gear cable routing

[Rude Dog]

Hi,
I'm nearing the end of a Kona Hahanna (96) rebuild, mostly original parts except new old stock grip shifters.

Wiring the front mech - should the cable go around the head tube from the left hand shifter to the cable stop on the down tube on the opposite side of the head tube or just loop out and pass down the left hand side of the head tube.

Looping around seems most sensible but then the cables would need to cross midway down the down tube. I seem to recall this was how it was before I stripped the bike but it looked messy (and wrong!)

I'm just refitting the front mech and want to get it right so I don't muck up the fresh paint if I need to move it.

Thanks
Al

 

[kaiser]

If your sat on the bike the cable runs down the left for the front and down the right for the rear, so it runs along the chainstay. So no crossing the headtube.

 

[Anthony]

You can do it whatever way you like. Personally I prefer to use the stop on other side from the shifter and cross the cables on the way down the down tube. I know some people think it looks wrong, but the advantage is that the natural curve of the outers keep them away from the head tube so they don't rub the paint off it.

On the other hand, if you don't care about your paint or you don't mind covering your frame with protectors then use the stops nearest the shifters.

FWIW, Kona themselves seem to have intended you to do it the way I do it with cables crossing. Evidence for this is that the 97 frames, where only the rear mech is routed along the down tube, have the cable stop on the left hand side - i.e., the opposite side to the shifter.

 

[Rude Dog]

Thanks for the replies, I'm in two minds now!

I'm not sure I liked the crossed cables on the downtube although when I got the bike I imagine it was as originally setup (a lot of the original items are still on the bike when I recovered it from the tip!).

but them again, I like the symmetry of running around the head tube, Doh, I was hoping to get my *rse on this tomorrow.

btw Anthony I'm in Lewes, so we share the south downs.....