Cyclocross - Question for the barcon users...

Do you guys route your cables the traditional way where they come out close to the barcon itself? Or do you route the cable along your brake lines (like a campy ergo brifter setup) for a cleaner look??

Have always read that the smoothest, most direct cable path is best, so I've always done external.

I'm not quite certain that the external cabling is the "traditional" way. Both Fuente and Liboton ran theirs under the tape (tho their brake cables ran external).

de vlaeminck too


my guess would be that the under the tape routing reduces the risk of getting tangled with other riders when passing in close quarters, but i can't say i have any personal experience with it.

My cables are routed like this

Tradition calls for external routing. When these shifters were introduced they used a floppy, steel housing and were prone to snagging (interenally) if not routed properly. With modern index housing and modern shift cables, it is no longer "required" but people tend to emmulate what they see, so most are routed externaly. I have done both and did not notice a difference. YMMV

My cables are routed like this

If you are running interuptor levers then the cable routing should be external.

I ran mine under the bar wrap, just to help keep the cables from being snagged on brush when trail riding.

I tried to run mine internal, but the housing wasn't quite long enough. So, external it is, for now, until I replace the cables.

My cables are routed like this

Me too.

I tried to run mine internal, but the housing wasn't quite long enough. So, external it is, for now, until I replace the cables.

Same here. I didn't buy enough housing and I was too lazy to go buy more, so I just routed them externally.

I've actually grown to like the look though, and they haven't really been snagging on anything, so I think I'll just keep it.

If you are running interuptor levers then the cable routing should be external.

Why is this?