Categories: La Vie Velominatus

La Vie Velominatus: Cable Obsession

Cable organization perfection: resistance is futile.

I’m fluent in three languages: Dutch, English, and Hyperbole. The third is an acquired talent developed by creative and narcissistic tendencies; the narcissism feeds a belief that normal words can’t properly describe the magnitude of my experiences, and the creativity struggles to cope with restrictive paradigms like “facts” and “reality”. I have also been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder which, when taken with everything else, suggests that my darling partner exhibits some questionable judgement.

I have a visceral response to clutter; when I see things out of order, my insides turn about themselves and cause me physical discomfort. If the clutter escalates to becoming a “mess”, my mood changes and I become irritable. This applies to everything from our house, my workshop, my office, desk space, my computer desktop, my briefcase, and my bicycles’ cable organization. I don’t have to tell you that the last one is the only one that really matters.

The tidiness of the cables on a bicycle are one of several key factors that elevate the Velominatus above the Common Cyclist. The old style of STI shifters and their protruding cables were barbaric; they represented a principle reason for my dislike of Shimano’s system. Campagnolo took a few extra years to produce the Ergo shifters, and I am quite convinced they spent that extra time sorting out how to internally route the cables.

The organization of a rider’s cables and the length to which they are trimmed is a critical detail to which we must all pay close attention. No matter how beautiful the bike, disheveled cables will always bring it down. I hereby give you the V Principles of Cable Routing:

  1. It is of paramount importance that the housing exit the bar tape at precisely opposite points on the bars. This extends beyond the cables taken in aggregate, and applies to both the brake and shift housing meaning that if they are routed together, the brake cable must always be below the shift cable, and if they are route front/back on the bars, they must both be routed in the same fashion.
  2. The housing must be organized such that they mimic and mirror each other’s curves to the maximum capability of the frame and application. This is to say that housing intersections and contact points must be minimized and under no circumstances may a shift-brake cable pair be split by another cable running from its mirrored set.
  3. Cable housing must be cut to the shortest length possible while still allowing full movement of the handlebars. It must, however, be cut long enough to allow that the cables run in a smooth curve at all points, minimizing friction. The shift cables should be cut such that they overlap only slightly; the ideal is that they just kiss each other at the apex of their arch to the frame.
  4. Inner cables must be cut to a length not exceeding 2cm. The ideal length is 1.5 times the length of the cable end.
  5. Cable ends will always be crimped using a crimping tool. Extra points awarded for a diagonal double-crimp. Under no circumstances are frayed cables to be tolerated.

Go with Merckx, and do not violate these principles. Vive la Vie Velominatus.

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frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

View Comments

  • @brett

    So you are quoting a pro mechanic to contradict another pro mechanic, and then saying that pro mechanics shouldn't be asked. You can't buy that kind of convenience just anywhere. You need a 7-11 for that.

    Also, your own quote from today:

    Front brake cable goes in front of everything else. Ask any mechanic.

    Honestly, I could give two shits if you put them in front or behind - its a matter of preference and what works best for your setup.

    Just don't split the pairs up like a barbarian.

  • @Ron

    I have some Jagwire frame protector gimlets you can have. Gimme a shout and they're yours. No need for them on my bike.

  • @frank

    @brett

    Honestly, I could give two shits if you put them in front or behind - its a matter of preference and what works best for your setup.

    Just don't split the pairs up like a barbarian.

    So, your concluding sentence "do not violate these principles" (and therefore the whole article) is moot then?

    Anyway, finally got around to re-cabling and taping after two years because of this discussion... so it's achieved something.

    [dmalbum: path="/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2013.09.25.06.57.48/1//"/]

  • 4 cables good, 2 cables better!!

    Admittedly the front is looking a little on the short side.

  • I'm a big fan of the cable guildes that Jason uses on the Rourkes. Tidies up the front end, and means no cable rub.

  • @brett So after all that why didn't you put your front brake cable in front of everything else ?

    That was the one part of this thread that I clearly understood.

  • @brett almost all of the Japanese owned bicycles I work on have the front brake on the right brifter.  while I generally adhere to the rule of 'front brake, front derailleur, left brifter', Japanese mechanics customarily have the brakes set up the same as motorbikes, and as such, I've noticed most motorcycle enthusiasts who also are bicyclists have the same brake setup.

    I also agree with you on the front brake cable issue it seems several people are pissing over.  The reason I run the front brake cable in front of all the other cables is that when the bars are turned, the front cable is pulled on by one of the shift cables, or a shift cable and rear brake cable, if the front brake cable is run behind the others.  In order to 'fix' these issues, many lazy mechanics and even more home mechanics run extra long cabling.  A longer stem exacerbates the cable pull issues, unless again, it is 'fixed' with extra long cabling.  Looking at the cabling jobs people are posting up as proof that the front shift cable should be run behind shows the extra lengths of shift and rear brake cable needed to prevent the front from being pulled.  However, if the cable routing to the brifters is the same as the Japanese/Motorcyclist setup, this becomes a moot point as shown in the above picture of the Colnago.

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