Cycling UK Forum

What's the best way to route the gear cable on a 3-speed - along the top-tube/seatstay or the down-tube/chainstay?

I recently built up a 3-speed commuting bike out of an old Raleigh MTB frame and took the downtube/seatstay option but had a problem with the cable tension - had to re-tension it using the barrel adjuster every 30-50 miles - not sure why, it might just have been the way I bodged the cable routing with Duck tape. I then rebuilt the bike around a Saracen frame (for reasons unconnected with the cable-tensioning issue) and routed the cable the other way - so far I'm not having any problems with the cable tension but have discovered one disadvantage of routing the cable this way - I can't mount a pannier on the rh side as it fouls the gear cable on the rh seatstay.

So just wondering if anyone has strong opinions one way or the other. Is anyone using one of those cable pulleys you can get from SJSC? Do you need one if you're going to route the cable via the down-tube/seatstay?

(It's an X-RD3 hub by the way, and I love it...feels more solid & smooth-shifting than the SRAM 3-speed I used to have on my Brompton a few years back...)

Thanks

I always route mine along the toptube and down the seat stay as it makes the cable adjustment less sensitive to wheel position in the forkend. You should be able to adjust the wheel to set chain tension without disturbing the gear adjustment - especially useful when changing a tube at the roadside.

Sounds like the cable outer is slipping, Tony. You really need to terminate with the correct strong clip, if you haven't already.

As for correct/incorrect way, there's no better answer than whatever you prefer! I favour terminating the outer a few inches along the cross bar and then use exposed cable and a pulley at the top of the seat tube - like they did it in the old days

I'm quite interested in this subject. I've fitted a xrd to my TriSport Single, the cable outer is run to a stop on the top tube, and the inner runs via a pully down the seat tube. The stop on the top tube is a lashup constructed from a stick-on cable guide, aradite, and a hose clip. Due to the size and shape of the top tube a standard sturmey clip will not fit and my lashup allows the end of the outer to move, has anyone got a better idea of how to hold the cable outer in place? I do not want to use a cable with a full length cable outer and fulcrum clip on the chainstay. Using a pully at the top of the seat tube reminds me of my youth when I had a 3 speed Royal Enfield and many enjoyable trips around the local roads.

Rey

reyserf wrote:I'm quite interested in this subject. I've fitted a xrd to my TriSport Single, the cable outer is run to a stop on the top tube, and the inner runs via a pully down the seat tube. The stop on the top tube is a lashup constructed from a stick-on cable guide, aradite, and a hose clip. Due to the size and shape of the top tube a standard sturmey clip will not fit and my lashup allows the end of the outer to move, has anyone got a better idea of how to hold the cable outer in place? I do not want to use a cable with a full length cable outer and fulcrum clip on the chainstay. Using a pully at the top of the seat tube reminds me of my youth when I had a 3 speed Royal Enfield and many enjoyable trips around the local roads.

Rey

They do a fulcrum clip large enough to go round a top tube;

HSJ513 - 22.2mm
HSJ512 - 25.4mm
HSJ514 - 28.6mm

All include HSJ515 Fulcrum Sleeve

Sorry for the late response

The Tricross single has a top tube with a odd cross section so a bit of bending will be needed and possibly a longer bolt but I'll give the HSJ514 clamp a try.

Thx