R900

So what is the ideal housing length for shift cables? I've seen overlap (maybe 1-1/2"), just touching, and a gap (maybe 1"). So for typical housing there is about a 2-1/2" range from crossing to a gap (not counting cables that are clearly short or long). What is best? Just curious.

John

Pb_Okole

I always turn my handlebar around to all the way to the left side of the top tube, run the housing from the right shifter to the right side boss on the frame and cut it to that length. I then cut the other the same length for the sake of symmetry. My reasoning is that this is as far as the bar will ever rotate and the cable will not prevent this when the bar is turned all the way to the left. The bars normally won't rotate as far to the right due to the front brake hittng the downtube so the left side housing will be plenty long when doing it this way.

superdex

such that the cable enters the stop as close to a straight line as possible

johnny99

There are detailed instructions, including photos on the parktool.com web site. Basically, you want them short enough that they don't bend twice, but long enough that they don't pull when you turn the handlebars. Mine do not touch in front of the handlebars. If yours overlap by a lot, then they are too long.

I_bRAD

Or his bars are narrower.

correct length is long enough to turn the bars until they hit something without being stopped by the cable.