Bicycle Mechanics - When do you change your cables?

My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?

I’m looking at the Nokon, Metawires and Gore rideon cables but am wondering are these last long enough to justify the cost.

My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?

I’m looking at the Nokon, Metawires and Gore rideon cables but am wondering are these last long enough to justify the cost.I don't think cables stiffen up.Generic cable/casing works for me. Spend more if you think bling makes you faster or cooler.

I took my bike in last month for an overhaul. It was a year old. New cables were included. So, in answer to your question, every year.

BTW, cable replacement is one of the maintenance tasks that I am going to learn to do myself.

It was a year old. New cables were included. So, in answer to your question, every year.

Bull!.

I took my bike in last month for an overhaul. It was a year old. New cables were included. So, in answer to your question, every year.

Can I be your mechanic? :p

My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?


replace them when you need to. crazy. generic lined housing and stainless cables work fine.

[QUOTE=bobbyt]My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?

I change mine when they break. But the only one that breaks is the front derailleur cable, which tends to fray and strand out right next to the derailleur, maybe twice a year. So the other cables ( on all five of my bikes ) are originals. I always carry a pre-cut-to-size front derailleur cable in my seat pack with the cut end sealed with solder so it won't unravel.

[QUOTE=bobbyt]I change mine when they break. But the only one that breaks is the front derailleur cable, which tends to fray and strand out right next to the derailleur, maybe twice a year. So the other cables ( on all five of my bikes ) are originals. I always carry a pre-cut-to-size front derailleur cable in my seat pack with the cut end sealed with solder so it won't unravel.

Unusual cable failure?

Maybe it's rubbing/dragging somewhere or the clamp has sharp edge cutting the cable?

Depends on the situation. I tend to change them every 3/4 of a year as I get lots of stiction otherwise. With the varrying conditions within 45minutes of me I get either california desert or rain forest type mountain biking. Keep in mind, I also don't think I have had a bike stay together for longer than 3/4 of a year so that could be the problem too, I tend to rebuild my bikes often on a whim.

I change the housing every couple of years unless there is damage (which happens fairly often in my case)...

[QUOTE=bobbyt]My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?

I change mine when they break. But the only one that breaks is the front derailleur cable, which tends to fray and strand out right next to the derailleur, maybe twice a year. So the other cables ( on all five of my bikes ) are originals. I always carry a pre-cut-to-size front derailleur cable in my seat pack with the cut end sealed with solder so it won't unravel.

Drop a piece of solder on the end of the cable. Stops the fraying.

The front is prone to breaking in a lot of derailleur designs due to the sharp bend at the fastener bolt. My usual fix is when it snaps(6 months for me), I pull the rear cable and put it in the front, putting the new one in the rear. The front would work with rusty rope(comparitively) but the back benefits greatly from the new one.
Cables are an on condition item, thus inspect them closely and maintain, but they really do not require a replacement interval. They teach us in mechanic school there are no sudden failures, so look carefully and you will never be caught unawares. Brake cables, since they don't fatigue usually can go years of competition(which you would likley replace anyhow for upgrades).

Drop a piece of solder on the end of the cable. Stops the fraying.Solder doesn't work on alot of them,but a sticky booger does.

The front is prone to breaking in a lot of derailleur designs due to the sharp bend at the fastener bolt. Never had one break there.But then I don't overtighten the fixing bolt.

Solder doesn't work on alot of them,but a sticky booger does.


I assume the silicone coated ones, it may not work.

Sticky booger eh?..I will keep that in mind when I have some extras.

Bull!.

The question was when I had my cables changed. Since I took it in for an overhaul after one year and new cables were included in the overhaul, the correct answer was one year. I put about 4000 miles on the bike in that one year.

So, in answer to your question, every year.


