Plainsman

Say you're a newb, and you're about to route cables on a bike for the first time ever. What are some things you've learned NOT to do from amatuer bike building experience?

FYI: All I have left on my build project is to run all the cables and put on a chain. ALL advice welcome, I know nothing, what order do I route things, etc?


Thanks!

Little Darwin

Leave the housings a little longer than you think you need them. You can always trim down, but can't add length back.

dekalbSTEEL

Here's some expert advice

https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=113

Retro Grouch 

Yup. And the same goes for the cables themselves. A little extra extending off from the derailleurs and brake calipers is better than trimming them too short. That way it's possible to retrim them and reroute them if you have to.

55/Rad

Ooooh, one I'm qualified to answer as I'm "less than an expert". Quite a bit less actually.

I suggest mocking the housings up in place without cables to get just the right lengths. Tape them down to the bars and check your routing with regard to over/under/around bars and other cables. Cut only after you have the exact measurements.

It took a bit of work to get the cables to cross exactly in the center (and stay there) on the bike below. But it was worth the effort.

55/Rad

dekalbSTEEL

Any excuse to post that chrome beauty, eh?

55/Rad

Yeah baby! It's been well over a month since the last photo post - and the original thread with all the photos and comments got deleted in the recent server meltdown. That sucked.

55/Rad

BillK

Breaking down a bike without looking how the cables were run in the first place!

sprcoop

If running the cable/housing through the little eyes brazed on the outside of the frame be careful with it. Don't just pull it through because it can catch on the corner of the metal eye and scrape some of the plastic housing. Then it just doesn't look as nice if you look close. I see it everytime I look down at my top tube.

Plainsman

This is great! Just the type of help I was hoping for. That sounds exactly like something I would do and then notice forever! Rad, great suggestion to do the mock-up. Dekalb Steel, the link is much appreciated, and Little Darwin, thanks as well!

Plainsman

And not to leave out BillK: This is a from scratch build, but still good advice. I'm using my other bike as the "picture on the puzzle box." Rad, if you keep posting pictures like that I will be unable to bring myself to post pictures of this completed build.

NRRider

Assuming you're using brifters, what I've learned is it's amazing how much difference even a small adjustment in handlebar height (i.e., amount of spacers), handlebar angle (amount turned up/down) and shifter location make in determining cable length, at least with Shimano shifters. If you're using Shimano, try to set these items as closely as possible to where you will need them before you cut. And make sure you make these adjustments with the bike on the ground and not in the stand (yes, I stupidly did this once, thinking the bars were level when the whole bike was angled downward in the stand).

G_Sup

I just put new cables/housing on for the first time yesterday. I just took my time and it went pretty easy. Not too difficult, and this was with an FSA K-Wing. I'd say the hardest part was getting the RD back in tune.

charlisity

I installed my first set too short on purpose once while trying to make it looks less cluttered. The hoods and rear derailer had turns that where too sharp to let anything work correctly. It helps if you leave the cable just long enough so that you get a small section of cable headed straight away from its anchor points before the curving begins.

I take this for granted now, but in my teens, I thought I knew it all.

idcruiserman

Find a decent tool to cut the housings. I tried several wire cutters, and they all sucked. Nice job on routing that front brake cable, 55/rad.

cyccommute 

But take the cables out before you trim the housing...not that I've ever done that

"Honey, I going the the bike shop."

"What for?"

"Cables...dammit!"

platypus

definately use a proper cable/housing cutter (I've got the Park tool and it's super), and leave everything a bit longer than it seems to need to be. I usually run the cables from the brifters to whereever they're going to get about the right cable lengths, and then start looking at brake cable housings for the front and rear brakes (in that order).

One mistake I made on my first buildup was cutting the front part of the rear brake housing (the bit that goes under the bar tape) too short, and whenever I'd make a right turn my rear brake would get applied.

MichaelW

Dremel cutting tools are good for cable outers. Many pliers, snips etc can crush or twist the spiral wire. I have managed with pliers but I inserted some wire to support the spiral and used a file to get a clean edge.

Hambone

true dat

gurana

One of my first BF posts was regarding a SNAFU with my FD cable. I forget now what exactly I was attempting to do (probably dial in the FD because it was rubbing on certain gear combos or something), but the end result is that I pulled the cable cap off the end and the cable subsequently frayed a good 6 inches up, making it impossible to fasten it to the FD again.

My advice: don't do that.

Hambone

if you put a tiny bead of solder on the end of the cable before capping it... (I got into the habit from working on my MTB. The brush would routinely pull of the caps.)

or Crazy Glue? I've never tried it but it should work.