marleyisdead

Looks like some of the 2021 high end bikes are going to full internal cabling. I'm wondering if home mechanics are going to be able to change cables with this set up. Anybody give it a try?

fietsbob

Bene Sugg: ... when you pull out an old cable glue some string to it, and then you can use that string to pull the new cable in..

rhenning

This was a big thing in the 1990s and was more a sales gimmick than something that made the bike better. My bikes like that eventually had the cable on the outside of the frame. Roger

Dan Burkhart 

In the last shop I worked in, I would say the majority of the bikes we worked on were internal. We would use a length of plastic tube, about 1/8" OD and slip it over the cable inner before pulling it out. Then you could just feed the new cable through the tube and you're done.
In cases where there was full length housing through the frame, you could leave the housing in place and feed a new cable through. Then to replace the housing, just do it in reverse and pull the housing through while leaving the inner in place.
More work than exposed cables in any case, but not too bad.

marleyisdead

Hey Dan, does this procedure work thru the stem as well?

icemilkcoffee 

With Di2 wireless electronic derailleurs and hydraulic brakes on these modern bikes, there might not be any cables left for you to fiddle with.

fietsbob

If you didn't already buy this wonder- bike... Don't..

Be realistic.. seek out something you can work on..

Iride01 

It wasn't easy to find a good way to route cables for DR's and brakes without the bends and turns giving an issue. With wires for electronic shifting and hydraulic lines for brakes not suffering the same as cables did it will probably be something we see more of.

The frames I've seen with this have access ports and it doesn't seem like fishing a wire through will be a big deal as it was for stiff cables. My own bike, while not completely hidden with the cables has what seems good access to those that are.

And it really does make the frames easier to wipe down. I've started cleaning my bike more after years of not fussing with my other bikes that had cables running all over them.

marleyisdead

I laughed out loud at this one IMC.

marleyisdead

Yea I do most of my own wrenching and living in FLA I don't need disc brakes. So rim brakes and mechanical shifters work fine. But my 2013 Pinarello is getting pretty worn (32K miles.) And I like the Pinarello ride and style.

pdlamb

Internal cable routing on many new bikes is one reason my n+1 might be custom, even though I can probably get a mass produced bike that fits. I'd rather have the braze-ons for accessible cables. (And some other things that work well but just are not cool, Daddy!)

canklecat

Some Diamondback road bike frames after 2010 or so attached cable housings inside the frame to make it easier. Just slip in new cable. I suppose eventually the internal cable housings would also need to be replaced. So far mine are fine. There are access ports with covers on the bottom bracket to make it easier to replace the cables and cable housings if necessary. Not sure why other frame makers don't use this trick.