[Closed] Audax/bikepacking type bikes - internal cable routing?

The likelihood of a cable snapping is slim to none, unless you use Shimano, which seem more prone to breaking cables.

Get the internally routed frame and fit liners, which makes changing a cable straightforward.

Out of curiosity, how do you plan on fixing the cable, do you carry spares?

Whenever I've snapped cables I've tied it up and ran singlespeed for the remainder of the ride, but it's a very rare occurrence, it's not something I would personally be worried about unless I was crossing the Antarctic or something.

Out of curiosity, how do you plan on fixing the cable, do you carry spares?

Whenever I’ve snapped cables I’ve tied it up and ran singlespeed for the remainder of the ride

As everyone else says, snapping a cable is so far down the list of possible mid ride failures that it is not worth bothering about. For an Audax, I would carry the kit I take on any ride: spare tubes and patches a multi-tool, spare quick links and some zip ties. If it is a really long event, I will take a tiny bottle of lube, spare tyre (in case I get a terminal tyre slash) and maybe a couple of spare spokes.

FWIW I carry a spare gear cable on my bikepacking trips. It weighs bugger all and takes minutes to fix, so why not?

As for the OP, can't say I'm fussed one way or the other. Internal might make a frame bag easier to fit and might cause less running.

so why not?

Strangely I've been on more rides when cables have needed replacing rather than tyres

Fair point that it's still a rare event though.

Internal routing systems are not created equal. Some bikes have exposed internal runs with no guides, and these are a pain to replace inners on.

Others have guides for inners, or run full length outers which makes cable swaps much easier.

I've twice had inners break, both times inside the lever, and both times with pretty old cables.

Internal might make a frame bag easier to fit and might cause less running.

That's the thing I'd be tempted by.

As an aside, I've never really understood why frames have cable stops and exposed sections, rather than just allowing full length outer runs. Seems like it'd be easier and better all around.

I've had cable outers split more often than I've snapped a inner cable.

As long as it's not a brake cable it's not a big deal.

PS: Dislike inner routing and would always go external.

For me it would be the space more than the weight.

Inside a handlebar or seattube if you're worried about space.

Strangely I’ve been on more rides when cables have needed replacing rather than tyres

It's happened to me a few times to be fair, but only ever on one bike. I think some shifters are just prone to it.

Before the world went mad and I assumed I had a job that would last as long as I needed it I was looking at various similar options. I'd pretty much decided on an Enigma Etape, I fancied Ti and I liked the fact that it had external cable routing that all went under the downtube in full length outers. I have an illogical dislike of the cables running on both the downtube  and the top tube that ruled out some options and while I like internal cables on carbon frames for the aesthetics I prefer the more tradition cabling on more traditional looking frames.

How ham fisted a cyclist are you and are you a proactive or reactive cycle maintenance type? If you are the former (forcing gear changes when you probably shouldn't) and only look at the state of your bike when it stops working then go external. If not go for whichever bike fits you best because that is WAAAAAY more important when setting off on an 800km audax. It's a small point but I concur that frame bags can sometimes be less faff with internal routing but not a deal breaker.

As per above internal runs are not created equal. The front derailleur on my Mason has a split section with the inner running through the frame, which is a PITA to replace. The rear is a full length outer and is trivially easy.

As an aside, I’ve never really understood why frames have cable stops and exposed sections, rather than just allowing full length outer runs. Seems like it’d be easier and better all around.

I think these days it is. I suspect that older outers weren't as good, both in terms of friction and resistance to compression. Possibly also due to weight obsession.

I think these days it is. I suspect that older outers weren’t as good, both in terms of friction and resistance to compression. Possibly also due to weight obsession.

Split sections do make it easier to lubricate the cable.

Split sections do make it easier to lubricate the cable.

Downside that you have to lubricate the cable?

But yeah, good point - I guess stainless cables didn't used to be a thing.

I’d pretty much decided on an Enigma Etape,

I'm looking at that or a Laverack J.Ack Disc

If an inner snaps it's no more work internally or external routing

Changing the outer potentially is but I'd not even worry about that

Cheers

I prefer external cables but it’s not a big thing. On another forum I frequent there was a guy with an internal run front brake hydro hose on his fork on a road bike. He’d realised that with everything taped up and in place there was so little slack in the hose he could not remove the stem to change a headset bearing or a spacer without disassembling the hose from the front brake.

I'm a luddite, I still prefer the accessibility and ease of replacement of sectional external routing over the aesthetics/aero benefits of internal.

The point was made before that the best way to deal with the possibility of a snapped cable is actually maintenance, externally routed cables are easier to get at making you less inclined to skip that job (IMO/IME).

Either way I can't actually remember the last time I snapped a gear cable, whether internally or externally routed...

As an aside, I’ve never really understood why frames have cable stops and exposed sections, rather than just allowing full length outer runs. Seems like it’d be easier and better all around.

I've got a Kinesis Pro 6 frame which has small brackets on the frame like this:

These make it really easy to run full length outers; you just zip tie them directly to the bracket. You can also mount multiple outers (e.g. gear and brake hose along the top tube) by threading a folded zip tie throuqh the slot to make a figure of eight, with one outer running down each side of the bracket.

Internal routing has aerodynamic advantages, so it is worthwhile on a racing bike, but for other applications, my preference would be external, full length outers.

I prefer external cables but it’s not a big thing. On another forum I frequent there was a guy with an internal run front brake hydro hose on his fork on a road bike. He’d realised that with everything taped up and in place there was so little slack in the hose he could not remove the stem to change a headset bearing or a spacer without disassembling the hose from the front brake.

Couldn't he just remove the bar from the stem first? I'm assuming a disc road bike has a front-load stem.

Annoyingly I can’t remember why that wasn’t a goer,(might have been a quill stem for some reason) I’ll have to try and find the post now.

Quill stem and hydro discs? I would have thought they’d be mutually exclusive?

Annoyingly I can’t remember why that wasn’t a goer,(might have been a quill stem for some reason) I’ll have to try and find the post now.

Integrated handlebar/stem, I'd have thought.

Yes! it was some sort of aero flat top on the road bars, bit of a style over function result

I'll take a spare gear cable on multi day trips but I 'm that sort or person....as to internal / external after a bit of a struggle with the non sleeved internal routing on my Bish Bash Bosh I picked up an El Camino which is external routed and more suited to touring...the So Camino is good to ride and if went AWOL I'd probably buy another but for fun I much prefer the Bish Bash Bosh so my answer is buy the frame you think will enjoy riding most and forget the cabling issue

I'd kind of forgotten that 1pc road bar-stems existed tbh : )

Somewhere there ^ someone made a point cable routing being styling as much as anything (like 1pc bars). I'd always go for external cables on a steel or ti bike if it was my choice, just seems right, less fussy. Partly the round tube aesthetic going with external cables, partly not wanting to compromise the tube structure for something aesthetic. Might go for internal dynamo wires but still happy to see those routed externally as long as some thought's gone into it.

All in all though for distance riding and touring it makes little difference. Not a decider on a bike as long as it's not a total faff with proprietary parts to replace a cable.