Bicycle Mechanics - Cheapest shifter cable?

They used to have them on PBK but now I can't find them. Don't want to buy from my LBS since they are lame. :eek:

There's always Wal-Mart :innocent:

They sell the entire cabling kit, including housing and ferrules, for about $5. Of course, many would debate the quality.

Niagara Cycle sells the cables/housing separately, but they're dirt cheap. Shipping sucks though

http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=94_206&sort=2a&filter_id=&sort=3a

Niagara Cycle sells the cables/housing separately, but they're dirt cheap. Shipping sucks though



So does their service :(

You can't afford $3 at the LBS?

I just picked up a set of brake and derailleur cables and housing at Sports Authority for $5. The package also included 8 ferrules for the housings and 4 end crimps for the cables. Best deal I've found so far.

How CHEAP can you be?? $2.00-$3.00 for a cable. I bet youspend more on your coffee!

Really? Gear cables are really cheap, especially as they last a really long time. Just don't pinch your pennies by getting galvanized ones instead of stainless. I get mine in bulk through a wholesaler, but when I need one in a pinch and don't have any I just walk down to the local shop.

Just don't pinch your pennies by getting galvanized ones instead of stainless.

Why not? I've been using generic galvanized shift and brake cables for over a decade. I prefer them over stainless because I solder the ends insted of using a crimp.

Why not? I've been using generic galvanized shift and brake cables for over a decade. I prefer them over stainless because I solder the ends insted of using a crimp.

I've had rust issues with them. Also, I superglue the ends instead of soldering or crimping, works fine.

How CHEAP can you be?? $2.00-$3.00 for a cable. I bet youspend more on your coffee!

The LBS I've been to charge $6-10. I just ordered 3 from Jensonusa at $1.50 each.

I wanted cheap ones because I was going to order a bunch of them to keep around. Maybe not...

The LBS I've been to charge $6-10. I just ordered 3 from Jensonusa at $1.50 each.

+1 my local LBS sells jagwire cables for 4.99 each... I have read that Dick's sporting goods sells a decent and cheap set, with lined housing even. I need to check those out for myself. The bell set at Walmart is just ok, not great but I do use them on occasion. The housings are not lined and you can really feel the added friction, the cables really stretch too.

Edit: I have ordered from Niagara and have always enjoyed very fast shipping... maybe because I am 4 hours away?

71 cents a cable at Niagara. Yes, they are galvanized. But at 71 cents each? Same price for brake cables as well. Shipping is on the slow side, but if it is just for stock, why not? I stepped up and got their stainless cables on my last order: $1.67 each.

As far as suitability on vintage bikes, I take rusty 30 year old cables off bikes. That means they used the galvanized ones when they were built. So putting galvanized back on is just using the same grade product as was used originally. I would not use galvanized on my Colnago, but didn't have a problem using them on the Suburban I am rebuilding right now.

There's always Wal-Mart :innocent:

They sell the entire cabling kit, including housing and ferrules, for about $5. Of course, many would debate the quality.

Niagara Cycle sells the cables/housing separately, but they're dirt cheap. Shipping sucks though

http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=94_206&sort=2a&filter_id=&sort=3a

The WalMart ones are just fine, I've used them on my rain bike and they hold up suprisngly well considering the environment they asked to operate in.

And they seem to give you more length than what I get in the more expensive packages.

I buy Pricepoint bunches of 10. I think the bunch costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $15, which is the best deal I've found for stainless.

Why not? I've been using generic galvanized shift and brake cables for over a decade. I prefer them over stainless because I solder the ends insted of using a crimp.

That depends on where you ride. I end up in the rain on a fairly regular basis and don't like crusty rusty cables. I also find they shift smoothly longer, which I suspect is also corrosion related. If you live in a less moist area it may not matter.

i was in rei the other day.. $3 or $6 if you want teflon coated ones..

Then there are cable/housing/ferrule/cap "kits" like these: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/15789-050_ALISF6-3-Parts-49-Cables/Alligator-Super-Fortress-Cable-Kit.htm

I use these:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=180244260661&d=single&c=Cable-Housing&sc=Cables-Derailleur&tc=&item_id=JW-SCUTE

Pricey? Sure - but they last forever. Had them for years on my machines.

I don't hesitate to use the Wally World jobs on the bikes I rebuild, you can't beat the price.
I've noticed big inconsistencies in the price of such basics. We have a "high end" shop here in town that carries all the primo road bikes. Their prices on cables, housing, and the like tend to be considerably higher than the down-the-street shop closest to my house.

LBS here in Vermont - the ones who ripped me off and mangled things when my tools were stolen and I needed the work done fast - charges $6.00 for a stainless-steel gear-cable. Calling around, I found this the same in 3 out of 4 local-area shops. The 4th shop didn't know what stainless-steel was and offered me a galvanized cable for $4.

I picked up a batch of the black teflon-coated round-wound multi-strand gear and brake cables through BikeToolsEtc. Not one LBS had ever seen such.

That depends on where you ride. I end up in the rain on a fairly regular basis and don't like crusty rusty cables. I also find they shift smoothly longer, which I suspect is also corrosion related. If you live in a less moist area it may not matter.

Galvanized refers to coating iron or steel with zinc to make rust resistant. Like I say, I've been using them for over 10 years with zero rusting issues. Actually, I've probably been using galvanized cables for a lot longer. I only started checking 10 or 15 years ago if they were galvanized or stainless. The actual cables that I've been using are QBP generic "slick, galvanized" shift and brake cables. I've got quite a few left so I doubt I'll ever have to buy cables again.

Now I don't particularly care what kind of cables you use. that's not the issue. However, if you're advising others they need stainless cables because otherwise they will become "crusty and rusty", you're wrong.