Cable routing around the headtube (cervelo rs / campag)

cookiemonster
cookiemonster Posts: 668
edited October 2008 in Workshop
I'm building up a Cervelo RS with Campag Chorus at the mo'

On previous bikes i've had cable guides for the mech on both the down tube and the headtube - so the cables dont "rub" against the headtube. However the Cervelo RS doesnt have the guides on the headtube, so the cables come off the downtube and are pressed against the headtube as they try and curve around. Its especially noticable with the campag/ergopower setup as running the cables along the handlebars means that there's quite a tight radius in the cable as it drops down to fit into the downtube guide.

I dont see a way around this, but I'm a bit worried about having the cable rub along the headtube, it would seem to be a recipe for removing lacquer and paint from the frame. The only thing I can think of is to protect the headtube with some helicopter/leading edge tape.

Anyone have any pointers? (does my desciption make sense? :) )

Jon

Comments

  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    As you say the only way seems to be tape, which I wish I did with my carbon frame. Rubbed like a buggar it has.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I use frame protector patches on my bikes.

    If you look on the likes of Wiggle/CRC etc they all have a big selection of patches.
    I like bikes...

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  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    This is a real problem with short headtubes and stems - when i've had custom frames build I've always had the adjuster stops moved back - with headtube mounts you can damage the cables easily IME. A good solution is to use Nokon cables - you can run them with tighter bends, they're more flexible and because they twist as they bend, they don't tend to rub the frame as much.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Al_38
    Al_38 Posts: 277
    +1 for the frame protection patches, I like the clear lizard-skin ones as they aren't too obvious on the bike.

    Al
  • Rich-Ti
    Rich-Ti Posts: 1,831
    Or just use the clear Park Tools puncture repair patches? Have used them before and they tend to be cheaper as well as not being too obvious 8)
  • ok, thanks

    At least I'm not doing anything stoopid on the routing :)

    I've ordered up some of the 3M leading edge tape to do the job

    cheers