I got a great deal on a bike at a garage sale over the weekend. Paid $15 for it. It had been sitting in a barn for 15-20 years but was essentially new, so it needed some cleanup and new cables. I went to the LBS and bought two each of brake and shifter cables and wound up paying $26 w/ tax for them.

Now I'm all for supporting my local bike shop, but $6 each for what are probably generic cables seems a bit steep. Is there a source on the net where I as a retail customer can buy this stuff in larger quantities (10-20) and get a price break? I currently have eight bikes and am always on the lookout for more. At the rate I'm going, the cost of keeping them all in tune with cables and brake pads bought one-by-one is going to break the bank.

Thx,

Skip

You can buy a complete set of 2 brake and 2 derailluer cables with housings for a friction shift bike at Walmart for $5. Roger

Bike Tools Etc. and Loose Screws sell cables in bulk but, even individually, they are much less than $6 each. Bulk tend to be boxes of 50 or 100 so you may want to share a purchase with other riders.

Jenson has these:

https://www.jensonusa.com/MTB-Brake-Cables

They have generic derailleur cables too.

I like that they are stainless.

Bulk rolls are what Shops buy , 50 cables and a long roll of housing.
Zn coated 1/2 the cost of SS, (& are easier to Solder before cutting the ends)

a bike shop will sell you a bulk pack if you take the whole thing,
for less than the each price that keeps the door open and the workers fed.

Ditto spokes .. boxes of 50 will not build 2 wheels, the left overs have to be stored.
where is the difference..

Price Point and Jenson both have good prices on stainless cables. Usually have a buy 5 or buy 10 deal.

Thanks all for the various suggestions. Time to do a little shopping...

Skip