Classic & Vintage - cable housing choices

Im looking for new cable housing for my new to me SLR levers. My cables are OLD so it is time for replacement. IM wanting to get red housing as this is what my Bianchi had originally and i think it looks good.

I have found some red housing by jagwire but it says "jagwire" all over it. Does anyone know of any housing that is just plain with no labels. I found a company called Clarks but i cant find close up to see if it says the brand name all over them.


ALso....i know what the barrel end is.....and i know what a normal road end looks like from an older 80s vintage bike. What is a pear shapped end for? Will this work in an older SLR lever?

I got some Clarks cables for my Peugeot restoration. I got both brake cables and compression-less derailleur cable and housings. They seem a decent value, coming with ferrules, crimps and the little donut thingies to keep them from rubbing the frame finish. I got orange, and they seem to have a good selection of colors. The do not have a heap of brand-labels on them.
190755

nice bike. Looks great.

Does the housing have any lables running down the length?

I notice harris cyclery sells jagwire housing (5 feet for 7.50). No pics though so i cant tell if it is covered with words down the length like the others i have seen.

I've not ordered the colored housing from VO, does anyone know if that's label-free?

Im looking for new cable housing for my new to me SLR levers. My cables are OLD so it is time for replacement. IM wanting to get red housing as this is what my Bianchi had originally and i think it looks good.

I have found some red housing by jagwire but it says "jagwire" all over it. Does anyone know of any housing that is just plain with no labels. I found a company called Clarks but i cant find close up to see if it says the brand name all over them.


ALso....i know what the barrel end is.....and i know what a normal road end looks like from an older 80s vintage bike. What is a pear shapped end for? Will this work in an older SLR lever?

The "pear shaped" end that I think you are referring to is for non-aero brakes. It goes on top of the brake lever and either sits inside the rubber hood if there is one, or sits on top of the lever where the housing enters from the top.

Also, if you are needing to, I'm sure that you could remove the name on the cable pretty easily.

the VO stuff looks promising as well. Everyone says get good brake cables and housing and dont skimp. I guess that is what im trying to do as well. The VO stuff does say if it is teflon lined or not. I dont know how much that is really needed.

I have been considering this same question regarding red housing, except I was wondering what the best available is, without writing, logos, or branding all over it. Any recommendations?

I have brown vo housing, no labels.

good stuff? VO has kits for 1 bike..housing, cables, ferrels, tips...everything...for $10

Im a believer in you get what you pay for and seeing this price has me wondering how it is? Are you happy with it? Seems like a great deal.

The do not have a heap of brand-labels on them.

Forgive my fat-fingering..."they" don't.

I love red Casiraghi cables. It's sort of translucent and has no labeling. Yellowjersey used to stock it, but they're out of red ([click!] (http://www.yellowjersey.org/cabl.html)). Sometimes it shows up on eBay. Worth buying if you can find it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/3878963434_c8754537ff_b.jpg

Scale - I haven't put them on yet to say for sure, its in the parts pile for a project raliegh.

Oi Gridplan, what kind of bike would house a #d gen SR with drillium and modern KCNC wheels? pics/link please!

I was thinking Bullseye made the pulleys, but I'm not really sure. The poorly-drilled derailleur is one I picked up on eBay a few years ago. I bought them for my early 80's Guerciotti ([link] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gridplan/sets/72157622182351710/)).

VO cables and housing have no logos on the housing. Stainless inner wires, teflon lined housing. 5mm dia. all good stuff. The derailleur housing is compatible with modern index/ STI shifters and derailleurs that require the use of compressionless housing, and is backwards compatible with friction type shifters and derailleurs.

Not sure if the VO housings are long enough to be used with bar end shifters that have the cables routed all the way under the bar tape, exiting the same place as the aero brake cables, because they still need to reach the down tube cable stops.

VO cables and housing have no logos on the housing. Stainless inner wires, teflon lined housing. 5mm dia. all good stuff. The derailleur housing is compatible with modern index/ STI shifters and derailleurs that require the use of compressionless housing, and is backwards compatible with friction type shifters and derailleurs.

Thx for the detail. Ordered. Cant wait to get them.

Not sure if the VO housings are long enough to be used with bar end shifters that have the cables routed all the way under the bar tape, exiting the same place as the aero brake cables, because they still need to reach the down tube cable stops.

We changed the specification pf the housing and cable last year. They are plenty long for bar con shifters for even the largest frames.

I have found some red housing by jagwire but it says "jagwire" all over it. Does anyone know of any housing that is just plain with no labels.
I just strung up a tandem with black Jagwire housing from Harris. About every 14 inches it says "Jagwire L3" or similar in small silver letters. The lettering is quite unobtrusive but if you want unlettered cable this isn't it.

Thanks for posting that and letting me know VO. I have been pleased with everything I have ordered from VO in the past. I did not think they were long enough, but am glad to know they are. Guess I will be getting new cables for a couple bikes now.

I'm looking to replace the black cable housings to blue on my 2010 Jamis Xenith Comp. I was wondering, which brand would you recommend? Preferably label free too. When replacing housing, can I reuse the cables or it's recommended to replaced the cables too? If I have to replaced the cables, is it ok to mix and match different brands of housing with different brands of cable? I also noticed that there's different housing for derailleur and brakes, can I assume that there's no universal housing that fits all?

i went with the velo orange kit. Very good stuff..no labels. THe derailleur housing is different stuff..you are correct there. IM no expert so someone else might chime in on that one. I would definately replace the cables with the housing....they stretch over time......and can fray at the ends etc. Its just a couple bucks more to get the cables and if you get a kit....they should come with them.

VO cable kits seem promising. Hopefully I can get away without having to cut any housing as I'd have to use pliers :(

i wouldnt....just keep them in your car and stop when you are near a bike shop. Have marked what you need cut and ill bet they will do it for you.
Or get a cable cutter. I have one from Pedro and it does a great job. I think it was 20 bucks.

The VO stuff is a great value and that is what I usually use. I have also had some good luck using Jagwire and just taking some paint thinner on a towel and scrubbing the logo off of the Housing

Jagwire kits from China are cheap and work well. $10-$11 plus shipping. Almost never has shifter cables included, though.
It's recommended to use brake housing for brakes, shifter housing for shifters. Almost all labeling comes off with rubbing and mineral spirits.

Cable can be cleanly cut with a side-cutters, but be quick, and find a small, fine nail to re-ream the hole, as the cable lining tends to squeeze shut.

I've also used a dremel tool to cut cable and housing. Once, both at the same time, which was a rookie mistake I've enjoyed seeing my friends duplicate.

Has anybody tried the green housing from VO? Looks like dark green in their pic but I wanted to make sure before jumping...my monitor can be sketchy sometimes. Dark green is what I need, and a hard color to find.

Has anybody tried the green housing from VO? Looks like dark green in their pic but I wanted to make sure before jumping...my monitor can be sketchy sometimes. Dark green is what I need, and a hard color to find.

Did you ever find out how the green Velo Orange housing looks in person? I'm curious about it myself, since the VO store picture makes it look awfully dark.

Did you ever find out how the green Velo Orange housing looks in person? I'm curious about it myself, since the VO store picture makes it look awfully dark.

It is pretty dark. It's a nice shade but doesn't match much.