I have 2 pinarello GAN here, I noticed the front shifting had some really bad resistance, narrowed it down to this rubber grommet. But the other one here doesn’t have that grommet (photo 3) and the cable feels smooth but it is deffinently rubbing on the carbon. (Bad)
What is the solution for both of these bikes?
Seems like the cable is going to rub on the grommet regardless because the angle the cable comes out of that hole. And have to have hulk strength to shift it routed through the grommet.
Seems like they are going to deal with horrible feeling shifting, or a compromised frame.. or maybe upgrade to wireless.
by pizzaman1995
13 Comments
Talk to a shop that works on these specific bikes.
I’m not familiar with that bike. But to me, looks like it’s either a shitty design or a shitty incorrect install. I have a carbon racing bike where the front derailleur cable exits the frame in the exact same spot. But on my bike, the cable is covered by a plastic liner (similar to the inner part of shifter cable housing) running from below that hole in the frame and stopping just before where the cable clamps to the front derailler, so there is minimal friction and there is zero direct cable contact with the frame.
Maybe yours was suppossed to be set up the same way. But even if it wasn’t, if that frame hole is big enough to fit a cable liner, simplest solution would be to install one in that area.
Logically, the cable should not abrade directly on the carbon. My guess is the rubber grommets are actually the end of a proprietary cable guide/sheath of some description.
Possibly the bike builder was supposed to install a cable sheath within that guide but didn’t.
Jagwire JSAY001 Cable sheath would be a good idea to reduce friction and protect the cable guide, but I don’t think it would be very effective or durable with the sharp turn that the cable appears to make when entering the frame there. Maybe the cable guide within the frame which prevents a sharp turn, hard to know for sure.
Hmm. Seems like there should be a section of cable liner there to protect the frame. Did you get cables replaced recently?
Maybe there should be cable liner that comes up through the grommet, and yeah, the grommet should be there.
Now I’m not sure about road groupsets, but GRX has the option to route the cable sasing all the way to the derailleur.
If it’s possible to route the casing fully through the frame to that hole,, it would be perfect, otherwise, there are little plastic “tubes” that would protect the frame.
I personally would just cut 10cm of casing and put it loosely there. Doesn’t look nice, but way better option than that plastic tube.
Besides what others have said, looks like the grommet is upside down.
In a pinch, you can get a section of cable liner by removing the outer housing from some shift cable. This will give you a plastic sleeve that should fit in the frame hole to protect the carbon.
https://preview.redd.it/rh8gi9quc64d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=9f30a23acfb1de1295b760c0e8b197805e0c52e2
Cervelo soloist has exactly the same thing. With my frame, you need to install the cable running under the Bb shell so it comes up through that hole at the proper angle. For me it does not rub. If you install the cable above the BB it will be the wrong angle and rub. However I use full length cable housing to the derailleur and recommend you do the same. I’ve yet to find a proper grommet for the Soloist…Cervelo didn’t include with the frame sadly.
Unfortunately, this is becoming quite common, so many frames are designed first for electronic shifting and then as cable as an afterthought. Continuing the Pinarello theme, I love the cable adjuster/junction in the downtube and the cunning wedge/plate/bolt affair!!
Fulll length cable or nothing. Modern frames went thru all the hassle of internal cabling just for aesthetics sake and here we are completely ruining the effort by carelessness. God, I hate internal cabling.
There have been some bikes where there’s a rigid plastic cable routing bit that snps in place somewhere in the BB area, which receives the cable and then loops up and has a chimney-looking part that pokes out of the frame towards the FD. It could be that we’re looking at a bike that’s supposed to have something like that and lost it, and someone tried putting in a Di2 wire grommet to make up for it.
It looks like liner wouldn’t really be enough here.
Missing either a cable liner or full length housing to the derailleur.
Do NOT run it like that – the cable will saw it’s way through the carbon frame.
That cable has to run through a housing or other type of guide at points of contact. Otherwise it is just going to act like a wire saw on the CF.