Shifter Cables Under Bar Tape
11-29-10, 07:37 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Shifter Cables Under Bar Tape
Aside from the obvious "cleaner" look of having the shifter cables run under the bar tape (Campy, Sram, newer Shimano), are there any other advantages - - or disadvantages? For example, do the tighter cable bends cause shifting issues?
11-29-10, 07:42 PM
#2
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Just what you said.
11-29-10, 07:44 PM
#3
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,366
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 995 Post(s)
Liked 1,203 Times
in
689 Posts
Putting my flame suit on, they don't obstruct aero bars. The tighter bends are tricky, but it seems the manufacturers have solved that pretty well.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
11-29-10, 08:25 PM
#4
Hills hurt.. Couches kill
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brazil, IN
Posts: 3,370
Bikes: 1991 Specialized Sirrus Triple, 2010 Trek Madone 6.5 Project One, 2012 Cannondale Caad10, 2013 Trek Crockett
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
They don't get in the way of 'invisible' aero bars either.
11-29-10, 08:30 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ontario, California.
Posts: 288
Bikes: '99 ONCE Giant, '08 ORCA Orbea
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-29-10, 08:37 PM
#7
Hills hurt.. Couches kill
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brazil, IN
Posts: 3,370
Bikes: 1991 Specialized Sirrus Triple, 2010 Trek Madone 6.5 Project One, 2012 Cannondale Caad10, 2013 Trek Crockett
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
11-29-10, 09:41 PM
#9
Hills hurt.. Couches kill
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brazil, IN
Posts: 3,370
Bikes: 1991 Specialized Sirrus Triple, 2010 Trek Madone 6.5 Project One, 2012 Cannondale Caad10, 2013 Trek Crockett
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
11-29-10, 09:50 PM
#10
slow up hills
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 4,931
Bikes: Giant TCR, Redline CX, Ritchey Breakaway, Spec S-works epic
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm switching away from 9spd shimano on my ritchey breakaway b/c packing the handlebars will be easier without the "antennae"
11-30-10, 08:54 AM
#11
Senior Member
There's actually quite a bit of disadvantage when you move the shifter cables under the bar tape. Or the brake cables, for that matter, way back when when you had a choice between the "regular" brake levers with the housing flying up and over the bars and the "aero" brake levers. The sharp bends create more friction between the cable and the housing and cause the housing to wear out more quickly. The advantage is, like you said, the cleaner look and probably a little bit of aerodynamic benefit.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
