Is a lack of interior cabling odd on a $3,500 bike?

[newblah]

Hi all.

I am looking at a 2014/2015 Cannondale Supersix Ultegra at the moment.

Seen here:
http://media.cannondale.com/media/catal ... 192875.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2014/b ... -3-ultegra" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/b ... -3-ultegra" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I frequently need to carry the bike on a towball-mounted bike rack on my car, does it seem likely that the cables would become damage or would rub against the frame and cause it to leave marks? I am loving this bike but it seems quite odd that on such a nice frame they decided to not run internal cabling!

thanks

[Mulger bill]

cf frame on a towball carrier?
I'd be getting one of those bar thingies that clamp between stem and post and clamp that to the carrier.
Oh wait, I have one...

[KGB]

As above. Clamping carbon frames like that makes baby Jesus cry.
When I was a kid we used to wrap a soft cloth under the cables, they were steel bikes though.

[RonK]

Odd? Not at all. It's usually only found in high end bikes. It is becoming increasingly common on middling bikes with electronic shifting, but far from standard.

If you use a clamp-tyre rack on a CF frame you have more than scratches to worry about. Use a two-arm rack like this Thule, which has soft rubber cups with grooves for the cables.

[Marx]

I fear this not with my alloy framed MTB.

If you're a bike mechanic, you appreciate the external cabling.

[fat and old]

Isn't that what the back seat's for?

[Xplora]

You do not want to clamp on the top tube or any tube on a carbon bike. That's not the way they are designed to work

While external cables aren't necessarily uncommon, the reason you go internal is aesthetics and the reason you go carbon is because you aren't concerned about spending a couple of bucks to ensure you are using the right carrier for the job. Alloy doesn't punish you for bad carrier choice, but it punishes you on the hills

[rkelsen]

^ Only if you're soft...

[newblah]

I have a two-arm bike rack similar to the one pictured. The exterior cables will still be lying below the top part of the bike frame.

Are those two-arm bike racks still a problem to transport carbon frames? I presume it is only the single-clamp bike racks that are a problem? Surely the 7.5kg bicycle lying on top of two arms, strapped down so it can't move anywhere won't be an issue

[Dai]

Are those two-arm bike racks still a problem to transport carbon frames? I presume it is only the single-clamp bike racks that are a problem? Surely the 7.5kg bicycle lying on top of two arms, strapped down so it can't move anywhere won't be an issue

Correct.

Clamps are generally a bad idea with CF bikes, but there's no need to be too paranoid.

The problem is the clamping force, not the supporting of the bike by the frame. So the Thule rack above with the rubber cradles is fine, because the only additional pressure is from the rubber strap. It's not actually clamping as such. I've also regularly transported a carbon bike on one of these racks:



You need to be a bit more careful, but again, the clamps are flexible rubber and the bike is supported by it's wheels, so there is no need to tighten it any more than finger tight. Both of the above are a better idea than the frame adapter.

I know too many people that have had bikes fall out (or partially fall out) of these:


What you ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT is one of these:

which require you to tighten the frame substantially in order to stop the bike swinging.

[Dai]

These racks are actually pretty awesome if you are paranoid about cable routing, because you can rotate the cradles to give you a lot of flexibility. E.g the rear support can go under the top tube, but strap onto the down tube. It can also go under the rear seat stays and strap to the down tube, so depending on bike size and cable routing you have a lot of flexibility.

The main downside of these racks is that they can be a bit challenging to get two bikes onto - although to be fair, multiple bikes on most bike racks is a bit like playing twister.

[/quote]

[outnabike]

Excellent rack and built by a forum member.
A friend who runs Lcool

http://www.isi-carriers.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RonK]

The main downside of these racks is that they can be a bit challenging to get two bikes onto - although to be fair, multiple bikes on most bike racks is a bit like playing twister.

Err no - I regularly carry two on mine and it's a piece of cake loading them.

And it's only a little more difficult loading three.

[b1]

I prefer a roof rack mounted bike carrier. The bike is more secure, with the front fork locked into the QR hitch. A downside can be height clearance when entering garages and car parks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[outnabike]

Hi all.

I am looking at a 2014/2015 Cannondale Supersix Ultegra at the moment.

Seen here:
http://media.cannondale.com/media/catal ... 192875.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2014/b ... -3-ultegra" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/b ... -3-ultegra" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I frequently need to carry the bike on a towball-mounted bike rack on my car, does it seem likely that the cables would become damage or would rub against the frame and cause it to leave marks? I am loving this bike but it seems quite odd that on such a nice frame they decided to not run internal cabling!

thanks

That will teach you to ask two questions with the one post, won't it? No one cares weather or not you bike has internal cables or not.... We just wanna sell you a bike rack.

[Dai]

No one cares weather or not you bike has internal cables or not....

There's your answer!

Oh and Cannondale's are beautiful bikes however I had a particularly bad experience trying to get them to honour a warranty claim, so I'd pretty much recommend anything else.

[harmonix1234]

Give me external cables any day of the week.
I'll take quality shifting and brake modulation over 1/2 a watt of aero gains hands down.

[newblah]

I ended up getting the 2014 Cannondale Supersix Evo 3 Ultegra yesterday Haven't even had time to take it out for a ride! Can't wait for Tuesday morning's commute!

[newblah]

Thanks for all for the info about bike racks. I'll definitely look into a proper option, until then the backseat of my car will suffice

Next mission will be to sell my 2013 Avanti Giro 3. I'm hoping there is some sort of market for used bikes!

[trackside]

Back seat or boot wrapped in a blanket or in bike bags....it's the only option for those who truly love their bike

[nickobec]

Back seat or boot wrapped in a blanket or in bike bags....it's the only option for those who truly love their bike

Those who truly love their bike, sell their car and buy a van.

Me when I bought a new car, made sure the bike would fit in the back, Hatchback with the seats down and front wheel off bike.

[petal665]

Strange the EVO doesn't have internal brake cables. 2014 CAAD10 does. Internal cabling looks nice, has no other benefit and lots of negatives.

[elantra]

Strange the EVO doesn't have internal brake cables. 2014 CAAD10 does. Internal cabling looks nice, has no other benefit and lots of negatives.

I suspect it is because the Evo frame is so high tech that the entry points for internal cables would be incompatable with its tensile properties.

BH Ultralight is similar, i think - also a top end frame of cutting-edge low weight that similarly does not have internal cabling.

[petal665]

Actually that is wrong on both counts
The Evo high mod has internal rear brake cable (and has since it was introduced) and I also have the Ultralight which has internal gear and brake cables.

[elantra]

Correction accepted !

Was looking at a 2012 RIDE mag over the weekend and the piccies of both these bikes on test looked like external cabling in 2012