popeye

I change cables once a year (5K miles). No worries and crisp shifts. No one touches my bike but me.

Dunbar

True, I just checked. Although it ships from Taiwan so I'd be somewhat concerned about it being fake.

datlas 

Yes but only one RD cable (and one FD). In my experience the RD is the one that fails faster.

Jiggle

Shimano Ultegra SP41 Polymer Coated Derailleur Cable Set Black | eBay

BoSoxYacht

I've experienced much longer cable life, but my weather is almost always dry. In AZ it's rare to ride more than a handful of rides in wet conditions.

On my last bike I would change cables and housings every 2 years(28-30k miles).

Martian63

My LBS recommends replacing cables once a year with their annual service at $99 plus cost of cables and housing. Being a rookie that wants to learn more about doing my own maintenance I bought cables and housing from them and did it myself.

Drew Eckhardt 

They fail due to fatigue so it depends on how much you shift.

I ride tight cassettes (13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21 in the 8 cog era, 13-23 9, 13-26 or 14-23 straight block 10) and shift like I have ADHD for a metronomic cadence.

Typical right cable life was 4000-4500 miles for me with pointy-hood Campagnolo ergo levers with most of the bend in the cable housing; Ulrashift levers with the 90 degree guide in the body cut that to 2500 miles. Weather made no difference - I only got wet about three times on my last rainy season cable, and don't remember any storms on the dry season cable.

There's always a noticeable sluggishness moving to smaller cogs and need for less tension to get acceptable shifting before cables break so I just pay attention and swap as needed.

Unlined right shift housings lasted ludicrously long for me; plastic lined ones seem good for about 5000 miles which is time for the next cable swap.

Brake and front shift housing makes it years before getting stiff and cracking at which point I also replace cables.

mlamb01

Hmmm... So it seems responses vary quite abit, from the shifter cables never seem to wear out, to they break every 3000 miles - my personal experience. I feel like there is a whole new learning curve on maintenance going from the 5600 series to the 6800 series. Internal cable routing, press fit bottom brackets, dual pivot brakes. I guess it keeps the sport interesting...

I tend to ride in the same areas/routes in the same conditions, so it will be interesting to see if I get longer shifter cable life with the 6800 vs the 5600 series. I sure hope so, not looking forward to shelling out $40 each time I want to freshen up my shifting performance.

Drew Eckhardt 

You'll only spend $40 if you pickup a nice package including ferrules at your LBS.

Shimano brand PTFE SIL-TEC cables can be found for $8 each. Order a bunch from your favorite UK provider with your other consumables.

Shimano Road-MTB PTFE SIL-TEC Inner Gear Cable | Chain Reaction Cycles

A 10M roll of SIS-SP41 housing is $24 which is $0.72 a foot (domestic this time).

Shimano SIS SP41 Gear Housing 4mm x 10M For 1.2mm Cable Black

Or use some other brand for less - here's a $5 PTFE coated cable

Sunlite Shift Cables - 1.1 x 2000 (79), Stainless, PTFE, for Shimano/Campagnolo

palesaint

I'm still on my original set of SRAM cables. Really good stuff, but installed in early 2008. Seven years later, ~ 28,000 miles, mostly dry sunny rides.

I should really consider changing them.

cale

^ Good advice. The question of cable life is similar to that of timing belt life on a car. In both instances, you should change them before they break. This advice implies that there will be some useful life left in the replaced cable.

loimpact

So this thread became of particular interest to me today. I rode in a group today with a junior racer whose Synapse w/ Ultegra 6800 broke the RD cable. It was a group ride so I wasn't in contact but for a few seconds at a time but at one stop, he spoke to one of the shop guys who told him "It happens. Probably just time to replace."

My problem with that is, I'd guess this kid has less than 2,000 miles on his bike and it's 6800. PTFE/SilTec and minimal bending makes me a little concerned for my own. Now, I did express to the kid that he should try to keep his cable clean (especially after rainy/dirty/muddy rides) and that I occasionally run a drop or two of Tri Flow down the cables under the BB just to keep things as slick as possible but, still, I'm thinking 6800/5800/9000 stuff should be setting new benchmarks for cable life, no?

Drew Eckhardt 

No. Cables fail due to fatigue from bending. While flying Shimano STI cables were ugly as sin the only flexing was as the cable wound around the shift drum. Under tape routing adds an additional tight bend getting to the cable drum.