SoldSpartan

I knw the picture is too big but I don't know how to make it smaller. Anyway is this something to have my bike mechanic look at?

Iride01 

It's only the widow end of the cable. If it doesn't bother you it doesn't bother me.

If you don't like it sticking you then tape it up or get one of those caps that they put on them at the bike shop or if you have some very small copper, aluminum, brass or what ever tube, then crimp a piece of that on there.

If you ever have to loosen the hold fast, then you may as well plan on putting a new cable on.


Or am I missing something in the bigger picture??

tFUnK

Frayed cable ends? Either cap it or replace the cable.

krecik

thumpism 

That cable is unlikely to be wound well enough for a cap. Just live with it until you replace the cable and cap the new one.

Thruhiker 

Twist it back up and solder it useing a soldering iron or butane torch. That's what I do. Actually I solder my ends before i run them through the houseing. Keeps them from fraying while inserting them. Probably not worth it to most people though. Lol if I cant be riding then I'm tinkering so some of the stuff I do is just for fun. Not sure how much if any advantage there actually is. Although if done carefully and done where the bolt crimps it the cable then can be removed and reinserted through the houseing for cleaning or lubricating.

Chuckles1

Good idea. I had a new cable fray while pushing it through last cable end before completing installation. Very frustrating. Was thinking of either solder or super glue before installing next new cable.

SoldSpartan

What if I just twist the cable together? That is about the limit to my mechanical capability.

SoldSpartan

How much do you think it will cost to get a new cable installed?

Iride01 

Sometimes it's easy to get it to twist up together again. That looks a little worse so I wouldn't expect total success. Some strands might even break. But as long as you never need to loosen the holdfast to adjust the cable, you should okay doing anything you want to do to it. Even doing nothing is okay.

Bunch it together if nothing else and put some heat shrinkable tube on it. Or just use electrical tape, though that will probably come loose quicker than any other of the suggested methods in other replies.

Only the cable on the other side of the holdfast is doing anything.

Call a bike shop. Local prices vary on replacing the cables so I'd hate to hazard a guess. Even so, it's not much, and by letting them do it, they'll adjust the derailleur and correct any shifting issues as part of the deal. Assuming there aren't shifting issues that are being caused by something else.

roth rothar

Twist it together as best you can, then slide some heatshrink sleeving over it and heat with a lighter.

tomtomtom123

You could do it yourself for free, maybe 15 minutes for first time doer. The cable costs between $2 cheap steel uncoated to $6 Shimano optislick coated depending on brand and quality. You just need sheers or something that can cut steel cable.

blakcloud

Easiest, leave it alone, it is not doing any harm.

Next, cut it off you don't need it. The cable is toast anyway.

Last if you don't want to cut it off twist it back together best you can and then take a glue gun and put a blob on the end so it is less likely to poke you. Much easier than a blow torch and solder.

Amt0571

Either don't touch it or replace the cable and, this time, put a cable cap on its end. As long as it works and doesn't fray at the other side of the retaining bolt, it's a non issue.

Since I have an OCD that would make me cringe everytime I saw that "mess", I would replace it.

Pop N Wood

I regularly wonder about doing that but was afraid it would make the cable too thick to run through the housing. Do you use any sort of flux and/or wipe off the excess? Guess a torch will burn off any oils so don't need to clean first?