Shifter Cable Questions

This seems like a really dumb question, but here goes anyway....

I just got the down low glow light (thanks to the commuting forum:D ) for my bike and want to install it, but the holder goes on the down tube. In the examples, the holder sits between the tube and cables. On my bike, the cables cross underneath. Is it okay if the cables actually touch the rubber attachment piece? I don't think the holder can be installed where it does not touch, and slightly push the cables to the side. I'm asking from the view point of the cables -- I don't care if the holder wears out prematurely. It just doesn't seem like it would be good to have anything rubbing or pressing on the cable. But then again, if that's true, how does everyone get stuff attached to their bikes?

We had this problem installing a pump on the top tube. It pushed the cable slightly to the side. (In that case, we just went with CO2 and didn't mess with it!)

Thanks for your help and patience!:o
Christy

I'm intending to get a Down Low Glow, too. (In fact, was gonna order it later today. A green one. What color did you get?)

Just looked at my down tube, and while the cables don't cross on my commuter bike (they do on my zoom-zoom bike), I can see how I might need to push around or under the cables on my commuter to put on the light tube.

I will be watching to see what folks have to say, cuz this will be important to me, too!

If the cables can't be messed with, will the light tube fit on the underside of the chainstay instead?

I got Amber -- wanted purple to go with my Specialized Dolce Elite, but amber is supposed to be much brighter and hey, orange is cool too:D

I'm going to look at the chain stay again, but when I looked at it last night, it didn't appear long enough for the whole light to fit with out my heel whacking it! I do have a very small bike (48cm), so that may be my main problem.


On my husbands bike, the cables would just have to be pushed aside while doing the installation, and then they don't look like they would even touch the holder or light. (But -- he ain't getting my light!!!:p )
Christy

Are your cables where they touch the unit bare wire or housing? Probably bare wire, which means the wire is normally under tension. Does the unit deflect the wires and mean that the cable path is slightly longer? If so, your shifter indexing will be affected. That could be compensated for it the path length never changes. But if the cable pushes into or may cut into something on the unit, then the path length may not remain constant and your indexing may act flakey. Besides the cable rubbing may damage the unit or break the cable. So you should be very cautious about installing the unit if it will be touching your shifter cables in normal operation. Moving cable aside during installation is OK.

Once you get her hooked up, post a picture of her glowing!

Thanks DebW for the technical info - that answered my question exactly!

Yes - the cables would be deflected (thanks - I couldn't think of the appropriate word). They would be in effect rubbing on the rubber holder that the light attaches to. I can see how over time, the rubbing could make a channel in the holder. (I wouldn't care about the holder, but the effect on shifting would definitely annoy!). So I guess, unless I don't care about my shifting flaking out, I will not be glowing anytime soon:(

I kinda felt like the rubbing thing couldn't be a good thing, but, I guess I was just hoping that I was being over cautious:o

Now I'm off to pout about not glowing orange!

Wait! Don't give up yet!

Can you just swap your cables so they don't cross underneath? I did some of mine this way because I liked the way that made them look near my handlebars, but there's no reason they can't cross up there instead. Just run new cables, and glow away!

Interesting -- changing out the cables is beyond me at the moment - especially because lbs is 1 1/2 hour away - if I screw up, I am days away from being able to get help. I hope to gradually start doing my own repairs etc, but at the moment the distance from help makes me nervous.:o

Do you think most lbs would be agreeable to doing this, or will they think I am nuts? (okay, that's a loaded question -- but hopefully ya know what I mean).

Why do some cables cross underneath? The others I've seen (admittedly few) don't cross. I just figured I was stuck with that.

Thanks for all the help,
Christy

Of course not. LBS wouldn't mind uncrossing the cable.

Besides, I think your shifters will work a little smoother if you get the cables uncrossed.

smilingcat

I want to see pics of your glowing bike when you get it done!

(I'm thinking of a dual-tube system in green.)

How much do the cables get deflected? Is it possible that you might be able to cut or sand a notch into the light mount so that it won't touch? I had to do this to mount a pump.