This Rockhopper is practically new, something like 400 to 500 miles. The cables are fine. I bought this bike to be my winter wet bike so it is ridden in less than desireable conditions, but I'm pretty diligent about cleaning my bikes' chains. Daily in the winter. Neither cage seems particularly loose, and everything looks lined up. However, the chain is almost to 1% on my Park chain tool, which seems like an awful lot in this amount of riding.