Glare from Cables!

[Smartboy]

Bit of an odd thing to whinge about, but I've had a road-bike for about 7 weeks now (only ever ridden MTB's over the past 20 years) and I've just about got used to the different riding position and style during my commute.

One thing which really annoys me though is the glare I get at night from the bar-mounted light (Exposure Toro MK3) immuminating the white brake-cables as they loop up in front of the bars and then down to the head-tube.

Anybody else get this problem?

Can you re-route the cables under the bar-tape or will this be too tight an angle for the cables to operate correctly (Sora shifters)?

I've 'solved' the problem by wrapping a section of the white cable outer in black electrician's tape! Looks terrible.

An 'upgrade' to black outers will be called-for when I come to replace the cables.

Lighter evenings are helping with the problem at the moment though. No need for front lights if I leave work on-time.

[prand]

I'd like to nominate this to the "first world problem of the week" thread.

[Mr Will]

You can't run them under the bar tape but if they are looping up significantly then you might be able to shorten them slightly so that they run lower and hence out of the way of the light. Just make sure you've got enough slack to cope with the bars being turned!

[tigger1]

prand said:

I'd like to nominate this to the "first world problem of the week" thread.

Not really. If it was "my V8 is causing me migraines", then yes, maybe.

[donfisher]

Would matte white tape help? Also, would flipping the light round and mounting it under the bars help it avoid the cables?

[Smartboy]

tigger1 said:

prand said:

I'd like to nominate this to the "first world problem of the week" thread.

Not really. If it was "my V8 is causing me migraines", then yes, maybe.

Hahahaha - you don't realise how close to the mark you are with that last comment!
I've just been ringing round to get some quotes for the forthcoming cam-belt change and 'big' service on my RS6!!!
Well...this is a PH forum after all;)

Good idea about mounting the light under the bars though. Might give it a try.

I do have a helmet light which I use for my off-road night rides which I could use instead.
It's not really suitable for the road though as it's very bright and will probably just dazzle oncoming traffic.

[bert11]

yes I get this problem, and have concluded that I need to swap the Tiagra shifters with 105 ... then life will be bearable again

[Smartboy]

Of course! A simple solution!

[Rolls]

Rare is there a situation where a problem with the bike can't be solved by throwing money at it...
Ultegra sir?

[Benrad]

Rolls said:

Rare is there a situation where a problem with the bike can't be solved by throwing money at it...

No cables at all on Di2

[neilski]

Fit 90 degree V-brake noodles between the cable and shifter and this should get the cable pointing down and out of the way of the light.

It may seem like a bit of a bodge but I've done it and my gears work perfectly. You can just about see the noodle in this picture: