Ultegra 6700 cable routing. Any "best" way of doing this?

Hi all:

After 13 years with my very serviceable Ultegra 9-speed set I'm coming into the semi-modern world with the Ultegra 6700 group and its new-to-me under the bar tape routing of the shifter cables.

I see 4 different ways to set this up:

1)cables behind the bar with the cables crossed under the down tube,
2)cables behind the bar with cables parallel to the down tube,
3)cables in front of the bar with cables crossed,
4)cables in front of the car with cables not crossed.

Anybody with experience that thinks one (or two) of these options is better than the others? Right now I've got things set up using the first option, (and no bar tape), but first ride is some days away.

TIA.

Tom Young

On Friday, September 20, 2013 1:40:23 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Hi all:



After 13 years with my very serviceable Ultegra 9-speed set I'm coming into the semi-modern world with the Ultegra 6700 group and its new-to-me under the bar tape routing of the shifter cables.



I see 4 different ways to set this up:



1)cables behind the bar with the cables crossed under the down tube,

2)cables behind the bar with cables parallel to the down tube,

3)cables in front of the bar with cables crossed,

4)cables in front of the car with cables not crossed.



Anybody with experience that thinks one (or two) of these options is better than the others? Right now I've got things set up using the first option, (and no bar tape), but first ride is some days away.



TIA.



Tom Young

Here are some common configurations -- route to the bottom of the bars and out.

http://www.backcountry.com/images/it...0013/RD_D3.jpg
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/128/1...135128_848.jpg
http://www.togoparts.com/showroom/ar...6172340682.jpg

On Friday, September 20, 2013 8:31:43 PM UTC-4, Jay Beattie wrote:
On Friday, September 20, 2013 1:40:23 PM UTC-7, wrote:

Hi all:







After 13 years with my very serviceable Ultegra 9-speed set I'm coming into the semi-modern world with the Ultegra 6700 group and its new-to-me under the bar tape routing of the shifter cables.







I see 4 different ways to set this up:







1)cables behind the bar with the cables crossed under the down tube,



2)cables behind the bar with cables parallel to the down tube,



3)cables in front of the bar with cables crossed,



4)cables in front of the car with cables not crossed.







Anybody with experience that thinks one (or two) of these options is better than the others? Right now I've got things set up using the first option, (and no bar tape), but first ride is some days away.







TIA.







Tom Young



Here are some common configurations -- route to the bottom of the bars and out.



http://www.backcountry.com/images/it...0013/RD_D3.jpg

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/128/1...135128_848.jpg

http://www.togoparts.com/showroom/ar...6172340682.jpg

And I'll suggest some small pieces of clear packaging tape applied to the frame where the cables will rub it. Saves the paint.

- Frank Krygowski

On 21/09/13 11:49, Frank Krygowski wrote:

And I'll suggest some small pieces of clear packaging tape applied to
the frame where the cables will rub it. Saves the paint.


Self adhesive clear plastic headlight protector works a treat. More
expensive, but probably more robust.

--
JS

wrote:
Hi all:

After 13 years with my very serviceable Ultegra 9-speed set I'm
coming into the semi-modern world with the Ultegra 6700 group and its
new-to-me under the bar tape routing of the shifter cables.

I see 4 different ways to set this up:

1)cables behind the bar with the cables crossed under the down tube,
2)cables behind the bar with cables parallel to the down tube,
3)cables in front of the bar with cables crossed,
4)cables in front of the car with cables not crossed.

Anybody with experience that thinks one (or two) of these options is
better than the others? Right now I've got things set up using the
first option, (and no bar tape), but first ride is some days away.

TIA.

Tom Young

Based on my work in updating other peoples roady type bikes to brifters, I'd
have to say there is no single right way. It depends on many factors, like
how long your shifter cable outers are, how long your stem is, how high your
bar is, even whether or not your bar has cable grooves formed in it.
I'd guess that if you are using your original bar you don't have cable
grooves so you are free to run the outers wherever you want. One limiting
factor here is whether you spend much time with your hands on the bar tops
in which case you might want the annoying lump under the bar tape where you
will notice it least.
In my experience, crossing the inners under the downtube is no problem if
the wires don't rub on the frame tube. It can give the outers a little more
distance to describe a smooth sweep to the cable stops on the frame.
The best answer is to look at it every possible way and pick the one with
the nicest sweep to the cable stops. If the outers seem to be too long
whichever way you run them, shorten them though it can be hard to bring
yourself to do this if they are nice new ones supplied with the group set.
In the unlikely event that they are too short to achieve a square-on
approach to the cable stops the only answer is to either make up new ones
yourself or see if an LBS has some of good quality. Desperate people have
been known to lengthen housing by adding a short piece with the ferruled
ends butted together under the bar tape but in my opinion this is asking for
sticky shifting.
Good luck. Hope you enjoy your updated gruppo.
PH

Thanks to all who responded. All good grist for the mill.

Tom Young