Changing cables
 

Planning somewhat of a rebuild on my Cannondale R400 with RSX components. Part of that process is new brake and shifter cables. Any advice/gotchas before I get started?

Read and heed this article, paying special attention to the section regarding cable housing preparation: http://sheldonbrown.com/cables.html
Consider investing in a high quality cable cutter; Park and Shimano are excellent, FELCO are top dollar but a worthwhile investment if having and using the finest tool is important to you.
A "fourth hand" tool is fairly cheap and is handy for tensioning cables while you clamp them if you do not have a helper available.

Get a good cutter, use your existing housing as a template for your new, save the ferrules in case the new ones don't fit quite right and have fun. Some people like to put a thin layer of grease on the cables before they install them. (I've seen this stuff recommended: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )

Any mid-level of better cable and housing kit is fine. You want to make sure you have lined housing, and die-drawn stainless steel inner wires. On the brake cables, the upcost for stainless inner wires is greater, and the benefit less, so it's one feature you might scrimp on.

Not sure I'd agree with that. I rebuilt my wifes commuter and used die drawn SS cables for shifters on brakes. There was a noticable improvement in the brake function. True, anything compared to the old stuff would have been an improvement, but this was a big improvement. She came close to locking the front wheel and doing a header.

IMHO, it's worth it to use better cable for both shifters and brakes.

If you own a Dremel-type tool and some cutoff wheels, that can be used as a replacement for housing cutters, and you can use the same cutoff wheel to dress the end of the housing as the same time. In my experience, end cutters work best for cutting cables and preventing fraying, but any sharp set of diagonal cutters will do. Just don't use any designed solely for cutting copper wiring. The jaws won't be hard enough.

fify

Don't cut cables until they are laced through everything they nee to pass through.

Best advise yet.

use a Dremel-type diamond disk to finish the cut ends of the housing flat. It will look like the factory finished housing ends. Much better than a grinding wheel or housing cutter.
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece...scs-69657.html

Thanks All! I ordered a set of Jagwire cables and the Park cable cutter.