Originally Posted by bobbyt

I change mine when they break. But the only one that breaks is the front derailleur cable, which tends to fray and strand out right next to the derailleur, maybe twice a year. So the other cables ( on all five of my bikes ) are originals. I always carry a pre-cut-to-size front derailleur cable in my seat pack with the cut end sealed with solder so it won't unravel.