Bar mitts – internal and external cables

[jrenaut]

So I have a set of Moose Mitts, which I love, but they depend on external cables. When I went from 3X10 to 1X10, I lost the cable on the left side and now the Moose Mitts don’t really work. They’re tough on the fixie, too. Which reminds me, I should sell them. They’re in great shape, I just don’t have a bike they work on.

So I was going to ask for a set of Bar Mitts for Christmas, but as i was looking at them online, I realize that they make them for both internal and external cables. Can anyone with Bar Mitt experience tell me if the external cable version works ok if there aren’t any cables? The Moose Mitt fastening system depends on the cables.

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[TwoWheelsDC]

I have the Bar Mitts made for external cables currently mounted on my under-the-tape cabled bike. The Bar Mitt attachment system isn’t dependent on cables/no cables. Frankly, you’re better off getting the external cable-compatible set no matter what because they work on both, but not the other way around.

[n18]

I would use Velcro strap, or thin steel wire to secure it.

P.S.: You made me buy these bar mitts.

[jrenaut]

@n18 183148 wrote:

I would use Velcro strap, or thin steel wire to secure it.

P.S.: You made me buy these bar mitts.

I made you do no such thing

[Judd]

@TwoWheelsDC 183147 wrote:

I have the Bar Mitts made for external cables currently mounted on my under-the-tape cabled bike. The Bar Mitt attachment system isn’t dependent on cables/no cables. Frankly, you’re better off getting the external cable-compatible set no matter what because they work on both, but not the other way around.

I haven’t ever put the external cable ones on a non-cable but I agree with TwoWheels. They will attach just fine. The hole for the cable is small and will be shielded so I don’t imagine it would be an issue.

I have a set of large cable ones that I can lend you this weekend if you want to try them out and make sure they work before you buy a set.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[komorebi]

@TwoWheelsDC 183147 wrote:

I have the Bar Mitts made for external cables currently mounted on my under-the-tape cabled bike. The Bar Mitt attachment system isn’t dependent on cables/no cables. Frankly, you’re better off getting the external cable-compatible set no matter what because they work on both, but not the other way around.

Like TwoWheelsDC, I’ve put my external-cable-compatible Bar Mitts on an under-the-tape cabled bike without any issues. The one downside of doing that is that the external-cable-compatible Bar Mitts are slightly less warm than the internal-cable-only Bar Mitts, so you’ll be sacrificing a tiny bit of warmth. But even with my ridiculously cold hands, I don’t notice a difference until it gets below 20 degrees.

[peterw_diy]

@jrenaut 183146 wrote:

So I have a set of Moose Mitts, which I love, but they depend on external cables.

Really? I haven’t mounted mine in months, but they attach at the bar end with elastic loops and by the stem with Velcro. I’ve used mine with bar end shifters and “aero” internal brake cable routing, with no cables in the old school STI gear cable area. I haven’t yet tried them on my Ergopower bike, but the FAQ also says they should work: http://moosemitts.com/faq.html

Q: Hi. I’m very much interested in the road bike version of Moose Mitts. But I have internal cable wiring (Di2 electronic shifting)…will these mitts work?

A: Yes the Drop bar version (road version) work with pretty much every type of drop bar shifter, SRAM, Shimano, Cables, or electronic…Heck they even work with ‘ole skool’ bar cons.

I have wondered if they’d stay in place better if they attached to the brake lever blade somehow, but they work for me without relyng on external, old-school-STI-style gear cables.

The fact that they provide warmth with cross/interrupter brake levers makes them awesome in my opinion, as I prefer riding the tops in urban settings. Is what’s bugging you that you’re always using the traditional brake levers (riding the ramps, hoods, or hooks) and feeling a bit more lateral play now that the mitts are only attaching at two points?

[jrenaut]

I couldn’t figure out any way to get them to stay in place without the shifter cables. They would fall completely off my hands every 100 yards or so, which doesn’t end up being very effective at keeping my hands warm.

[Author]

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