Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Integrated / invisible cables, the new trend for road bikes?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Integrated / invisible cables, the new trend for road bikes?

Old 06-18-20, 02:15 PM
  #1  
Plainsman
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 40 Times in 30 Posts
Integrated / invisible cables, the new trend for road bikes?

A couple of years ago hidden cables seemed like only a concept for the uber expensive super bikes, but I feel like I'm seeing it really start to trickle down now. Is this the new road trend? Sure is a clean look.
Plainsman is offline  
Old 06-18-20, 02:28 PM
  #2  
rubiksoval
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444

Bikes: bikes

Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times in 711 Posts
I think it's been the trend for a while. All three of my bikes from 2016 and prior have internal cable routing.
rubiksoval is offline  
Old 06-18-20, 02:42 PM
  #3  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times in 4,663 Posts
Originally Posted by rubiksoval
I think it's been the trend for a while. All three of my bikes from 2016 and prior have internal cable routing.
I think that he's talking about the cockpit, specifically. Outside of handful of top-end aero road bikes, they're pretty rare, but the routing on the new Emonda, for instance, might herald things to come (I hope, at least).

WhyFi is offline  
Likes For WhyFi:
Old 06-18-20, 03:08 PM
  #4  
BluFalconActual
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 361
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 144 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times in 33 Posts
Here’s mine. Now, etap makes it a lot easier to make everything clean but it does seem that more and more bikes are going fully internal cabled. Sadly, if you want a mechanical drivetrain, changing cables is going to be a pain.


BluFalconActual is offline  
Likes For BluFalconActual:
Old 06-18-20, 03:13 PM
  #5  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,645 Times in 6,054 Posts
Mechanical drivetrain, man that brings back some memories!
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Old 06-18-20, 03:23 PM
  #6  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,810

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times in 3,262 Posts
It's been a thing since the 70's at least. Actual stranded cables for brakes and shifters can't do the required bends so well. With hydraulic and electronic shifting becoming so common, it's more easy to do with few if any negatives for performance.

I'm still iffy on whether I want to have to deal with them internal to my handlebars. Seems that would be a little limiting of handlebar, stem and fork choices if I ever wanted to change one of them.
Iride01 is online now  
Likes For Iride01:
Old 06-18-20, 03:57 PM
  #7  
eduskator
Senior Member
 
eduskator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,064

Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 957 Post(s)
Liked 562 Times in 423 Posts
Originally Posted by Plainsman
A couple of years ago hidden cables seemed like only a concept for the uber expensive super bikes, but I feel like I'm seeing it really start to trickle down now. Is this the new road trend? Sure is a clean look.
Looks 1000000x cleaner if you ask my opinion. How can someone not like a Venge cockpit?



It started on Aero bikes & is becoming more and more popular on race/climb bikes. I saw it on the Scott Addict RC 2020 & on the Trek Emonda and it's so nice. It seems to be complicated to develop the proper technology though; Giant has had a lot of issues in the past with his. Every LBS I talked to told me they hated servicing Propel for that reason.

Originally Posted by BluFalconActual
Here’s mine. Now, etap makes it a lot easier to make everything clean but it does seem that more and more bikes are going fully internal cabled. Sadly, if you want a mechanical drivetrain, changing cables is going to be a pain.
A what??

Last edited by eduskator; 06-18-20 at 04:03 PM.
eduskator is offline  
Old 06-18-20, 04:38 PM
  #8  
Bah Humbug
serious cyclist
 
Bah Humbug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147

Bikes: S1, R2, P2

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times in 2,026 Posts
I would still say it's not a "new" trend, having been underway for a few years at least (when did BMC do theirs?). It's now snowballing towards being normal though, just like internal routing.
Bah Humbug is offline  
Old 06-18-20, 05:53 PM
  #9  
justonwo
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 216

Bikes: 2020 Pinarello Dogma F12 Disc (Enve SES 3.4), 2020 S-Works Roubaix (Zipp 303 NSW), 2020 Canyon Ultimate Evo 10.0 (DT Swiss DICUT 1100), 2006 Cervelo Soloist (10 speed Ultegra), 2018 S-Works Camber, 2019 S-Works Epic

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 72 Times in 32 Posts
I believe that will become the new norm. My bike has only the ends of the brake cables poking out.

