Cable routing; All you need to know

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We all love a neat-looking bike. No cables in view is ideal, right? However, if you’ve ever replaced headset bearings on a bike with fully integrated cables and hoses, you’ll think twice about that answer. The sleek look of integration comes with a price. Maintenance and service become more challenging and take considerably more time on bikes with extensive integration.

We love giving you the choice to build your bike the way you prefer, but we also want to ensure you can make changes in the future. Hydraulic lines are way more flexible than mechanical brake and shift cables, which makes integration on hydraulic possible.

For each of the integration options, different headsets are required. We typically use headsets from FSA.

1. Full integrated: FSA No.55 ACR system
2. Semi integrated: FSA No.69 SRS System
3. Non-integrated: FSA 55R

For hydraulics

Full integrated

Hoses enter into handlebar or stem and are not visible. Looks great, downside is that replacing parts like headset bearings is a challenge. In this instance it would require to rebleed both hoses as well.

Does not work with standard Raamwerk stem, since it isn’t made for internal cable routing. It also requires a handlebar that has holes that require internal cable routing.

Semi integrated

Hoses enter just below the stem into the headset. From shifters to headset, the hoses run just below stem and handlebar.When riding, you can’t see the cables. in side-view, cables are slightly visible.

Replacing headset bearings is easier compared to a fully integrated setup, but still needs bleeding at least one brake. For us, this is the healty middle ground between the good look of integrationand servicablity. Also works with Raamwerk stem.

Non integrated

Front brake hose is completely external, rear brake hose enters frame on downtube. This setup has a more traditional look, with plenty of hose visible. Works great with a Raamwerk stem and is ideal for service and repairs. Any mechanic will love to work on this setup.

How about the real cables?

Mechanical cables

Integrating mechanical cables is possible but not advisable. Tight bends in the cables significantly affect shifting and braking performance. This also causes the cables to wear faster, meaning they need to be replaced earlier. Replacing internal cables is not a quick task and will take considerably more time and effort compared to non-integrated cables.

Different methods require different parts

Depending on your setup, you’ll need different parts to complete your bike. We prefer to only provide the parts you actually need, rather than overwhelming you with unnecessary components. In the table below, you can see the parts we recommend for different situations.

Pos.	Part	Art. No.	Mechanical 1x Disc	Mechanical 2x Disc	Mechanical 1x Rim	Mechanical 2x Rim	Etap 1x Disc	Etap 2x Disc	Etap 1x Rim	Etap 2x Rim	Di2 1x Disc	Di2 2x Disc	Di2 1x Rim	Di2 2x Rim
Chainstay	Mechanical chainstay stopper	P48a1c	1	1	1	1
	Flat rubber cap	P9ea21					1	1	1	1
	Di2 rubber cap	P70acb									1	1	1	1
TopTube	Rim brake stopper	P3b6ae			1	1			1	1			1	1
Seattube	Flat rubber cap	P9ea21	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1
Seattube	Di2 rubber cap	P70acb										1		1
Down tube	Flat cap	Pa7524					1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
	1 open hole	P5a783
	1 open hole, 1 stopper	P16e60	1		1
	1 open hole, 2 stopper	Pcf81d		1
	2 stopper	Pdbb0e				1
Other	BB cableguide Mechanical	P41a44	1	1	1	1
	Anti rattle hose downtube	P3234a	1	1			1	1			1	1
	Hose Scratch protector Headtube	P8cf52					1	1			1	1

Note
1. Assumed is that mechanical cables are entering frames on downtube.
2. Assumed is that in disc frames, the rear brake hose is entering frame at the headset. If it is supposed to enter at the downtube, flat cap on down tube needs to be replaced for '1 open hole' type plate.

Framesets or Pre-configured bikes

Parallel Collection

Parallel is our dedicated road frameset. With an focus on confidence on the bike and your right-to-repair, this is the epitome of sustainability within the cycling industry. And that all on this performance all-rounder!