Alivio Shadow and Panniers

[tentman]

I have just fitted an Alivio Shadow derailleur to my tourer and Shimano have moved the cable entry on the mech to a vertical position. This means the cable is now routed much higher up the saddle tube and thus fouls the bottom of the pannier bag. It is possible to tuck the cable between the bag and the frame tube, but this means bending the cable inwards considerably. I have tried fitting a shorter outer cable to lower the cable route below the bag but because my bags are quite large, the bottom of the bag is now resting on the top of the cable.

Either way I end up up with a partially trapped cable. Any possible remedies would be appreciated.

[zenitb]

Interesting...I have been running a Deore Shadow (9 speed) mech for a while with my old Cannondale M700 MTB/commuter/tourer and have not yet noticed any interference issues with my Tubus rack and ancient Carradice 45l panniers. I have just been cycle camping with it fully loaded. I am now on holiday with my tandem (with conventional mech!) but when I get back I will check the Shadow/Carradice clearances on my Cannondale M700 and post back here.. Generally I like the low cable friction of the Shimano Shadow mech setup so it would be a shame if its an issue...

[Bmblbzzz]

What routing does the cable use? I have an Alivio Shadow rear mech and it doesn't foul panniers but the cable is routed under the chainstay.

[tentman]

Thank you all for your thoughts. The cable runs under the chainstay. I have discovered the reason the bag fouls the cable is that the rack carries the bags on a separate rail lower than the top rail, if that makes sense, so the bag sits lower. I have used a shorter cable outer that runs just over the top of the rack bottom fixing bolt and cable tied it to the pannier frame. This means the cable now runs behind the bag. Time will tell if this is satisfactory!

[zenitb]

Back from holiday now...Reading your analysis tentman I probably have a similar issue. I got away with it on my recent camping trip because I used the TOP bar of the Tubus rack (I run dynamo wires down one of the lower bars so avoid using them for panniers). Even so the Carradice Super C just avoids the Shadow derrailier cable (Deore mech in my case).

Hopefully this link shows it...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rBEjRUiHGZim3sa97

I recently got some large Btwin 900 panniers (for my daughter) and these foul my Shadow rear mech even when they are mounted on the top bar of the rack!!!

This is probably something for us to be aware of in future touring bike builds. I notice Shimano's current "trekking" groupset (Deore LX a.k.a. T670) still has a conventional rear mech so maybe they have realised its an issue..

https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/ ... -t670.html

Best of luck with your revised setup

George