bobbyt

My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?

I’m looking at the Nokon, Metawires and Gore rideon cables but am wondering are these last long enough to justify the cost.

sydney

I don't think cables stiffen up.Generic cable/casing works for me. Spend more if you think bling makes you faster or cooler.

lsits

I took my bike in last month for an overhaul. It was a year old. New cables were included. So, in answer to your question, every year.

BTW, cable replacement is one of the maintenance tasks that I am going to learn to do myself.

sydney

Bull!.

nick burns

Can I be your mechanic?

dafydd

replace them when you need to. crazy. generic lined housing and stainless cables work fine.

pmseattle

[QUOTE=bobbyt]My cables are starting to stiffen up and I’m probably a year or two over due for a change. How often do you guys change your cables?

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.

wildjim

[QUOTE=pmseattle]Unusual cable failure?

Maybe it's rubbing/dragging somewhere or the clamp has sharp edge cutting the cable?

Maelstrom 

Depends on the situation. I tend to change them every 3/4 of a year as I get lots of stiction otherwise. With the varrying conditions within 45minutes of me I get either california desert or rain forest type mountain biking. Keep in mind, I also don't think I have had a bike stay together for longer than 3/4 of a year so that could be the problem too, I tend to rebuild my bikes often on a whim.

I change the housing every couple of years unless there is damage (which happens fairly often in my case)...

Maelstrom 

[QUOTE=pmseattle]Drop a piece of solder on the end of the cable. Stops the fraying.

mtbikerinpa

The front is prone to breaking in a lot of derailleur designs due to the sharp bend at the fastener bolt. My usual fix is when it snaps(6 months for me), I pull the rear cable and put it in the front, putting the new one in the rear. The front would work with rusty rope(comparitively) but the back benefits greatly from the new one.
Cables are an on condition item, thus inspect them closely and maintain, but they really do not require a replacement interval. They teach us in mechanic school there are no sudden failures, so look carefully and you will never be caught unawares. Brake cables, since they don't fatigue usually can go years of competition(which you would likley replace anyhow for upgrades).

sydney

Solder doesn't work on alot of them,but a sticky booger does.

sydney

Never had one break there.But then I don't overtighten the fixing bolt.

Maelstrom 

I assume the silicone coated ones, it may not work.

Sticky booger eh?..I will keep that in mind when I have some extras.

lsits

The question was when I had my cables changed. Since I took it in for an overhaul after one year and new cables were included in the overhaul, the correct answer was one year. I put about 4000 miles on the bike in that one year.

sydney

Still bull.

phantomcow2

lol yea the ever year thing is bull. Generic cable housing from nashbar is cheap and works. I lubricate the cables with a dry lubricant. Folks when your cable is feeling sticky and whatnot it menas its in need of cleaning not replacement
https://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/index.htm

clausen

Sounds like you need to clean them. After you clean them rub a little bit lube on the cable before putting through the housing. My MTBs cables last about 2 years before when I see the cables seperating. On my road bike it's been over 6 years and they still look bran new.

forum*rider

I replaced the cables on my mtb about a year ago when I got it nad they still work fine. Of course now that I have the two other road bikes my riding time is split between the three so I only ride the mtb about 50miles a week vs 100+.

phantomcow2

eh, if you put a cap thing on the end of your cable they will last a very long time. These cables are not put under a great deal of force here.

Maelstrom 

To be honest, considering cables are almost free...who cares if you replace them yearly or by yearly. I don't think I have ever purchased a cable.

mtbikerinpa

The bolt being 'overtightened' has nothing to do with the stresspoint on the deraileur. The stresspoint is caused by the edge of the face that the cable rests against and has to bend around, which is solved in a few types with the rounded guide.

sydney

Well, it's the casing that can be the cause of bigger shifting problems. Cables are good unless they are frayed,broken or ginked. AFWIW, the LBS gets about $4.50 each so they aren't exactly free and even more so if one has several bikes.No sense replacing stuff that doesn't need it.

Maelstrom 

Wow...I think the last time I was charged it was 2 bucks for a cable. Not exactly breaking the bank. Housing can get a little expensive though.

phantomcow2

I have never purchased a cable . Wait once i did, well i purchased a cheap brake cable set (Odyssey Slic cable for 7.95). Other than that nope...