Internal vs external cabling

[Eric Olthwaite]

Like so many other bicycle innovations, the main purpose of internal cabling is to convince those who own bikes with external cabling that they need to buy a new bike.

 

[Mo1959]

Main reason I prefer it is I feel it makes the bike easier to clean

 

[SpokeyDokey]

PITA if they rattle and no real advantage imo.

I have a Trek Domane Disc where both gear cables are routed outside (hooray!) and the rear hydraulic line is inside but is rigidly held taut within the down tube by a natty little clamp using a ziptie where it actually enters the DT. Mercifully no noise whatsoever.

 

[Ajax Bay]

External cabling is more likely to get snagged on something or succumb to the elements

Noughth world problem.

 

[raleighnut]

Internal cabling done badly can be a rattling nightmare however I have one bike where the rear brake cable runs inside the top tube but this isn't done simply. Someone has gone to the trouble of brazing a thin tube inside the toptube from an angled recess behind the headtube to a similar exit point just in front of the seat cluster. When I got the frame I just thought it had been drilled for the whole cable to run through but no it wouldn't fit so I got a torch out to have a peer and the hole is closed off with a 1mm hole in the centre so I poked an inner through this thinking what a hassle it could be to find the other end and tweeze it through the exit but the end just popped straight out by the seatpost so there has to be an internal 'tube' the inner runs through inside the toptube. This must have been an incredible amount of work to accomplish cos not only the oval appertures are exactly the right size to accept outer cables with a ferrule but then to have the other end finish so neatly with the same fitting is mind boggling, it must have took hours of precision work to achieve but then the 'seat cluster' shows a similar amount of attention to detail

You can just about see where the brake cable emerges but I don't have a piccy of the other side of the bike (and I'm not trying to dig the bike out of the shed at half twelve on a Sunday night)

BTW when I bought the frame it had no decals other than the 3 '653' stickers, has no headbadge or frame number so I have no idea who made it but the workmanship is superb

 

[cougie uk]

I go years without needing to change cables so either system isn't an issue. My CF bikes have internal cables and it is nicer to look at. My gravel bike has full external cabling with no bare wires so nowhere for the mud to get into.

I'd not choose a bike based on the cables.

 

[weareHKR]

Not fussed either way tbh... internal can make a cleaner looking frame, likewise, neatly routed externals can be aesthetically pleasing!

 

[Drago]

Like so many other bicycle innovations, the main purpose of internal cabling is to convince those who own bikes with external cabling that they need to buy a new bike.

Weighing up the pros and cons, Eric seems to have pretty much hit the nail on the head.

 

[Blue Hills]

Nope

Do you have any bikes with internal cables?
If so do you service or replace them yourself?


(declaration - all mine are external - see no need to change - have read a fair few posts over the years with folks struggling with internal cables)

 

[Blue Hills]

I suspect pro cycling probably went to internal cables with half a mind to aerodynamics, but then of course (like many innovations on pro bikes) it just dripped down into the retail side eventually.

Quite probably I think. Of course few pro cyclists do their own servicing.

 

[MrGrumpy]

External is easier of course , internal routing looks much better/tidier. It’s a bit of a flaff changing them but not impossible.

 

[Cycleops]

While most manufacturers seem set on making bikes less mechanically user friendly Decathlon have just come out with a bike that has external cables, threaded bb and rim brakes. I’m sure they’ve realised some cyclists like the simpler things in life:
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a35767190/van-rysel-edr-af-review/

 

[T4tomo]

Do you have any bikes with internal cables?
If so do you service or replace them yourself?


(declaration - all mine are external - see no need to change - have read a fair few posts over the years with folks struggling with internal cables)

I have bikes with both internal and external. When I had to replace the internal cable on the Bianchi it was very easy, the port has a bung in you can remove and its very simple to pick up the inner from it, and refit the port. I had gone to the precaution of laying a piece of strong thread back through the frame as I removed the old cable, but it wasn't needed. I don't get any cable rattle either.

I also find re-cabling externally routed cables quite therapeutic, so I'm fairly ambivalent.

off at a slight tangent:
I think modern shifters that run the gear cable out under the bar tape does look marginally neater than just firing out of side of the lever, but also makes the internals more complex and prone to failure.

and even further off:
I also have a bike with friction shifters and one with an indexed bar end shifter, neither of which miss a beat. There is a bit of beauty in their simplicity. Did someone invent electronic shifting just because they could?

 

[matticus]

External * internal cables require extra holes in your frame - this has been known to be a stress riser leading to cracks.

*EDIT for massive error 🤦‍♀️

 

[T4tomo]

I managed to rethread my mate rear mech inner cable (105 levers) a couple of weeks back, without removing bar tape. I peeled back the hood and a tiny bit of bar tape so I could see the entry point to the outer, and gently nudged the new cable end in and bingo, pushed it all the way through. I know you referred to replacing outers, but just thought I'd share that!

But yes I agree with you, I'm sure there was gnashing of teeth!