer tube like a spacer, the front brake cable runs through it. I checked the Tektro website but it is not mentioned anywhere there as part of the brake. I checked Sheldon Brown's website for cantilever rim brakes. No mention of it anywhere in the diagram. 

Then I went for a close inspection on my bike itself and found the logo PS marked on the side. Is it a Problem Solver? I had read about the brand this afternoon in the aboutcycling website. I checked the PS website. 

Problem Solver is a smallish but specialised company in the US that makes this type of products that no one else makes. These are very practical, utility oriented products that solve a lot of practical problems for the cyclist. For example, on their site I found they have a strip that one can attach on the brake lever so that brakes don't slip out from a sweaty palm - or is it the other way round? The hand perhaps slips on the brake. This is my perpetual problem. I could certainly do with one for my LHT.

This particular item for example holds the front brake cable away from the frame and keeps it taut. Takes the space of one 5 mm spacer on the steerer tube.

Back to the product. The logo couldn't be found anywhere on their site but under the products section I found the part listed. It's called a Cross Cable Hanger. Check it out here .

I wonder if it is sold by anyone here in India. I don't know how people manage their cable with similar braking system without this item. Why is this not well known as a component? I have no clue.

July 19, 2020

Last night I had asked the owner of Happy Earth if he knew anyone who sold or stocked Problem Solvers in India. I had a feeling and I told him as well that if anyone at all did, it would probably be him :-) 

He replies saying he used to but they are very difficult to do business with as in they don't ever have stock of anything in ready supply. So sourcing their products from Taiwan doesn't make sense. They buy on individual customer requests provided there is stock in the US.

He told me one other interesting thing. It is a sister concern of Surly as are Issi or Salsa or Whisky etc. They all operate out of the same office. This was news to me. They are all part of the same QBP group. Check out their website here . The full form of QBP is apparently - Quality Bicycle Products.