frame w semi external gear routing?

[Serge_K]

Hello.
I have friends asking me for bikes from all sides, I guess it's the spring effect.
People are budget conscious, especially those who dont ride bikes yet (runners who got injured enough, and used to hate on road cycling, now wanting to pick up road cycling, for eg).
W LTWOO R9 being affordable (various caveats to that i wont delve into), yet full hydraulic, the next issue is cable routing:
1. it's a MASSIVE pain to route 4 hoses internally (especially if using a 1 piece cockpit).
2. the chances shifting is crisp w full internal routing are much lower
3. good luck traveling with such bike (can't pack the bike by removing the stem from the steerer)

Question: is anyone still building semi internally routed bikes? My Long Teng 268 actually has a little trap door towards the top of the down tube, which i think is meant for that, technically. But it's a pretty old frame by now, and havent seen anyone build it like that.
Question: any recent frame that allows for semi internal routing?
Question: any consideration against such idea?

My thinking is, if i can find such frame, then shifting should be excellent, which means no drained batteries, no broken ER9 RD, much lower price point, bike that in principle can be ridden very little and always be ready, because there wouldnt be electronics in it.

[TidyDinosaur]

You could look at the TFSA SL6 copy...

[Serge_K]

You could look at the TFSA SL6 copy...

Not familiar with that. What's that? do you have a link?

[jonathanf2]

Delihea SL6 clone:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806156210359.html

Trifox X16 (also SL6 clone):
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808077907954.html

Ride Love SL6 clone:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804534308524.html

Aethos copy:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805131071057.html

Another Aethos copy:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804546006955.html

[Serge_K]

Thanks.
Anything that's at least pretending to be vaguely aero, and most importantly, with true 32C clearance?

[jonathanf2]

Thanks.
Anything that's at least pretending to be vaguely aero, and most importantly, with true 32C clearance?

The first 3 are the same variations of the TFSA SL6 clone, but don't expect the latest EPS molding. Though my TFSA frame has been quite solid. It's not the fanciest frame and extra care is needed when assembling the frame, but now it's at a point where it's been trouble-free. Not sure about true 32c clearance, some have claimed they've been able to fit 32c, but on my frame clearance seems quite narrow around the chain stays.

[rasch]

Aren't you complicating a bit on this?

Using a 1 piece bar/stem and 4 cables, yes it's a pain in the ass. But u can get crisp gearing without much hussle. Worse would be with non hidraulic brakes.

Going back to your request, why not just any frame and then u have the headset cover +external bar stem routing? U have the sp088 or virtually almost any other. But maybe I'm missing something.

U can also go for one of those fake integrated stems which just hide the cables and u don't need to route them.