Still bull.

lol yea the ever year thing is bull. Generic cable housing from nashbar is cheap and works. I lubricate the cables with a dry lubricant. Folks when your cable is feeling sticky and whatnot it menas its in need of cleaning not replacement
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/index.htm

Sounds like you need to clean them. After you clean them rub a little bit lube on the cable before putting through the housing. My MTBs cables last about 2 years before when I see the cables seperating. On my road bike it's been over 6 years and they still look bran new.

I replaced the cables on my mtb about a year ago when I got it nad they still work fine. Of course now that I have the two other road bikes my riding time is split between the three so I only ride the mtb about 50miles a week vs 100+.

eh, if you put a cap thing on the end of your cable they will last a very long time. These cables are not put under a great deal of force here.

To be honest, considering cables are almost free...who cares if you replace them yearly or by yearly. I don't think I have ever purchased a cable.

Never had one break there.But then I don't overtighten the fixing bolt.

The bolt being 'overtightened' has nothing to do with the stresspoint on the deraileur. The stresspoint is caused by the edge of the face that the cable rests against and has to bend around, which is solved in a few types with the rounded guide.

To be honest, considering cables are almost free...who cares if you replace them yearly or by yearly. I don't think I have ever purchased a cable.Well, it's the casing that can be the cause of bigger shifting problems. Cables are good unless they are frayed,broken or ginked. AFWIW, the LBS gets about $4.50 each so they aren't exactly free and even more so if one has several bikes.No sense replacing stuff that doesn't need it.

Wow...I think the last time I was charged it was 2 bucks for a cable. Not exactly breaking the bank. Housing can get a little expensive though.

I have never purchased a cable :). Wait once i did, well i purchased a cheap brake cable set (Odyssey Slic cable for 7.95). Other than that nope...

1983 Univega.....just replaced shifter cables. I guess I got my $$ worth out of those suckers.....And shifting was still near perfect......

mark

flame on but it all depends on what you want. You can go years without changing your cables and housing and many will be very happy. I you are looking for top performance, the suggestion I got from a Shamano team support guy was to replace the cable every season and replace the rear section of cable that goes to the derailuer every season as well as the sharp bend in that section will start to bind on the cable. Nokon cables prevent this situation but cost an arm and a leg so I only use them when I have a cable routing problem (sharp bends) or if I am going for the lightest possable build I can. If your rear shifter does not shift well dispite proper adjustment, that is when to suspect the cable or housing.
As I said before, most people don't care, its just that some may. Good luck

My rear cable breaks inside the 105 shifter about every 5-6 thousand miles. Probably time for a new shifter but shifters cost a little more than a new cable :)

When do I change the cables ? Rarely if ever!

Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, I broke the rear shifter cable once a year, but modern cables and modern derailleur shifters are much softer on cables. So back to the original question:
- I replaced the front brake cable of my 1980 commuter bike... in May or June 2000, as it was fraying. I might have to replace the rear derailleur cable soon.

I also had to change the derailleur cables of my 2000 bike soon after I got it because I rerouted the cables in a different fashion and needed longer cables. Of course I reused the rear cable for the front derailleur, but still that meant one new cable.

I also inspect cables once or twice yearly and before a major tour. While I prefer to change brake cables before they break, I don't really mind about a broken derailleur cable, unless it is for loaded touring with children.

Since I went to a teflon coated cable and a teflon lined housing, I haven't had to replace cables with anything CLOSE to the frequency that I had to maintain / replace the non teflon versions.

While the Nokon / Aztec systems are true bling at it's finest Generic Teflon cables coupled with (bulk roll) Jagwire teflon lined housing work wonderfully for me.

I had one break at approximately 10,000 miles. It was the rear DR cable on a Shimano 105 STI. It broke inside the shifter assembly. Rode home by shifting between two front chainrings. I hadn't ridden a two speed in a long time. Fortunately it was only a few miles home. After this experience, I might replace them every 8,000 miles or so. Not sure. I'm

What do you folks think?

As I keep saying, they don't just decide to break. Look at them closely periodically for frayed strands. If there are more than a few strands broken, duh replace it. Mileage is not an acurate measure and in my view is way too hap hazard.