Went with zip ties over velcro straps for a customer build. Regretting it.

Had a guy bring in a custom touring bike last week and I used zip ties to clean up the cable routing on the front end. Looked great until I had to swap out his handlebars two days later. Took me 20 minutes with a pair of snips to undo everything. Should have just used the velcro straps from the start. Any of you guys ever pick the wrong fastener and pay for it later?

2 comments

2 Comments

morgan51212d ago

The real kicker nobody talks about is how zip ties can actually damage the cable housing over time if you cinch them too tight. I learned that the hard way on a buddy's bike when a shift cable started sticking six months later. Velcro lets you adjust tension and breathes better in wet weather so moisture doesn't get trapped under there. Plus, zip ties leave those little sharp nubs that can scratch your frame or your arms if you're not careful.

amy_sanchez12d ago

Gotta push back a little on the moisture thing... velcro actually traps water worse than zip ties since the fuzzy part holds onto it like a sponge. I've seen velcro straps stay wet for days after a rainy ride while zip ties just shed it right off. The sharp nub thing is real though, a tiny file or even just nail clippers cleans those up in two seconds flat.