Serious question, why does everyone hate on zip ties for cable routing?

A shop veteran yelled at me for using zip ties on a customer's road bike last month. He said I was "building a lawn ornament not a bicycle" and spent 20 minutes showing me how to use velcro strips instead. I thought he was being dramatic but I tried it on the next three builds. Honestly the velcro makes a huge difference for future adjustments and it doesn't leave those sharp nubs that scratch frames. Plus the customer can add or remove things without needing cutters. Has anyone else gotten chewed out for a specific cable management habit and found out the hard way the critic was right?

2 comments

2 Comments

aaronrobinson26d ago

Velcro keeps the frame cleaner but zip ties hold better on rough road bikes.

the_barbara26d ago

Velcro doesn't hold worth a damn on a rough road bike though, sorry @aaronrobinson. I've had customers come back with their saddle bags and frame packs dragging loose because the velcro strips gave up on a bumpy descent. Zip ties let you crank them down tight so nothing moves even on gravel. A little dab of clear nail polish on the cut nub stops scratches, and they're a dime a dozen to replace.