My levers are 1970's-era Campagnolo Nuovo Record.

Which shifter cables will fit (the barrel end)?

Who makes good cables these days?

honestly, there are issues with newer derailleur cables.

With today's technology, they are both thinner, stronger and less resistance.

The problem with that, is our vintage stuff was designed to take thicker cables with less "slick"

I go to the local co-op and grab from the bin. sometimes its $1, sometimes they say, "get outta here"

Bring a lever with you, but most cables come with two ends and you cut off the wrong one for your bike.

I dunno; last time I needed a Huret-style end cable, at the LBS they rummaged around and "this is the last one". This won't impact the OP, as Campy/Shimano/Suntour end is prevalent.

So, the modern barrel ends do fit the old Campagnolo shifters. That's good to know because I was planning to order online but don't want to by incompatible parts.

The shifter cables I have do seem very thin. Several strands actually wore through or broke somehow and I am probably headed towards a broken cable (bad). I want to replace them before that happens.

We don't have any co-ops around here. We barely have any bike shops that aren't sales outlets for ebikes and beach cruisers. Performance is long gone. Bikecology is gone, Ted Ernst is long since gone,... The last brake pads I bought came from Europe (England, IIRC).

I actually like the Jagwire cable sets that come with the inner cable. I have filed the barrels down for older shifters with small barrel indents. Depending what you want to spend you can get solid cables. These are cheaper in a set

https://www.amazon.com/JAGWIRE-Slick...%2C177&sr=8-12

I'm looking forward to trying the Alligator 31 strand cables. They look to be of very high quality.

See, this is why I am asking before I buy. I do not want to pay up to $30 for a single cable and then have to do this because it does not fit the shift lever.


My shift cables are not inside a housing.

Does anyone know what wire diameter to look for and what to avoid as too thin?

Shift cables for downtube shifters cost $25? Guess my $5 Alligators are a complete anomaly!

I think we're over complicating things here. Campy shifters of that era used a slightly smaller barrel end on the cable. If you just buy a regular cable these days it'll likely have the larger Shimano barrel size, and then you have to file it. Look for Campy compatible cables and you'll be fine.

An example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/22391471451...3ABFBMpuP11Yth

Campy complete set are $45 I bought a set at $30, thinking it was high but wanted one brand name on one bike. They have incredible performance for cables.
I believe the shift cables today are 4 mm vs C&V at 5. Smaller housing too.

RD still requires a housing to get from the CS to the RD

Now it's up to $30 for a single shift cable? You need to find a different parts supplier. Like, yesterday.

I get that. And if you need to have the name brand, you just have to pony up. But the OP seems like he's looking for any cable that'll work. And there are many that are a lot cheaper than $30 for a single cable.

I would not pay $30 for a single cable regardless. My $s were for brake and shift cables with housings and ferrules'.

Oh, right, that makes sense. The OP says he doesn’t want to pay $30 for a single downtube shift cable, which seems to be out of the realm of reality—even including a foot or so of housing.

I'm not familiar with Campy gear, but I thought barrels were for MTB brake cables.
Note-I too buy in bulk from China and average a buck a cable for stainless- both shifter and brake. I get my housings in 3 meter lengths for around 5 bucks.

Is there an accepted term for the bit of pot metal at the end of a shift or brake cable? I've never heard of "barrels." Lugs, maybe?

Yes
I can't get the image to load w/pics and names of all the different ends. Campy's are slightly different though from Shimano

Yesterday, I couldn't find brake cables that cheap on eBay. Got a link? I needed a couple and just bought a Shimano kit with housing for $10.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/392825985680

The image loaded. Thanks.

FWIW, I've converted standard "in-line barrel" cable ends to functional Huret disc-type cable ends by squeezing the barrel in a vise until it fits into the slot on the Huret shifter. Often, a little touch-up with a file is needed to get the proper fit. It seldom takes more than a couple of minutes altogether to modify the cable end.

From my favorite source. Note the Campagnolo-specific shift cables in two lengths - $13 for 2.3m, $18 for $3.1m, plenty in stock:

https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=4385

Yep, those are Jagwire I think.

For very old shifters you have to file a bit of the barrel even with Campy ones...I think.

Here's the ebay item #363784565460 for the brake cables. The shifters are cheaper and lots of sellers. HTH ( I know, too late)

Link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29506088377....c101112.m2109

If this link works, otherwise, there are lots of other sellers with the same cables and pricing. It states standard shipping, but the lemon seller actually uses Speedpack and I got my order in less than 2 weeks.