Di2 Cable tidying

[quixoticgeek]

When I wired up the Di2 upgrade on my bike, I wanted to test it worked properly before I made anything final. I cable tied the cables to the frame using red cable ties, to remind me to remove them before launch^Wflight.

Well, it's over a year, and the red cable ties are still there. I could replace them with black ones that makes things a little neater. But I'm wondering if there is some better way of doing the external routing of the cables. Like the spiral wrap you use for a home computer cable nest. But scaled down to Di2 cable sizes.

Any ideas?

J

[FifeingEejit]

Shimano sell some sticky channels.

First google shopping link I got...
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/shimano-non-series-di2-sm-ewc2-e-tube-di2-cable-cover-sheath-for-ew-sd50-black-smewc2l


Either I cocked up the installation (entirely probable) when I used it to route some dynamo cables or the glue on them is a bit rubbish, my solution was to use ducktape...

[citoyen]

For the dynamo light cables on the plastic bike, I use black electrician's tape. It's close enough to the frame colour to not be too obvious. (The Di2 cables on that bike are routed internally but ICBA to faff about doing the same with the dynamo cables.)

[quixoticgeek]

Shimano sell some sticky channels.

First google shopping link I got...
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/shimano-non-series-di2-sm-ewc2-e-tube-di2-cable-cover-sheath-for-ew-sd50-black-smewc2l


Either I cocked up the installation (entirely probable) when I used it to route some dynamo cables or the glue on them is a bit rubbish, my solution was to use ducktape...

Perfect. I can always enhance the adhesive properties if needed.

Thank you!

[yoav]

When I bought my Di2 kit for external cables, it came with those cable guides but eventually they lose their stickyness and I replaced it with electrical tape.

[Frank9755]

Yes, black tape is what I've seen bike shops use.  Frame needs to be clean and the cable as straight as possible

[quixoticgeek]

I went for the proper shimano Di2 channels, with the end of each of the long channels reinforced with insulation tape. The short channels just get a wrap of insulation tape in the middle.

It's helped make a considerable improvement to the neatness of the bike. I used the opportunity to tidy up the rest of the cabling.

Before:



After:



I rerouted a couple of the cables, to make better use of their length. I need to replace one 500mm cable with a 200mm cable (the one currently bunched in red heatshrink currently to remind me to replace it).

I also don't have a cable flapping about under the bottom bracket. I'm really impressed by the durability of the di2 cables. I've had the cable flapping relatively loosely below the BB for the last 8700+ km.

J

[TimC]

Blimey. Seeing this reminds me I have never ever seen a Di2 installation externally routed. Given the limited range of cable lengths, it must be a bit of a nightmare to achieve tidily!

[quixoticgeek]

Blimey. Seeing this reminds me I have never ever seen a Di2 installation externally routed. Given the limited range of cable lengths, it must be a bit of a nightmare to achieve tidily!

Yeah, it's a pain. Not to mention that you need the right combination of B junctions to join everything together. I have two in my setup. Plus a pair of Y cables. The Y cables come in an even smaller range of sizes. I want to add climbing shifters, which will add another layer of complication to the mix.

J

[TimC]

I've been a convert to electronic shifting for some years. On the one bike I wanted it on that had no internal routing (and is a demountable - a Ritchey Break-Away) I fitted Sram Red ETAP, which does away with all the wiring. The gear changes are very, very slightly slower than Di2, but the convenience of no wiring and the ability to swap batteries from front to rear mech if you ever run the back low (I never have) is worth it. The new generation may be quicker - and it's available at Force level - but I haven't tried it.

[grams]

Blimey. Seeing this reminds me I have never ever seen a Di2 installation externally routed. Given the limited range of cable lengths, it must be a bit of a nightmare to achieve tidily!

Externally routed Di2:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-2d2wbFsj1/

Cheating a bit by using an internal battery and running the cable up the down tube drain hole. The FD cable likewise goes through the bottom bracket tube intended for a mechanical cable.

The bottom bracket Junction B has slots in it to hold loops of excess wire:
http://hashirin.com/archives/2015-04-05.html