So here's what I'm wondering:

In your mind, is cable housing a "consumable" part (like tires or cables) that, when looking at a restored C & V bike, you expect to find replaced with something recent? Or is it a permanent part that you would like to find in original condition? Would you rather see old housing in rough condition (like you would with paint), or new housing in good condition?

And if it's been replaced, how important is it to you that the replacement housing should replicate the original housing exactly? Does the sight of typical modern housing on, say, a '50s bike stick out to you like a sore thumb, or is it no big deal?

Well, correctness aside, the new stuff works better.

No question about that, but correctness is my concern here.

Is it a show bike or a rider?

I think you've answered your own question, if 'period correct' is what you are after.

I have a set of NOS Campagnolo housings and cables, I'll trade them for some 2009 Centaur Ergo's

New housings, preferably - provided you can avoid anything printed with "Jagwire" or "SHIMANO" on the outer casing.

An exception to this would be older Raleigh-made machines that originally came with Sturmey-Archer ribbed housing, or pre-TI Industries machines that used silver housing - I generally keep a stock of good used cable housing in both black and white for the former, and I have a selection of NOS, 1950's/60's aftermarket Clarke's silver cable housing for the latter. Considering that the early machines use double-soldered-end cables, one must keep these cables on hand if they keep any of these machines in their fleet.

-Kurt

That bare stainless coil stuff is pretty cool too.
I haven't noticed a huge improvement using new housings on my old bikes but most of my old bikes aren't that picky.

Yeah, on an older bikle that used the bare coil type, I think it makes a big difference in the look. (looking for some) Otherwise, modern stuff has lower friction and seems to last longer without looking like crap. (but then again, the older stuff is old....)

Ken.

I usually just replace it, but for my slow-as-molasses Dawes restoration I'm planning to re-use the original housing because it's in good shape. Newer stuff would work better, but it's kind of cool for the bike to have the same housing it had when it left the factory in Birmingham in 1964. In fact, I'm thinking I can even reuse the original white plastic bar tape--unwind it, give it a good wash, and put it back on. We'll see how that works out.

Oh - that's another thing. Bare stainless coil always gets re-used or saved. Flipper bikes with copious amounts of it (you have to love a Nishiki International with stainless cable right up to the barcons) get it removed and replaced - the excess goes to the eternally expanding "you'll need it someday" box.

-Kurt

+1

I save every bit of that stuff that I can get my hands on.

The bare stainless stuff does look cool, I agree, but I never reuse it. I don't like the way it rubs paint down to bare metal so quickly. How do you guys prevent that, or do you just not worry about it?

Use it for the derailer cables only. Anything with chrome ends won't be scuffed up too bad, and you can always stick a loop of the fuzzy side of stick-on Velcro over the contact areas.

-Kurt

Function, appearance, and color. My only rules on that stuff.

The bike's not worth much if it shifts and brakes like dookie.
The appearance shouldn't be totally clashing with the bike (no sparkle housing on that Team Pro)
The color is your choice, but if it stunk, I'd comment on it.

Good cables and housing are worth it.