- Internal cables, they look absolutely fantastic,
the reason being because they hide your cables,
and quite frankly, there's not many cables out there
which are a real joy or delight to look at.
There is a downside though, on some components
and frames, they can be a real nightmare to thread through.
So today I'm going to go through a few hacks and tips
so you can fit yours just a little bit easier.
(reverberating percussive synth)
Firstly then, let's clear up a few things
and that is that quite a lot of frames
and components out there actually have
internal guides for you to be able
to route through your hoses or your cables.
However, not all frames and components are created equally.
Hence the reason for this video.
So, with a few different bits and pieces
that you're likely to have laying around
inside your own workshop, this will be a piece of cake
for you to be able to complete.
Right, my first tip or bit of advice for you
has to be if you're using a standard folding
style cable always use a fresh new one,
the reason being it's likely that one,
you're threading through this cable in the inside
of a frame or handlebar, that sort of thing, it's going to
end up bashing against the inside wall of those components
which means if it's not new, it's going to fray.
A new cable, they tend to be soldered
very finely on the end, preventing it from fraying.
If you're going to use an old cable, well, don't say
I didn't warn you, but a bit of advice,
what you could do is freshly trim it really, really short
and then just add a dab of Super Glue to try
and seal it up before you start the threading process.
For the purpose of this video, I'm actually going to
use a pair of handlebars because, well, it's
the same as a frame, let's face it.
We're putting a cable in and we're trying
to fish it out at the other end,
but a pair of handlebars normally is
slightly more difficult because you've got bigger bends
and tighter curves, if that makes sense.
It's not as easy to actually fish out.
So, first up, let's imagine that we want
to fit a new outer cable through the holes.
So, we've got a insert here and it exits underneath.
Now sadly, underneath these handlebars,
as good as they are, there is no internal routing.
So, it means if I want to fix a new outer cable,
if I go ahead and put it in there, it's not going to
be that easy to move around inside, the reason
being those outer cables aren't that flat, you see.
So, I've got myself here a normal break cable,
so the internal one, and then I'm just going to
find its way inside, gradually poke it around
until it comes out or starts to try
and come out at the other end.
Now, these things aren't always that easy to actually spot.
That's where this comes in.
So, providing, of course, you can spot it,
if not a torch is always really good
or certainly aim it towards the light or sun.
Those things are going to make this job
just a little bit easier too, but this in my hand here is
an old bit of outer brake cable that I've stripped
some of the plastic sheathing away,
and then I've simply grabbed onto one end
and pulled it really hard.
So, I've got this sort of corkscrew-like grabber
or gripper and when I see that internal cable,
I can try and hook it out and pull it out of the hole.
Now, it will take a little while, but it's a lot
easier than just trying to poke around
and hope for the best 'cause that's not going to
get you anywhere very fast.
Once it pops out, you can then use this cable
as a guide for the outer cable to go through.
Believe me, it's going to make that job a lot easier.
There we are, it's out.
Now if you went away just poking around in there
just trying to get it to come out the other hole,
you're going to take forever and ever,
even if you're using thin little pliers
in there, it's not that easy to grab the end.
But now we've got this in place,
well, the outer cable is going to be able
to slide on there nice and easily,
and then just pop out the other end.
Alright, what then if that following step you
just dismiss and you couldn't be bothered,
well, there is another option.
You could try putting through the outer cable
to start with and while hoping for the best,
it's normally ever so stiff getting it
around and inside the first bend,
but what have I got here, you may ask?
Well this is just a bit of really thin
garden wire, the sort of thing that I hold
my sunflowers upright with, and while I've cut it
down a little bit, and hopefully I can match it
into the end of that outer cable,
try and get it to come out.
Again, it does take quite a bit of time sometimes,
and there is no sort of one-solution-for-all type thing,
but once you hook onto it, you're going to be laughing.
Now the other bit of cable I'll just show you then,
that unraveled cable, that won't do
the job because it doesn't tend to be,
the opening isn't quite big enough
to actually wrap around the outer cable, but I've got it.
(upbeat funky music)
So, what then if you've got an internal cable
that needs replacing but you're going to keep the outer cables?
