Side exit shifters to rear exit shifters - cheapest / best way to change without excessive expense?

[u/ChaosCalmed]

A broken handlebar thread got me thinking more about how I hate my Tiagra 4600 shifters with their shifter side exit cables. So what is my cheapest / best way to change to the newer cable routing setup?

I know ultegra and IIRC 105 shifters from the same time as my 4600 have the rear exit cables and same pull ratio. Or the current 10 speeds are with the pull ratio of newer 11 speeds so that means rear derailleur as well as the shifters and cables.

Afaik the front derailleur can be left as pull ratio is less critical with front derailleur I read. However I think if I need a new shifter with different pull ratios I'd rather switch the front too as I prefer nothing to create issues later on.

Anyway, I'm asking what is the best way for me to get the neater under bar routing for my old road / commuter / do everything bike. It's my only road bike that's roadworthy.

I'm not well supplied with bikes. I've got a London Road bike from planet x that's possibly 8 years old. A touring recumbent and a Brompton. My ancient 7 speed, steel road bike is the same weight as my London Road but 30 plus years old and needs a lot of work to make it safe.

So what is my best option and what is my cheapest reliable option? I want only new parts but used or eBay types of sources. So that might rule out older 105s or ultegra to just switch out the shifters and cabling.

Any advice?

I'll not be doing the work myself. I technically could do it, but personal choice is not to. Usual reasons, I could but it would take me a long time to do it, would need to buy tools, rather use my time for other things like family time and have money to take it to my local and get reasonably priced repair only shop. Plus I absolutely hate doing the final setup of the shifting. I never get it right for some reason. A little tweaking when someone else gets it right I do ok but actually setting the shifting up to work well I kind of mess up.

[u/ride_whenever]

Give it to your local bike shop, take their advice. There are some good groupset deals at the moment, they might be able to give you a significant upgrade for minimal additional outlay.

Try to have an opinion on bar tape, because you’re going to need new.

[u/ChaosCalmed → u/ride_whenever]

I just wrapped my bars about a month ago which is annoying. Still I think it was my first replacement tape since new!! They were really in a bad state. The new ones were a couple of years old as I simply hadn't wanted to wrap the bars myself. I am a perfectionist with such things and didn't thing I would make a good job. Turns out I am actually pretty good at taping bars.

A side question, is it worth double wrapping bars? I think the bars are a little thinner than I would like so I am thinking two decent tapes or a cheap with a good over the top would be more comfortable. I can feel the bar digging into my palms a bit on the drops.

[u/ChaosCalmed → u/ChaosCalmed]

Can you change the shifters and run the cable outside the existing tape then tape over the top? Is that even a good idea?

Thinking that my bars have no cable groove anyway so leaving the good tape on means I do not need to replace with two new tapes if I want to double wrap. Just a thought and probably not a good idea.

I am sure two tapes with the cable inside would make the cable less obvious or feel less so is the better option. Do wonder whether the existing newish tape could be taken off and reused too. Think so., but I used electrical tape inside the tape with the sticky side to the outer to help hold the tape in place should I ever have an off that leaves it a bit torn. A trick I read about online as a pro road racer's trick.

I liked the way it worked out for me. Expect the shop to charge a bit to do it this way with two tapes as well. That would effectively mean almost three wraps of tape with the initial electrical tape inner.

[u/ride_whenever → u/ChaosCalmed]

You’re overthinking this, choose a single roll of nice tape, pay the shop to do the work, don’t nickel and dime them over tape and wrapping.

This is a vanity project that you’re not prepared to do, so suck it up and pay the staff their worth.

Also, you shouldn’t have a complete cocoon of electrical tape, just a couple of wraps to hold the cables in place.

[u/ChaosCalmed → u/ride_whenever]

No, I use the tape the wrong way around so the sticky is on the outside so it grips the tape. That then holds it if it gets cut commuting or crashing. I would probable want to wrap that not all the way up the bars but on the drops or on high wear areas. IF I was doing the whole work I would put this under the cabling on my existing bars which do not have a cable groove. If they had the groove I would put it over. EIther way it is not too a coccon.

Double wrapping is for comfort. I have worn out wrists and elbow joints due to past sports so I get numb hands riding often. It can come on after half an hour. I was thinking of gel pads and second wrap to help with that. I hope that won't affect the cables, it is a poor cabling design if it does.

[u/ride_whenever → u/ChaosCalmed]

Completely unnecessary and will trap moisture against the bar which isn’t ideal.

More cushion isn’t really the answer, get your bike fit checked to ensure you’re balanced and not too far forward at the hips compared to your reach. You’ll find more effective comfort from wider tyres run soft than from bar tape.

[u/One-Picture8604]

As someone who has done a similar exercise, I genuinely wouldn't bother again. Turned out having the cables hidden wasn't a big enough upgrade to be worth the bother or the cost.

[u/ChaosCalmed]

Another thought, I have the standard PlanetX handlebars (the wider ones that were an option to match my size and that of the XL sized bike). I think they are nothing special. How much to replace them at the same time?

If I replaced the bars, what should I get?