[AvantDale]

I never noticed it until a buddy pointed it out...

Does it make a difference on "shifting performance" on how a cable is routed?

He pointed out that my cables do not cross the head tube. Are they supposed to?

Front:

Bottom bracket:

Thanks!

 

[FBinNY]

Some people run the cables across the head tube to open up the curvature coming from the handlebars. It's especially helpful with smaller frames, lower handlebars, or shorter stems. The drawback is that now the two wires are on the wrong side of the frame and have to cross back. That can be easy or hard to do depending on the exact routing.

There's no set or correct way to route the cables, but what you want to do is find the housing length that gives the nicest curvature, preferably without having an S-bend as v]cables route have. However you have to be sure to have enough free cable to allow for the full swing of the handlebars in both directions.

Looking at your bike, the only change I might make is to not tape the bars up as close to the stem as you did, allowing the housing to emerge farther out and have more room to make the curve to the frame. That assumes that you don't grips the tops that far inboard.

BTW- as I said there's no one way to route cables, and if your bike shifts fine and isn't giving you any grief, don't let your friends do so.

 

[AvantDale]

Thanks for your reply.

I was kind of caught off guard when he mentioned that to me...something I never thought about. Bike seems to shift fine.

The tape was just how my lbs wrapped it. I'll mention it to him when I go get my new tape.

 

[SilverStar]

Looks clean to me...everyone has their own method, but as FBinNY stated, there is no one "right way". Go with what works for you.

 

[cxwrench]

Thanks for your reply.

I was kind of caught off guard when he mentioned that to me...something I never thought about. Bike seems to shift fine.

The tape was just how my lbs wrapped it. I'll mention it to him when I go get my new tape.

a bike shop did that tape job? ouch...

 

[siclmn]

That bicycle is so clean that it looks like it's not ridden very much so who cares?