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:

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.
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.
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.
Inner cables must be cut to a length not exceeding 2cm. The ideal length is 1.5 times the length of the cable end.
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.

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View Comments

RedRanger says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:04 pm

@frank glad im not on the shit list then
sthilzy says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:05 pm

@RedRanger Correct brake to correct caliper? I've broken my left wrist twice and it ain't what it used to be, therefore my RH lever is the front brake cailper.

You're right on the last comment. That'd be a chain whipping coming at ya!!
starclimber says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:13 pm

"Right shifter cable should go to the left cable stop and vice versa."

Not sure I'm seeing a shit ton of this in any of these pics, but I 'am' visually impaired, not to mention ESBually and Chocolate Pumpkin Porterly impaired to boot.
scaler911 says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:22 pm

@RedRanger

I think we should add that the correct brake lever should go to the correct caliper

and I will probably be whipped for this but I am not a huge fan of The V cogs on the handle bars.

Kinda funny story: For the most part, we all have "right rear, left front" routing for brakes. My buddy left his bike out in his yard while he was cleaning his shop/ garage, and came out to find his sexy new GT had gone missing. While he was upset, and I was bummed about the theft for him, we did laugh that during the thieves getaway, he must have ended up on his face at the first stop, since his bike was cabled "motorcycle style". Right lever= front brake.
scaler911 says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:24 pm
@frank
@sthilzy
I've been wondering if there was a Rule on inner cable length of cut.

Inner cables must be cut to a length not exceeding 2cm. The ideal length is 1.5 times the length of the cable end.

What was I thinking waaaay back then?! Actually I wasn't, therefore the tow rope hanging from my front caliper.

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.

I use to use a soldering iron with solder to neaten the cable end, then cut off the fray if any.

Ferrules are much nicer and with so many colours to choose from.
Love that shot! Your front brake is like the strings on guitars from some of those guys who love leaving the ends long. (And yes, you can bet your life that my guitar strings are all neatly clipped.)

The soldering, as I just mentioned, is a classy way to go, if a bit unnecessary and labor-intensive. And I agree the color options may be fun. Something to explore. Orange, anyone?

@roger

the fi'zi:k finish tape looks better legible from the front, not while mounted. you seem to be of both camps, frank.

bullet point 1 is a pet peeve of mine. how some guys can have cables taped up forward of the bar, and the other side taped at the bottom position or rear, near palm, baffles me. no visual symmetry makes not a happy roger

I'm a bit of a switch hitter on this; I've always done it to be legible from the front, but then decided I wanted to try it the other way. Which meant I retaped all my bikes. Its pleasant from the rider's position, but ultimately I think I do prefer it legible from the front.
Mmmm hmmm. While I know for a FACT, we discussed this not too long ago, I'm glad you've seen the light.
starclimber says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:29 pm

In fact, strict adherence to that rule, possibly the only one that's had the slightest impact on my aesthetic sensibilities, led me to this arrangement:

Some Rule V riding yesterday in the gale force winds that prevailed have left the 'Bolt a bit bespeckled, and the uncasual readers here will likely vilify the bar tape, but damn, that cable arrangement is not hard to look at. It's a doublecross! bitches!
El Mateo says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:34 pm

At times my house and shop may look as though I could be vying for stint on "Hoarders" but my bike is (almost) always in tip top race day shape. Proper cable routing, bar tape and cockpit components - (along with color coordination of them) are part of the unwritten contract that you are bound by when you bring that baby home. Know The Rules people... both written & unwritten. VLVV
sthilzy says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:40 pm

@starclimber Nice cabling! As well as headbadge! What is the drive side view?
starclimber says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:53 pm

@sthilzy

Just the cable area:

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sparklemotion says:

Sep 23 2013 at 8:56 pm

Brah, if you ran Di2, you would have like 50% less cable.