The cables are the Alligator iLink. On the up side the cables are cool looking, reported to be some of the lightest cables on the market, and can make very tight bends and still allow the cable to flow smoothly. On the downside they are expensive ($45 per set), are a pain to install, and long term performance is questionable. I was having some shifting problems that I just could not resolve. I replaced the cables with regular housing in a desperate attempt to fix the problems right before a big ride. In under an hour the new cables were installed and shifting was spot on. For me the negatives outweigh the positives. Your results may vary.