Cables - what's good, what's new, what is YOUR choice
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 163
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cables - what's good, what's new, what is YOUR choice
I am just now getting to the point where I am replacing worn/broken (some by me "fixing" it) parts on my first road bike. Right now I am trying to understand the cable market. Plain cables, teflon, polymer coated - what are the pros and cons and what is your choice.
As an aside, some of the newer polymer coated cables seem to come with full-length housings. My bike does not have/use the full length. Does that mean I cannot use the newest technology? Or am I looking at the wrong cables? For example, Jagwire has their new Road Elite Sealed cables with polymer coating. Can I use those?
As an aside, some of the newer polymer coated cables seem to come with full-length housings. My bike does not have/use the full length. Does that mean I cannot use the newest technology? Or am I looking at the wrong cables? For example, Jagwire has their new Road Elite Sealed cables with polymer coating. Can I use those?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1954 Post(s)
Liked 2,925 Times
in
1,488 Posts
I am just now getting to the point where I am replacing worn/broken (some by me "fixing" it) parts on my first road bike. Right now I am trying to understand the cable market. Plain cables, teflon, polymer coated - what are the pros and cons and what is your choice.
As an aside, some of the newer polymer coated cables seem to come with full-length housings. My bike does not have/use the full length. Does that mean I cannot use the newest technology? Or am I looking at the wrong cables? For example, Jagwire has their new Road Elite Sealed cables with polymer coating. Can I use those?
As an aside, some of the newer polymer coated cables seem to come with full-length housings. My bike does not have/use the full length. Does that mean I cannot use the newest technology? Or am I looking at the wrong cables? For example, Jagwire has their new Road Elite Sealed cables with polymer coating. Can I use those?
To be clear, the Jagwire system does NOT use full length housing. It does have a full length liner.
#3
Still can't climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
I took my bike to the shop and he had a big reel of something and cut bits off that. My bike shifts flawlessly.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times
in
15 Posts
I am a fan of just buying the inexpensive cables that my LBS carries and then getting in the habit of changing them regularly. Inexpensive but new cables work perfect. I change them every 3000-4000 miles. I buy about 10 at a time from the LBS for about $2 each and then take about 10-15 min to change them twice a year or so. There are better places to spend extra money than on expensive cables.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 458
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Shimano's BC-9000 cable set with polymer-coated cable and new brake cable housing has less friction than other brake sets I've used. Just about all newly installed cable sets work slickly on a long, full housing rear brake run at first, and then become notchy a couple weeks later, the BC-9000 set remains slick. I think the BC-9000 housing is special too based on my experiences cutting it, routing ease, and its resistance to taking a set. I say the kit is well worth its extra cost for rim brakes. I would not use the BC-9000 housing with mechanical disc brakes though; polymer coated cable, yes.
After experiencing the brake kit's performance, I purchased the 9000 derailleur cable kit. It also uses a polymer coated cable, but pairs with standard sp-41 housing that has a polymer friendly lube. I'll install tomorrow probably, and will try a few things for this install that I haven't tried in the past. More later if the kit stands the test of time.
I caution against using any lube with a petroleum base due to potential damage to the polymer coating. I also caution extreme care if using a Silicone based lube, Silicone will contaminate things you have no intention of contaminating, and because of its excellent flow properties, it will migrate both near and far. I suspect Silicone is a component of BC-9000 housing lubrication, wipe cable sections in contact with cable clamps with denatured alcohol, and wash hands thoroughly after handling cable that has passed through the housing. Apply maximum torque settings on cable pinch bolts with polymer-coated cables.
After experiencing the brake kit's performance, I purchased the 9000 derailleur cable kit. It also uses a polymer coated cable, but pairs with standard sp-41 housing that has a polymer friendly lube. I'll install tomorrow probably, and will try a few things for this install that I haven't tried in the past. More later if the kit stands the test of time.
I caution against using any lube with a petroleum base due to potential damage to the polymer coating. I also caution extreme care if using a Silicone based lube, Silicone will contaminate things you have no intention of contaminating, and because of its excellent flow properties, it will migrate both near and far. I suspect Silicone is a component of BC-9000 housing lubrication, wipe cable sections in contact with cable clamps with denatured alcohol, and wash hands thoroughly after handling cable that has passed through the housing. Apply maximum torque settings on cable pinch bolts with polymer-coated cables.