Jon Littleford makes custom touring bikes in Portland, OR with an emphasis on durability and usefulness. Where have I heard that before?
Now I realize, after looking at these photos that I may have missed some details on this bike like the routing of the rear brake housing..is it actually inside the rack tube? Have to go back tomorrow and see.
Indeed after closer inspection the brake cable/housing enters the top tube and exits from the rack support behind the seat tube. Very clever and clean. I wonder how hard it is to change the cables!