Looks super clean to me.


justonwo is offline  
Old 06-18-20, 07:07 PM
  #10  
JohnDThompson 
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,935

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times in 1,916 Posts
I've been seeing internally routed cables on department store bikes as well, so it must be a trend on its way out…
JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 12:42 AM
  #11  
Dean V
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,853
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1067 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 259 Times in 153 Posts
I do like the clean look of integrated/hidden cables but for me I still prefer the traditional exposed cable set up.
The bike is that much easier to wrench on, swap parts around, and make it rattle free.
Dean V is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 03:40 AM
  #12  
Ghazmh
Senior Member
 
Ghazmh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,020

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times in 486 Posts
I agree they look clean and better overall. I am still hesitant from a serviceability standpoint and noticed that each brand has their own means of hiding the cables. That means proprietary parts that may not be available in 10 years.
Ghazmh is offline  
Likes For Ghazmh:
Old 06-19-20, 06:38 AM
  #13  
guadzilla
Pointy Helmet Tribe
 
guadzilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Offthebackistan
Posts: 4,338

Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 519 Post(s)
Liked 627 Times in 295 Posts
Originally Posted by justonwo
I believe that will become the new norm. My bike has only the ends of the brake cables poking out.

Looks super clean to me.


I know its just the camera angle, but the difference between the left and right bar tape is gonna give me nightmares tonight.
guadzilla is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 07:07 AM
  #14  
burnthesheep
Newbie racer
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406

Bikes: Propel, red is faster

Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,568 Times in 973 Posts
I have a 2016-ish Propel. Around the time the cheaper model like I have still had OEM round handlebars and exposed cables before disappearing to the top of the top tube. I put in a modern aero handlebar and stem that can accept somewhat hidden mech cables and it looks better but not as good as the OEM integrated cables are that are coming out now. You just can't really use aftermarket stuff and compete with full custom OEM integration.

I think in my DIY integration the most glaring difference is that where the stem meets the top tube cables going down, I don't have the little aero rubber spacers that hide those cables from the stem area. But whatever. I like it.
burnthesheep is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 07:43 AM
  #15  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,611

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times in 997 Posts
If hidden cabling is trickling down, and much better suited to electronic drivetrains, I think you first need to see electronic drivetrains trickle down; ie. in Shimano, it starts at Ultegra -- a groupset that by itself goes for about $1600
Sy Reene is offline  
Likes For Sy Reene:
Old 06-19-20, 08:05 AM
  #16  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times in 4,663 Posts
Originally Posted by Sy Reene
If hidden cabling is trickling down, and much better suited to electronic drivetrains, I think you first need to see electronic drivetrains trickle down; ie. in Shimano, it starts at Ultegra -- a groupset that by itself goes for about $1600
That's not really a given. That it'd be easier to install electronic groups doesn't necessarily mean that it's less suited to mechanical.
WhyFi is offline  
Likes For WhyFi:
Old 06-19-20, 08:07 AM
  #17  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,611

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times in 997 Posts
Originally Posted by WhyFi
That's not really a given. That it'd be easier to install electronic groups doesn't necessarily mean that it's less suited to mechanical.
Someone earlier mentioned issues with stranded cabling not being suited to the apparent sharper bends required for hiding?
Sy Reene is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 08:10 AM
  #18  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times in 4,663 Posts
Originally Posted by Sy Reene
Someone earlier mentioned issues with stranded cabling not being suited to the apparent sharper bends required for hiding?
Someone did, but that's not really a given. There are lots of examples to the contrary.
WhyFi is offline  
Likes For WhyFi:
Old 06-19-20, 08:51 AM
  #19  
msu2001la
Senior Member
 
msu2001la's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,870
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1455 Post(s)
Liked 1,477 Times in 867 Posts
Originally Posted by Sy Reene
If hidden cabling is trickling down, and much better suited to electronic drivetrains, I think you first need to see electronic drivetrains trickle down; ie. in Shimano, it starts at Ultegra -- a groupset that by itself goes for about $1600
It would not surprise me at all to see electronic shifting rolled out as an option for the 105 groupset soon.

