Recommend brake and shifter cables and housings?
03-25-16, 07:48 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 586
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 120 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Recommend brake and shifter cables and housings?
Related to this thread.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...eparately.html
Better to buy cables and housings separately or as a kit?
I want coated cables if possible.
And a lined housing if possible.
I'm not quite finding a kit for that though.
I was looking on here. It's where I got spokes, and I'll probably order more sometime.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...php?category=7
Wondering about this but I don't think the housing is lined.
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Shift-...+cable+housing
And this is the derailleur cable someone recommended.
Amazon.com : Shimano Stainless Steel Shift Cable (1.2x2100-mm) : Bike Shift Cables And Housing : Sports & Outdoors
It looks like there are cable adjusters too (for derailleur cables), purchased separately. Not in the kits? How often do those need to be replaced? Just when they get too worn out to use?
I'm thinking buying everything separate might be the way to go. Then I know I've got the cables that are coated and the housings with lining for sure.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...eparately.html
Better to buy cables and housings separately or as a kit?
I want coated cables if possible.
And a lined housing if possible.
I'm not quite finding a kit for that though.
I was looking on here. It's where I got spokes, and I'll probably order more sometime.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...php?category=7
Wondering about this but I don't think the housing is lined.
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Shift-...+cable+housing
And this is the derailleur cable someone recommended.
Amazon.com : Shimano Stainless Steel Shift Cable (1.2x2100-mm) : Bike Shift Cables And Housing : Sports & Outdoors
It looks like there are cable adjusters too (for derailleur cables), purchased separately. Not in the kits? How often do those need to be replaced? Just when they get too worn out to use?
I'm thinking buying everything separate might be the way to go. Then I know I've got the cables that are coated and the housings with lining for sure.
03-25-16, 08:10 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,309
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1432 Post(s)
Liked 1,075 Times
in
715 Posts
I avoid using coated inner wires. Since the coefficient of friction of steel against Teflon is nearly identical to Teflon vs Teflon there is no performance advantage to them and I have heard (and it is reasonable) that they are difficult to clamp even after scraping the coating. Non-starter, especially with brake wires, for me.
03-25-16, 08:22 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Further North than U
Posts: 2,000
Bikes: Spec Roubaix, three Fisher Montare, two Pugs
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I think any decent cable and housing will be indistinguishable in use by the average cyclist. What is more important is replacing the cable housing when needed. Super expensive cabling left on a bike for 5 years is less effective than cheap cable and housing replaced yearly. If the housing is coated, which most are these days, you're probably good to go without a second thought. My best generic recommendation would be a middle level jagwire cable housing and whatever you want for actual cables. As to the adjusters, if your bike has adjusters in place for the rear and front cables there's no need to bother with inline adjusters but many bikes these days that route cables internally have no such adjusters for the front derailleur and an inline adjuster is very useful. It should last "forever".
