Sensor Mounting

[Guy Goldich]

I'm looking for the best way to mount my cycle computor sensor to the fork of my new Fuji Marseille.

With my old bike (paint over steel) I just snugged down the cable ties untill they gripped--
no problem.

However, the carbon blades are very smooth and slippery. The cable ties don't really "grip" the
carbon forks. The cable ties just seem to slide down the fork blades. I'm afraid to really use a lot
of force to tighten the cable ties down for fear of scratching the blade surface. In addition, the
blades of the carbon fork are very wide at the top, probably a good 1.5 to 2 inches...makes it
ungainly to use cable ties.

I was thinking about using black electrical tape. It's grippy and would not clash too badly with the
black carbon fork blades. Are tape adhesives compatible with the carbon fork surface?

Does anyone have alternate ways for mounting their sensors?

Thanks!

 

[Pete Biggs]

Guy Goldich wrote:
> I'm looking for the best way to mount my cycle computor sensor to the fork of my new Fuji
> Marseille.
>
> With my old bike (paint over steel) I just snugged down the cable ties untill they gripped--no
> problem.
>
> However, the carbon blades are very smooth and slippery. The cable ties don't really "grip" the
> carbon forks. The cable ties just seem to slide down the fork blades. I'm afraid to really use a
> lot of force to tighten the cable ties down for fear of scratching the blade surface. In addition,
> the blades of the carbon fork are very wide at the top, probably a good 1.5 to 2 inches...makes it
> ungainly to use cable ties.
>
> I was thinking about using black electrical tape. It's grippy and would not clash too badly with
> the black carbon fork blades. Are tape adhesives compatible with the carbon fork surface?
>
> Does anyone have alternate ways for mounting their sensors?

Better than electrical tape (or the usual supplied rubber strips) is self amalgamating rubber tape
(the kind of stuff that electricians and plumbers use). It doesn't have any adhesive and is more
grippy. Cable ties work well with this on my carbon forks and they can be pretty tight without
damaging the blades. Black cable ties neatly positioned look fine. The tape is also good for
handlebar accessories.

~PB

 

[Pete Biggs]

>> Does anyone have alternate ways for mounting their sensors?
>
> Better than electrical tape (or the usual supplied rubber strips) is self amalgamating rubber tape
> (the kind of stuff that electricians and plumbers use).

note. Stretch before applying.

~PB

 

[Mike Jacoubowsk]

> With my old bike (paint over steel) I just snugged down the cable ties untill they gripped--no
> problem.
>
> However, the carbon blades are very smooth and slippery. The cable ties don't really "grip" the
> carbon forks. The cable ties just seem to slide
down
> the fork blades. I'm afraid to really use a lot of force to tighten the cable ties down for fear
> of scratching the blade surface. In addition, the blades of the carbon fork are very wide at the
> top, probably a good 1.5 to
2
> inches...makes it ungainly to use cable ties.

You might consider using a bit of the double-sided padded adhesive tape underneath the sensor. That
should keep it from wanting to slide around, and the padded style helps to keep all surfaces in
contact with adhesive. Then just use the zip ties, which should work just fine.

Don't worry about the adhesive causing trouble with a carbon fork. Carbon fiber is basically inert
until you get it to a high-enough temperature that the epoxy resin starts to break down. Some
solvents could cause trouble, but it's not likely to be the case with anything you'd use on a bike
(or found in an adhesive). In any event, you're not actually making contact with carbon, but rather
a clear coat or paint over the top of it. You'd have to damage that first before you even get to
the carbon.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Guy Goldich" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I'm looking for the best way to mount my cycle computor sensor to the fork of my new Fuji
> Marseille.
>
> With my old bike (paint over steel) I just snugged down the cable ties untill they gripped--no
> problem.
>
> However, the carbon blades are very smooth and slippery. The cable ties don't really "grip" the
> carbon forks. The cable ties just seem to slide
down
> the fork blades. I'm afraid to really use a lot of force to tighten the cable ties down for fear
> of scratching the blade surface. In addition, the blades of the carbon fork are very wide at the
> top, probably a good 1.5 to
2
> inches...makes it ungainly to use cable ties.
>
> I was thinking about using black electrical tape. It's grippy and would
not
> clash too badly with the black carbon fork blades. Are tape adhesives compatible with the carbon
> fork surface?
>
> Does anyone have alternate ways for mounting their sensors?
>
> Thanks!
>

 

[A Muzi]

Guy Goldich wrote:

> I'm looking for the best way to mount my cycle computor sensor to the fork of my new Fuji
> Marseille.
>
> With my old bike (paint over steel) I just snugged down the cable ties untill they gripped--no
> problem.
>
> However, the carbon blades are very smooth and slippery. The cable ties don't really "grip" the
> carbon forks. The cable ties just seem to slide down the fork blades. I'm afraid to really use a
> lot of force to tighten the cable ties down for fear of scratching the blade surface. In addition,
> the blades of the carbon fork are very wide at the top, probably a good 1.5 to 2 inches...makes it
> ungainly to use cable ties.
>
> I was thinking about using black electrical tape. It's grippy and would not clash too badly with
> the black carbon fork blades. Are tape adhesives compatible with the carbon fork surface?
>
> Does anyone have alternate ways for mounting their sensors?

Use a small rubber strip between the zipties and the shiny finish. Works well.

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971