Pro tip: stop using zip ties on shifter cable housing at the head tube

I see it all the time at the shop where people cinch zip ties tight across the housing right where it enters the frame. That kills cable friction and makes shifting feel like mud after just 200 miles. Use a loose velcro strap or a dedicated cable guide instead. Anyone else notice customers coming in with sluggish shifting from this one mistake?

2 comments

2 Comments

juliag1020d ago

I used a zip tie tight against the housing at the head tube for about 8000 miles on my last gravel bike and my shifting stayed Buttery smooth the whole time. It was a decent quality zip tie not some dollar store one and I made sure it was just snug enough to hold the housing in place without crushing it. If you route the housing right with a gentle curve and check that the ferrule is fully seated then a zip tie isn't going to wreck your shifting unless you're cranking it down like a tourniquet.

barbara_baker5720d ago

Yeah, that "just snug enough" part is key. I've seen people crank zip ties down like they're trying to stop a leaky hose and then wonder why their cables feel gritty after a wet ride. A trick I picked up is to thread the zip tie through a short piece of old inner tube so it grips without digging in, gives a little cushion too. Also helps if your housing has a bit of slack at the head tube so it can move free without the zip tie pulling it tight in a turn.