Just converted my budget gravel build over to 1x and my cockpit lost some symmetry in the process. Is there any way I could reroute the shifter cable through the bar-tap, would love to have a more modern, clear look without dropping any more money.
by Cantaloupsareswell
11 Comments
Not unless you upgrade the shifter
Short answer, no you probably shouldnt try and put it through the bar tape, it would be too acute an angle and is simply not designed to send the cable that way. If it were me i would leave it be. You could potentially try lifting up the end where it hits the frame to make it at least follow the height of the bar for longer, for a cleaner look but it might require recabling
I’ve seen people use a v brake noodle to route the cable through at a right angle. Mainly to get the cable out of the way for a handle bar bag. Might help with what you are trying to accomplish.
I think it would be a bit cleaner to do the equivalent of a criss-cross cable routing, with the cable passing on the left side of the head tube and using the cable stay on that side and then crossing over to the right side of the BB cable guide.
Also, I presume you are aware that (full-size) V-brakes are not meant to be used with road levers?
There’s the old method of using Nokon, Alligator iLink, or Jagwire Elite Link to loop under.
https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/s/rBBDhyL6f6
Possibly with a V-noodle or segmented housing such as nokon. Understand that it will reduce shifting performance while reducing how much riding you get to do before needing to replace your shift wire/housing and require messing with the bar tape when it does go bad. Brifters where the shift cable exits on the side are much easier to work on and also easier to do a better job taping the bars than trying to tuck the shift wire(s) under the bar tape. If you want to mount a big handlebar bag or other front luggage a longer section of housing will accomplish the same thing easier. Personally I like side exit shift housing better as I get to use another hand position relatively safely (heel of the palm on top of the peak of the hood with my thumb under the shift wires). This extra position adds comfort and aids my aerodynamics as I can only spend so much time riding the hoods and drops before my hands start complaining.
wildcard answer: connect the left shifter to a dropper post!
You could remove the ratchet mechanism from the left lever and use it as a dropper lever. Bringing back the symmetry.
right shifter cable should go around the far side of the head tube.
Why don’t you just flip the cable up and use a small zip tie to one of the other cables hear the stem? That keeps it up and out of the way and looks a bit cleaner?
1x convertion worrying about asymmetry? Add a dropper post? Add a fake cable housing to nowhere?