Also, integrated cockpits aside, is there any carbon frame bike currently being sold with external cable routing?
msu2001la is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 11:03 AM
  #20  
sfrider 
Asleep at the bars
 
sfrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and Treasure Island, FL
Posts: 1,743
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 234 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times in 135 Posts
Originally Posted by Plainsman
A couple of years ago hidden cables seemed like only a concept for the uber expensive super bikes, but I feel like I'm seeing it really start to trickle down now. Is this the new road trend? Sure is a clean look.
Definitely, and much easier to do with electric shifters and hydro brakes. Mechanical cables don't like kinks...

Frames should really come with standardized permanent wiring and hydro lines as part of the frame and fork. Just embed in the resin with ports for stem, derailleurs, brakes. With steering stacks going aero (a winning look imo) there's plenty of room to run wires up from the headtube to the stem, then through the stem to the bars and to the shifters.
sfrider is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 11:29 AM
  #21  
Bah Humbug
serious cyclist
 
Bah Humbug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147

Bikes: S1, R2, P2

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times in 2,026 Posts
Originally Posted by msu2001la
It would not surprise me at all to see electronic shifting rolled out as an option for the 105 groupset soon.

Also, integrated cockpits aside, is there any carbon frame bike currently being sold with external cable routing?
That’s when I’ll put it on my roadie.
Bah Humbug is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 11:53 AM
  #22  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times in 4,663 Posts
Originally Posted by Bah Humbug
That’s when I’ll put it on my roadie.
I don't think that electronic 105 is going to happen. Think about all of the confusion it would cause. I mean, is the mechanical Ultegra user supposed to sneer at the electronic 105 user or is it the other way around?
WhyFi is offline  
Likes For WhyFi:
Old 06-19-20, 11:54 AM
  #23  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,611

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times in 997 Posts
Originally Posted by msu2001la

Also, integrated cockpits aside, is there any carbon frame bike currently being sold with external cable routing?
It's probably just me but I'm a bit confused as to what's being discussed or what it means to people, ie. "Integrated / invisible cables.."

We had another Emonda post above, but a quick look at Trek's site, here's an Emonda. Cables aren't invisible.. but in certain areas of the bike they seem to be inside the tubes:


Here's a Specialized carbon bike.. tarmac I think


Here's another big brand carbon bike Synapse Cannondale.

Sy Reene is offline  
Likes For Sy Reene:
Old 06-19-20, 12:01 PM
  #24  
msu2001la
Senior Member
 
msu2001la's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,870
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1455 Post(s)
Liked 1,477 Times in 867 Posts
Originally Posted by sfrider
Definitely, and much easier to do with electric shifters and hydro brakes. Mechanical cables don't like kinks...

Frames should really come with standardized permanent wiring and hydro lines as part of the frame and fork. Just embed in the resin with ports for stem, derailleurs, brakes. With steering stacks going aero (a winning look imo) there's plenty of room to run wires up from the headtube to the stem, then through the stem to the bars and to the shifters.
What happens if/when those internal wires or brake hoses need to be replaced though?
I think all electronic shifting will soon be wireless anyway, so really it's just the hydro brake hoses left to deal with. Maybe we will have electronic braking... lol.
msu2001la is offline  
Old 06-19-20, 12:04 PM
  #25  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times in 4,663 Posts
That's not a new Emonda - the 2021 model was just introduced yesterday and there are 2020 and 2021 models on the site. The 2021 SL/SLR have the wiring ports tucked under the stem at the front top of the HT stack.
WhyFi is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.