Are my cables too short?
04-10-09, 12:35 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are my cables too short?
Just threw in a north road bar onto my bike
since it used to have a slightly shorter straight (ish) bar the shifters and levers have moved quite significantly on the new bar
they don't really get in the way when i turn but they just appear to be a bit on the short side
just wondering if this length is still ok or are they suppose to cross in the centre?
cheers
since it used to have a slightly shorter straight (ish) bar the shifters and levers have moved quite significantly on the new bar
they don't really get in the way when i turn but they just appear to be a bit on the short side
just wondering if this length is still ok or are they suppose to cross in the centre?
cheers
Last edited by mantszchun; 04-10-09 at 12:55 PM.
04-10-09, 01:06 PM
#2
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,372
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
Yeah that's a bit too short, but as long as it's not causing your brakes to activate or derailleurs to shift unintentionally, don't worry about it.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
04-10-09, 02:52 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
thanks for the replies. guess i might just stick with it for the time being then
just curious, if i am to replace the cables with longer ones, does it mean i'll have to re-adjust the index for the shifters as well?
just curious, if i am to replace the cables with longer ones, does it mean i'll have to re-adjust the index for the shifters as well?
04-10-09, 03:02 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 9,438
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
It's actually a fairly easy job to replace all of the cables and cable housings. Just be sure you don't cut the housings too short.
Al
Al
04-10-09, 03:03 PM
#7
Low car diet
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Corvallis, OR, USA
Posts: 2,407
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
If you do end up re-doing the cables soon to make them longer, you can likely salvage the rear brake and shifter cables and use them on the front. You can also see if any of the housing pieces are long enough to re-use elsewhere.
04-10-09, 03:37 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 9,438
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
New cables and housings fall into the area of routine maintenance and can make big improvements to shifting performance. They're really cheap and there is very little to save in reusing them.
04-10-09, 03:38 PM
#10
Senior Member
Keep in mind that while you're riding, you don't usually turn the wheel all that much ... so if it works fine while going in a straight line you're probably fine.
I always wonder how short to cut my cables when I re-cable. I think I've got those same bars, btw.
I always wonder how short to cut my cables when I re-cable. I think I've got those same bars, btw.
04-10-09, 04:00 PM
#11
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,372
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
I always make them long enough so I can turn the handlebars all the way without affecting the cables, but I know that makes no difference while riding.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
04-10-09, 04:08 PM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
its exactly the money involved that puts me off doing the work straight away
the "packs" i was looking at are quite pricey
https://www.simpsoncycles.co.uk/product.php?xProd=303
now that i know i can just get one shifter cable and one brake cable
is there any brand that is recommended for cables or are they all the same?
i see there are cables for mountain bike brakes and one for road bikes, which one should a hybrid go for?
really? mine is raleigh
Last edited by mantszchun; 04-10-09 at 04:16 PM.
04-10-09, 06:31 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Brake cables have different end fittings for road or MTB use but there are a lot of cables with one fitting at each end and you just cut off the unneeded one. Get one of those and match what's on your bike currently.
04-10-09, 07:18 PM
#15
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,372
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
Well, extreme bends can cause the housing to cause friction and to crack, but once again since what's done is done to the OP, might was well ride it until it does.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
