Bicycle Mechanics - shifting cable snapped - now what?

Hi everyone, I was out riding earlier and when I shifted from a high gear (4th ) to 1st gear, I couldn't shift down and I had to peddle in a high gear and it was hard on my knees, luckily I was near a bike shop and I took it in and they charged my $25.00 for a new cable and a shifter. I was wondering what could have cause this to happen? It is a click shifter.

Just wear and tear, probably. Replacing a shifter cable is a pretty basic manoeuver, next time grab a cable for five bucks and change your own. It's gratifying and cheaper.

Some folks say a drop of something slippery where your cables go through guides is a good thing.

Did they change the cable and the shifter? If so, you got a super bargain. I assume they just installed a new cable so the price was a bit high but in the expected range.

As konageezer mentioned, a new cable is less than $5 and they are fairly straight forward to replace once you know how. Cables are routine maintainance items and should be changed periodically. How often depends on how far you ride each year, how ofren you shift and what kind of weather you ride in. i change mine every year on my most used bike or about every 6000-7000 miles.

Did they change the cable and the shifter? If so, you got a super bargain. I assume they just installed a new cable so the price was a bit high but in the expected range.

As konageezer mentioned, a new cable is less than $5 and they are fairly straight forward to replace once you know how. Cables are routine maintainance items and should be changed periodically. How often depends on how far you ride each year, how ofren you shift and what kind of weather you ride in. i change mine every year on my most used bike or about every 6000-7000 miles.

I got a new cable and a SRAM shifter.

In that case you were treated very well by the bike shop. Patronize them often. :)

Which shop?

Which shop?

bison33. It was at Spartan sport on Main @ Newton.

Never heard of them.........I'm on the south side of the city...and just moved back last year after living on vancouver island for a few years.

I replace the rear shifting cable on my road bike about every year or 6000 miles. It always breaks or freys near the stop at the shifter end never the derailler end. The front cable usually last twice as long because it is not used near as much. This has become regular maintenance item for me. I keep a couple in my bike tool box.