Originally Posted by
bonaparlare
One useful trick someone once told me relates to keeping the ends of brake/gear cables in good condition. If you solder the non nipple end, it will pass through the outer sheath without the individual wires spreading. When the cable is ultimately in place, instead of using those crimp-on cable ends it is easy to use the protective sheathing from domestic electric cabling. You may have to soften the sheathing in hot water or with a cigarette lighter first.
Electrical "heat shrink" tubing would probably be a lot easier to use to finish the job off. Comes in many sizes and colours and you can easily cut to length.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat-shrink_tubing
Just be a bit careful using heat near your carbon fibre frame, otherwise it'll melt.