ColonelJLloyd 

I'm going to replace the derailleur cables and housing on my rando bike.

• It's a 63cm frame with 44cm Nitto Noodles
• Shifters are Suntour barcons
• I want to route the derailleur cables under the bar wrap (exiting at the stem)
• I want to use the VO metallic braided housing

I think I'll need to use the long piece from two brake cable kits (I know this does not make economical sense). It's fine to use derailleur cable in brake cable housing, right? I've used brake housing for the section between the chain stay stop and RD before without issue. Will this negatively affect the shifting performance?

I was going to order some tandem length stainless derailleur cable, but I'm seeing it offered with Shimano ends and Campy ends. I didn't know there was a difference (I thought it was a standardized thing). Which one do I need for the barcons?

*I realize that this should technically be posted in Bicycle Mechanics, but this is where I hang out and I know you guys will have the answers.

Bianchigirll 

are you barcons indexing? good quality brake cable housing should be fine for friction and some older index system 6/7spd. there will be some housing compression to worry about.

I believe the (and ran into this UGH) campy 'heads' are smaller so you want the shimano ones. even on my 59 bikes with barends I need tandem cables for some reason.

ColonelJLloyd 

No, they're Suntour ratcheting shifters. I know what the cable end I need looks like, but I can't find a photo of the Shimano and Campy ends to which Jagwire is referring.

Bianchigirll 

OH well the ends are the same shape, the little cylinder thingie, it is just the Campi are smaller.

the housing should be fine just a little compression in the smallest cog or two but no big deal with friction

ColonelJLloyd 

Ah, the Campy end is smaller. Sounds like the Shimano/SRAM end is what I need. Thanks, BG.

Ruffinit

I have run the cables on the Suntour barcons the way you've stated and it's worked out fine. Just make sure all your bends are as large as possible to avoid unwanted friction within the cables. Make sure you tape them down good to the bars before you wrap them with your bar tape of choice (strapping tape works well). And instead of using brake cable housing I would reconsider the wire housing they originally came with. Not saying that the brake cable housing is a bad idea, it's just that the original has always worked well for me. When the barcons first came out there wasn't any difference between brake cable housing and shifter housing, so using new brake cable housing will work just fine. Compression and the ability to keep the housing from failing may be the reason they used the spring housing with these to begin with. The braided cables are the only cables I use on any of my bikes. High quality and lasts a long time.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I'll second BG's recommendation for the Shimano ends....I set up some suntour barcons on my Team Miyata a couple months ago and used Stainless Tandem shifter cable for the Derailleurs (with the Shimano end). I easily could have just used 1 Tandem cable and 1 regular cable though...didn't need that extra length for the FD.

Nothing wrong with brake housing for friction shifting. The thing you don't wanna do is use Index shifter housing for Brakes.

I like that V-O metallic Braided housing...nice lookin.

ColonelJLloyd 

Thanks to all.

I have some of that original housing, but I have trouble understanding how that's going to work as well as new Teflon coated housing. Also, I doubt it's long enough for this application. Regardless, I'd rather have it match the metallic braided brake housing. I use non-aero levers on that bike.

Never say never, but I don't anticipate myself ever going to index shifting on a derailleur equipped bike.

@ Zapohd: So think I can get by with the 3100mm tandem length for the rear and a standard length for the front?

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Yeah, the run for the FD (even with the added length from the barcons) in my experience isn't gonna be any longer than a typical run to the RD from DT shifters

although I seem to recall that the Tandem cables cost the same as the regular length ones.

WNG

Standard spiral cored brake cable housing will be fine. Lined housing would be desired for improved friction reduction. The intended routing along the bars will actually reduce compression as the housing is fixed to the rigid bar. The only compression will be the run from bar to down tube stop. No need for indexing shifter housing.