One of his feet came unclipped and he instinctively bailed on the other and took the shoulder. He's a monster but he's really humble. He broke his ankle once and the doctor told him that after the cast came off he wouldn't have the dexterity to ride like he does. So he asked the doctor not to put him in a cast and spent several hours each day for the next several weeks exercising it so that it would not heal in such a way.

When riding behind him his right foot looks like it is half out of the shoe because his ankle is so gnarly. That's him on the right.

I'm a little concerned about why that pic exists.

I have had two brake cables start to fail using first gen. Campy aero levers (circa 1991 Chorus). When the cable is routed aero (it can be routed old style as well) it makes a 90 bend over an insert, about 1 inch from the diecast stop. Strands will break at the bend. Fortunately it's easy to inspect without any disassembly.

Me too (no pics., just trust me on this one).

FWIW, my S.O. fatigued her 1981 Campagnolo Record 1.6 mm DT rear shift cable to the point where multiple strands separated on one (maybe two...) 50-mile rides, right near the lever, from curling and uncurling forever. Of course, that took 28 years and maybe 65,000 miles to occur....

I dunno, but hope I'm not on the ski lift when it breaks.

+1 If you are going to use a fixed gear for road riding, makes all sense.

I broke a rear derailleur cable back in April. Snapped right at the ferrule as I pulled into work. It was about 5 years old and had seen daily use, all the other cables appeared fine visually and I haven't had any other issues.

Had two shifter cables break. STIs bend them pretty sharply.

Actually, come to think of it, I once had a throttle cable snap on my '74 Saab, as I was gunning it at a left entrance onto the D.C. Beltway. It was a Sunday, no mechanics around, so after several hours in the median (pre-cell-phone days), I had it towed to a bike shop, got the heaviest brake cable and stop I could find, and I was on my way.

I had a throttle cable snap on a motorcycle, as I was accelerating onto a freeway. A little unnerving(!). No bicycle cable failures I can recall. But replacement cables are cheap enough, I don't hesitate to replace them with new ones when I'm overhauling a bike. Nice to have smooth action & peace of mind.

I purchased a left over 2004 k2 Newport hybrid in 2006 from lbs. It was always difficult to shift RD past 5 with grip shifter(8 spd). Took it back for free 50 mile inspection, they looked it over and it was fine the next few outings. After a while, Rd shifting started to get difficult and shifts would delay. Not my favorite ride so I hung in the garage till this summer. Thought I found the problem when I discovered bottom bracket cable guide was cracked and twisting when shifting. So, when I tried to remove RD cable to install new BB guide, I couldn't get the cable out of the rear sis housing. It would only move about 1/4" and stop. WTF. Finally cut the cable off, put the cut end in by bench vise and pulled the housing off with vise grips.
One strand of the wire had broken, just about in the middle of the rear housing, and was folded and coiled like a demented spring.
Must have left the factory "Pre-broken".

Old Campy DT shift cables were heavier than other brands so they wouldn't break. Mine never did and were still in good condition when I had to replace them with modern, longer shift cables to accommodate my handlebar-mounted Kelly Take-Offs.

Brake cables? Originals that came with Modolo Pros purchased in the early 1980s still in service. Recently inspected with no evidence of fraying or fatigue. They made stuff to last a Pro's daily abuse, so they can easily withstand a club rider's use for many years.

Prettyshady, yes, good point about the way a cable feels if it's fraying apart. Once a cable is damaged, it will do this. Obviously damaged cables should be replaced.

I do not, however, replace 50-year old cable and housing just because it is 50 years old. I would probably be more cavalier with 20 year old cables. But I have the original cable and housings on at least two of my bikes from the 50's and they are just fine.

I have broken many brake cables, and one VW clutch cable.

Cables are relatively cheap, and I have trust issues.

I have the original brake cables on my 1962 Rudge 3-speed. They're heavier than any other brake cables I've seen, so I have no plans to replace them.

I replace housings when they're kinked or otherwise damaged. Replacing housing often necessitates replacing the cable, too, but that's incidental.