the pic of the new schwinn madison makes it look like they use zip ties for the rear brake.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tech/newarrivals/09-22/2.jpg

are they zip ties and if so, what are your thoughts? i can see where some people who would only go fixie would want a clean tube, but why not use those tektro bolt on cable stops, aside from adding about $5 to the cost?

edit: i should note that this is the pic from cycling news. the pic from the official site makes it look like the madison has routing at the 9:00 position:
http://www.schwinnbikes.com/images/catalog/r_15.54.S7_GBL_MADISON_WHT.jpg

If you ride it fixed you can just take off the rear brake anyway, and in that case the zip ties are a great idea; they're ugly and can be removed.

The pic from the official site not only has the cable in the 9:00 position, it shows it without zips (or whatever they are). Either the bike mag got a bike with different specs or the official pic isn't accurate, which the conspiracy theorist in me says may be intentional.

If you run zip ties like that it is a very quick conversion from track to road setup (just have one handlebar set up with brakes and one without). I suspect that is what cycling news was doing since they are a "race" site.

Retail is $530. They didn't add anything non-essential. - TF

pre-production model perhaps?

When is the Madison going to be available in my LBS! I want one so bad!

When is the Madison going to be available in my LBS! I want one so bad!

Stores around here have had them for a while...Interestingly enough...LOL...It is in MADISON (WI)

The Cycling News photo also does not show a valve stems, which the official photo shows. Valve stems have proven to be useful to me.

The Cycling News photo also does not show a valve stems, which the official photo shows. Valve stems have proven to be useful to me.
Wow, good eye. I didn't even notice that. I just assumed it was hidden by the tubes until I looked for the decals on the tire and rim.

I wonder how much weight that saves???

I found this other photo from cyclingnews also. It looks like the rear brake cable is mounted on to something. But then again they may have photoshopped it.

Anyone seen this in their LBS?

they may have photoshopped it.

They should have photoshopped that fugly downtube decal, too! :D