Folding Bikes - Reason #37 to maintain your cables

As I was unfolding my bike this afternoon, I stabbed myself in the palm of my hand with a frayed bit of the brake cable, leaving a couple of little metal splinters behind. :rolleyes:

Of course gloves would have helped too. :innocent:

As I was unfolding my bike this afternoon, I stabbed myself in the palm of my hand with a frayed bit of the brake cable, leaving a couple of little metal splinters behind. :rolleyes:

Of course gloves would have helped too. :innocent:

Or a butler to unfold your bike for you...:)

If you find that bike butler, can you give me the phone number please? I can usually cope with the unfolding, but the folding/packing has proved something of a challenge.

As I was unfolding my bike this afternoon, I stabbed myself in the palm of my hand with a frayed bit of the brake cable, leaving a couple of little metal splinters behind. :rolleyes:

I've started soldering the cable ends instead of using caps. Although this doesn't help when the cable frays in the middle; but that IS a sign to change the cables in a hurry. ;)

I've started soldering the cable ends instead of using caps. Although this doesn't help when the cable frays in the middle; but that IS a sign to change the cables in a hurry. ;)

I agree with this assessment!!!

I've started soldering the cable ends instead of using caps. Although this doesn't help when the cable frays in the middle; but that IS a sign to change the cables in a hurry. ;)

It was a couple of inches from the end, when I get home I'm going to buy new cables, maybe a soldering iron too.

It was a couple of inches from the end, when I get home I'm going to buy new cables, maybe a soldering iron too.

So it was just where the screw clamped onto the cable?

The nice thing about soldering at the end is that it makes greasing the cables -- and routing them in general -- much easier.

So it was just where the screw clamped onto the cable?

It's right next to the screw on the front brake.

I also have fraying on the derailleur cable where it goes into the shifter.

The bike takes a beating every time I travel, so I'm not all that surprised.


The nice thing about soldering at the end is that it makes greasing the cables -- and routing them in general -- much easier.

I like the sound of that. :thumb:

I've started soldering the cable ends instead of using caps. Although this doesn't help when the cable frays in the middle; but that IS a sign to change the cables in a hurry. ;)

+ 1! Nothing beats a soldered cable end.

Ms Incredible, I think it is time for a cable change :)

+ 1! Nothing beats a soldered cable end.

I too solder my cable ends. But a TIG welded cable end definitely beats it for looks and coolness factor. Now if I only had one...

Haha, we have a welder but no soldering iron. I think I'd feel safer just soldering it though. :p

Make sure the soldering iron is strong (hot) enough to deal with the dimetions of the cable.

Some times I use super glue instead. Also much better than nothing (or just the cap).