I just got my bike back from the shop. I had them install my new Ekar group. Normally I do all my own work but I don’t have much experience with hydraulic brakes, and these were shipped empty, and Campy often adds a layer of goofiness to any project.

Anyway, the brakes are perfect.

The shifting is also great. This post about the cable running to the derailleur. Since I was a teenager working at shops, I was taught that rear loops are usually too short. Longer loops are gradual and lower friction. I get that and I do that. This thing though, seems crazy long. Visually jarring for sure but I can also envision it snagging on things and I feel like the extra length is adding a bend.

I’m pretty capable of shortening it. Annoying since I paid to have it done but you know how it goes. Do y’all think this is too long? Is there a reason I’m missing for this seemingly excessive length?

This thread is basically a version of “measure twice, cut once”

That's a tail hook waiting to happen.
I'd shorten it.

Its wild isn’t it? I don’t know how that got through.

Not all mechanics are detail oriented.

One of the reason that I wrench all of my stuff except wheel builds
(also because I'm a cheap bastard)

you surely got your monies worth, even if the end result can lasso a cow.

Definitely needs to be shorter. Less cable housing also = less friction.

Yeah, thanks guys. This is kinda what I thought too, just wanted to run it past y’all in case something has changed in loop philosophy in the last few years.

Not trying to turn this into a bike shop rant, but the wrap they did on the handlebars is pretty bad too. They didn’t put a little bit under the hood before the wrap, so there is a pretty decent gap. Doesn’t really matter but drives me nuts. So I’ll be re wrapping them myself tomorrow.

Pretty much the only thing they did for me at this point was the brakes. Everything else needs redone.

This is from a well regarded and high end shop. Embarrassing.

Wheel building is easy if you stick to 3x. I’ve built a decent amount.

I only broke my no shop rule because it was hydraulics and Campagnolo and brand new. Seemed like a combo that could bite me in the behind.

It comes down to time, tools, there availability & cost for farming maintenance out.
some stuff is so easy, I used to wonder why it was itemized on a labor sheet..
life happens & thats where services might be of use.

I've built a few and they survived an MTB environment.
But I tent to prefer the person who have built thousands.

I’d shorten it, but first pull the housing forward just a bit to give a little more slack between the upper cable stop and first housing guide.

That's just silly looking - good cable runs show attention to detail, this looks like what some DIYer would do if they didn't have a cable cutter.