Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Prettyshady, yes, good point about the way a cable feels if it's fraying apart. Once a cable is damaged, it will do this. Obviously damaged cables should be replaced.
I do not, however, replace 50-year old cable and housing just because it is 50 years old. I would probably be more cavalier with 20 year old cables. But I have the original cable and housings on at least two of my bikes from the 50's and they are just fine.