I'm having a new gravel frame built right now that should be finished this week, so I should have asked this question here sooner, but figure I'll ask it just in case I get any replies while there is still time to make changes. What is the best shifting configuration for a 2x? I told the frame builder that I was thinking full length housing down the downtube and under the BB & chainstay. Now I see that there are also sealed systems that use cable stops made by Jagwire. Any reason to go that route over regular full length housing, other than saving a tiny bit of weight?
I had full length housing that was almost maintenance free on my last gravel bike and I have interrupted internal routing on my current bike that needs frequent maintenance, so I want to make sure that my next frame has better routing. Thanks in advance!
stu wrote:FWIW I've had great results with externally mounted Jagwire Elite Link housing. It's light, flexible, and almost incompressible.
Is it too late to specify downtube shifters? 🙂
Haha, the builder, Fitz, would probably like that, being into the rando thing. But I think "brifters" and hydraulic disk brakes are pretty good inventions.
Cool, I'll have a look at the Elite Link Housing. Are you running it full length?
I had issues with the interrupted guides under the BB shell getting gunked up in slop, and squeaky on long rides in dust on my last bike, so I decided to go full length on the current bike using Jagwire LEX-SL housing, and an Origin8 clamp-on cable stop just under the front mech (the cabling is completely external, and runs under the BB shell). I'm happy with how that works.
It's been my experience in the past that the cable housing liner degrades over time no matter how much $ you spend, so I didn't want to get the really high end stuff. Same with the shift cables, rather than risking corrosion (which destroys the housing) or the cable snapping in the shift lever from wear, I just replace them every couple thousand miles with bulk cables. I learned the hard way last year what a royal PITA it is if a shift cable head snaps off in a Shimano lever from a worn cable.
I just went back to an all Shimano group after Campy and SRAM for drop bar bikes. At a high level they all work find. I like the way SRAM levers work, SRAM flat mount brake power, but it seems like Shimano has fewer quirks such as occasional missed or hung shifts. It's all plenty good enough that I let availability and budget mostly drive the decision. It was also a move from full length cable housing to adjusters on down tube and exposed cable. So far no problems.
Really, most name brand stuff works well these days. Getting the gear range you want is far more of a concern. I did go back to 2x for the new bike because the Moots Routt 45 is so fantastic in the range of what it does well. It may be a gravel bike but it's also the best road bike I've had over decades. GRX 2x would have been a first choice but Ultegra is working fine for my gravel and paved combo riding. I have MTBs and a Fargo with lower 2x gearing for where the Routes 45 might not shine.
The downside for my Ultegra decision is some potential trip planning would be better if it had the 11 speed XT cassettes or a crank with 2x range and split more like the Fargo. Fargo or MTB might be better for those trips regardless but the Moots is just sort of an addiction sort of issue.
