Unpopular opinion: I actually prefer cable housing that's a little too long

Had a chat with this old timer at the co-op last Tuesday who said he's been running long housing loops for 20 years and never had a shifting issue. I used to trim everything super tight like everyone says, but after trying his way on my commuter, the shifts feel smoother and I don't have to replace cables as often. Anyone else ditch the clean look for better performance?

3 comments

3 Comments

torres.blair3d ago

Nah man I was totally on the other side of this for years, always cutting my housing as tight as physically possible to get that magazine-cover look. But then I picked up an old touring bike from a guy who'd been commuting on it since the 90s and the housing loops were basically comically huge, like you could fit your whole hand through them. I almost trimmed them before riding it but something told me to try it first and honestly the shifting was way smoother than anything I'd ever built myself. Now my daily rider has these big lazy loops and I'm never going back, function over fashion every time.

miles_robinson204d ago

My buddy Dave used zip ties once and his housing kinked so bad he couldn't shift out of the big ring.

taylor9574d ago

Dave just didn't tighten them right, zip ties work perfect if you know what you're doing.