Bicycle Cables Anyone?
 

Hey, I was just wondering if any of you have checked to see if bicycle cable is legal. Some people on our team think it might be legal because it's just basically steel cable that is covered, but some of us disagree. Thanks!

Bicycle cable, as in the brake cable?

I'd think it would depend on what you plan to use it for. There's that 'risk of entanglement' rule, bike brake cable might still do that...

Email FIRST, see what they think. I'm not sure myself.

If you can find bike cable (or something like it) in small parts or on the addparts list, you can get it. My assumption is that you can find it in small parts.

if it poses a risk of entanglement or not, that depends on how you use it and what the judges think. As long as it's not 'exposed', as in it's not on the outside of the 'bot, and you ziptie it down or something, you shouldn't have any problem.

Be aware though, I've always found bike cable to be very annoying. If you plan on using it, keep it covered! The cable frays and seperates very easily if not. Remember that it's not terribly strong to start with, any fraying or nicks in it makes it very weak.

-Andy A.

Also beware if you are planning on using that to shift some sort of transmission. Like a bike maybe? :) Have you ever tried to shift your bike while you are pedaling up a hill? It will not work.

AFAIK, it'll fall under the $3.5k discretionary funds rule. No, we'll use it for control cabling. It would work great.

There are ways to design around why you can shift a bike paddling up hill (actually, that's not true too - I routinely shift, both ways, going up hill. you just have to have good technique ;) )

A bicycle upshifts by using lifter ramps punched / machined into the chain ring. During a hard climb, chain tension will override the lifting force that these lifter ramps can generate to pop the chain from small gear to large gear (the derailer only moves the chain laterally, it cannot generate the force to lift the chain up one cog). So, the trick is you pedal faster than you would need, then drop your pedal speed while the bike is still coasting and simultaneously hit the shifter. Try it.

-=- Terence