Workshop

I tend to use a lot of heat shrink while setting up Di2. It keeps the cables out of harms way and also adds more rigidity to them. Always be careful with your heat source and remember that it doesn’t take much heat to shrink. In this example, we fitted the new XT 8050 to Kath Bicknell’s Trek Remedy test bike. It has quite a long exposed section until it hits the internal routing of the chain stay, and also a small cable tie guide just behind the crank set. Wrapping this section makes the cable more rigid (less likely to get caught in the chain ring) and also reinforces the section that is cable tided to the swing arm. For long exposed cables that are common on externally cabled bikes, I would heat shrink them as much as possible. The other section I use heat shrink is from the system display into the frame. I usually combine the brake hose or dropper cable. Make sure to leave enough room for the bars to be turned. Too short and the cable will pull out of the system display. Too long and it will flap around, possibly getting caught on things.