Bicycle Mechanics - are they rare or something?

Alrighty, here is my dilemma.

I replace cables on my bikes every year (they actually get transferred to my winter bike for reuse). Whenever I buy a cable I forget to get the.....end caps, ya know those aluminum caps that you squish on the end to avoid the cable from unwinding or cutting you.

They don't provide them with the cables in this neck of the woods


So I go back to my LBS and ask to buy some so I have them on hand. They look at me, look at each other, look back at me, and say "well, we'll give you some" So they give me 2. Well guys, I have 2 bikes so I need 8, "well your not gettin 8 of 'em!". Well that's fine, I'll happily buy a package of them. "we don't sell em"

So they hand over 2, and I leave...puzzled. I go to another LBS and ask the same question, get the same response and 2 end caps.

Soooo, is it possible to buy these things? where? and what the hell are they made of that make them seem so valuable?

Digger.

Originally posted by digger
Alrighty, here is my dilemma.

I replace cables on my bikes every year (they actually get transferred to my winter bike for reuse). Whenever I buy a cable I forget to get the.....end caps, ya know those aluminum caps that you squish on the end to avoid the cable from unwinding or cutting you.

They don't provide them with the cables in this neck of the woods


So I go back to my LBS and ask to buy some so I have them on hand. They look at me, look at each other, look back at me, and say "well, we'll give you some" So they give me 2. Well guys, I have 2 bikes so I need 8, "well your not gettin 8 of 'em!". Well that's fine, I'll happily buy a package of them. "we don't sell em"

So they hand over 2, and I leave...puzzled. I go to another LBS and ask the same question, get the same response and 2 end caps.

Soooo, is it possible to buy these things? where? and what the hell are they made of that make them seem so valuable?

Digger. sure you can buy them.LBS can order you a lifetimetime supply form the QBP catalogue,probably the same place they get theirs.Can you imagine what would happen to their profit margin if they gave 8- 10 to every yahoo that bought a cable. FWIW, a drop of waterproof glue works as well. Also, a wrap of duct tape or a booger in dry climates.

http://www.thethirdhand.com

A small piece of electrial shrink wrap and one drop of super glue!;)

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
http://www.thethirdhand.com
Yep, just pick up a pack of 100 from these guys.

In a pinch, use an old spoke nipple.

Well, you've got four now...Just hit two more bike shops and you'll be set!! ;)

Those caps are actually lead, if your'e talkin about the cable ends and not the cable housing end caps, the shops around here sell them
You could use/clamp a fishing "sinker" on the end or solder the end of your cables- that is actually the best way to keep them from fraying and the most elegant.

Ride unafrayed
Pat

I also build RC model air planes that use cable on some controls. I always solder the ends of these cables, but didn't know if the bike cables where treeted with some kind of release agent that wouldn't let the solder stick. Solder is the neetist set up.:D

You can also pick them up aw www.jensonusa.com in the small parts section of the site. They have gotten a bunch of other small stuff like this just recently.

-Moab

usually i get 4-6 whenever i buy cable housing from the lbs...

try goin to this website located in Toronto, www.velotique.com, i beleive they sell that on line