Well firstly, I would never advise to do that.
I would always say replace the whole system.
You aren't going to get better gear shifting or braking,
but with all that aside, we've got a problem.
Let's try and solve it.
Let's think that this is a frame or even a handlebar,
for instance, but it's more likely to be a frame,
but it's just a scaled down version.
It's easier to explain.
So, first up, we've got a bit of outer cable
which comes from your shift lever, stops in the frame there,
then you've got an inner cable which runs
all the way through and it doesn't have any type
of housing or anything and it comes out the other end.
And then you've got a little bit of outer cable
then into a rear derailleur, for example.
Well, what we're going to do then, because if we
take out this inner cable, you're not going to
be able to replace it that easily, let's face it,
because you've got to try and find
those tiny little holes, entry and exit holes,
at either end of the frame.
So, what we're going to do is undo the clamp cable
of the component and just, well, lose the component
or keep it in place on the bike, then the last bit
of cable out the back there, you're just going to remove,
and then you've got the inner cable revealed.
This is where this comes in handy.
It's a little bit of cable sheathing.
So, pop down to your local bike shop.
They should have some.
It's available for both gear and brake inners.
It's obviously a gear inner and it's a little bit thinner
in diameter, about, well normally a couple of millimeters
or rather a couple of fractions of a millimeter
and that's not going to fit over the brake,
so make sure you get the right stuff.
If in doubt, just get yourself the brake,
'cause that will do both.
Slide it over that inner cable.
You want it to be nice and long,
and it will, it will find its way over it alright,
like you can see and just keep pushing it
until it pops out at the other end.
Normally the actual set-up of the cable
when it's under tension, it's going to
be able to slide on there nice and easily.
Obviously my little set-up here
is not under any tension at all inside of a frame or lever.
It's just a cable which is loosely placed inside,
but once that is on, this inner sheath,
like you can see here, it just pokes out onto the cable.
So here's my cable from there you can see
popping out of the actual handlebar there,
or the frame entry and exit point,
at which point what you want to make sure is
that the far end, so the end with derailleur
or where the brake caliper is, that doesn't
go inside of the frame whatsoever.
You want to make sure it stays outside.
So, if in doubt, maybe tape it onto the component
or the frame, that'll be all right,
and then when it's out of both ends of the frame,
it's normally a frame you're doing this on,
sometimes a handlebar, you are good to go.
Then you can just whip out that inner cable, no problem.
You've got a guide from end right the way
through to the other, meaning you can take
that cable out of your shifter and then you can
simply fit a new one in and you can
reuse the manky old outer cable.
So, let's be honest, just put some new ones
in there because there's no point in reusing
dodgy old outers, and then when it goes through,
it simply threads back inside of that plastic sheath,
pops out the other end, easily done.
(smooth synth music)
Now if you are really struggling
with an internal cable as it goes down
through the down tube and around the bottom
bracket junction, the best bit of advice I can
actually give you there is to remove your chain set,
remove those cranks and maybe even the bottom bracket
in some cases just so you can actually see
what's going on a little bit easier,
as well as possibly freeing up any obstructions in there.
Now, if you've got yourself a hydraulic brake set-up,
for instance, it goes all the way through the frame
and you're finding that a bit of a struggle,
well, the folks at Park Tool, they even have
a bit of a kit which threads on the internals
of a hydraulic hose.
It does also thread into the internal
of a brake and gear outlet, though they don't
strictly recommend that, but it is possible.
And then, with this really strong magnet,
you can control this all the way
through a carbon or aluminum frame
taking it from one end through to the other.
It's a really ingenious bit of kit
and one of our colleagues here, Peter, he swears by it.
But let me know, though, what bits
and what tips do you use to actually get
your internal cables routed nice and easy.
Let me know down there in the comments section below.
Mr. Tom Last, well he uses a bit
of cotton in a vacuum cleaner.
So get involved down there, and also remember
to check out the GCN shop at shop.globalcyclingnetwork.com
where we've got a whole heap of goodies
for you to check out, and now I have two more great videos.
How 'about clicking just down here and just down here.