How long do rear derailleur cables last?
#1
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
How long do rear derailleur cables last?
The rear derailleur cable in my bike snapped this past Wednesday during a ride, leaving the chain on the smallest rear cog and me needing a ride home. My diagnosis revealed that the cable was severely frayed and snapped inside the right STI lever, a big PITA to remove. There are about 2,300 recorded miles on this bike, and another maybe 500 to 700 miles before I started using Strava and/or Wahoo apps to track my mileage. This failure seems kind of premature? I know many of you ride much higher mileage (but maybe shift less often) than I do; how often / frequently do you folks change your derailleur cables?
I have bought both derailleur and brake cable kits and am working on replacing them all. Luckily the cable routing in my bike does not look too convoluted.
I have bought both derailleur and brake cable kits and am working on replacing them all. Luckily the cable routing in my bike does not look too convoluted.
#2
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,125
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1795 Post(s)
Liked 1,640 Times
in
940 Posts
Yep. Your resulta are about on par with expectations. 3-5000 miles for a right shifter is pretty common depending on how often you shift. I've never worn a left (front) shift cable. I'd venture 10k plus but, you never know. YMMV.
Why didn't you use a tool from your fix-it kit & drive the "H" screw all the way in to a better cog? I'm sure the 14, 15, or 16 cog would've been nicer than the 11 all the way at the bottom.
Why didn't you use a tool from your fix-it kit & drive the "H" screw all the way in to a better cog? I'm sure the 14, 15, or 16 cog would've been nicer than the 11 all the way at the bottom.
Likes For base2:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
How long is a piece of string?
(Kerry Irons quote)
(Kerry Irons quote)
#4
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
That is a good idea, but I don't carry any tools or spare parts. My rides are generally 25 to 35 miles long and within about half an hour's drive home, so I would call my wife, Uber XL, or just walk home if I am really close.
#5
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
#6
Senior Member
A friend of mine has 5 years and 12,000 miles on his thus far. Not sure brand and model make a difference. He is using Sram Red 11 speed. Original cable.
My road bike has 3 years and 5500 miles. Campy Record 11 speed. Original cable.
Raleigh Professional, 1979. Well over 20,000 miles. Campagnolo Nuovo Record down tube shifters. Original cable.
My road bike has 3 years and 5500 miles. Campy Record 11 speed. Original cable.
Raleigh Professional, 1979. Well over 20,000 miles. Campagnolo Nuovo Record down tube shifters. Original cable.
#7
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,958
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 982 Post(s)
Liked 517 Times
in
355 Posts
The rear derailleur cable in my bike snapped this past Wednesday during a ride, leaving the chain on the smallest rear cog and me needing a ride home. My diagnosis revealed that the cable was severely frayed and snapped inside the right STI lever, a big PITA to remove. There are about 2,300 recorded miles on this bike, and another maybe 500 to 700 miles before I started using Strava and/or Wahoo apps to track my mileage. This failure seems kind of premature? I know many of you ride much higher mileage (but maybe shift less often) than I do; how often / frequently do you folks change your derailleur cables?
I have bought both derailleur and brake cable kits and am working on replacing them all. Luckily the cable routing in my bike does not look too convoluted.
I have bought both derailleur and brake cable kits and am working on replacing them all. Luckily the cable routing in my bike does not look too convoluted.
Front derailleur cables seem to last "forever", I usually just change the rear cable. Brake cables don't wear out either, I wouldn't replace them unless there was wear in the housing causing the brake pull to feel rough.
The LBS should be able to sell you inexpensive generic loose shifter cable instead of the housing + cable kit. I'd replace the housing every other time.
There should a window to see the shifter cable inside the shifter where it takes the bend, just fold back the hood and see. Regularly looking for broken strands is a good idea after around 2000 miles.
Likes For rm -rf:
#8
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,814
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3597 Post(s)
Liked 3,421 Times
in
1,946 Posts
I see derailleur cables fail most often at the cable anchor, especially on low-end derailleurs using an eye-bolt, which if over-tightened tends to cut cable strands, and, less commonly at the shift lever. When this happens can be quite variable. I have some derailleur cables that are several decades old and still going strong.
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,844
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 678 Post(s)
Liked 749 Times
in
434 Posts
You may have noticed a few weeks prior to the break that you needed to turn the barrel adjuster to keep accurate shifting. Next time that will be your clue.
The easiest way to check it is to shift into low gear, stop pedaling, shift into high so you have a loose cable, and push the cable end out of the shifter. I do that every few thousand miles.
The easiest way to check it is to shift into low gear, stop pedaling, shift into high so you have a loose cable, and push the cable end out of the shifter. I do that every few thousand miles.
Likes For andrewclaus:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Current Shimano STI's that run the housing under the bar tape have a reputation for fraying the cables right at the shifter so your experience is not uncommon. Older style Shimano brifters with exterior cables and other like Campy are easier on cables. I have Gevenalle "Retroshifters" on my bikes (basically downtube levers mounted on brake hoods) and those shift cables seem to last forever.
However, shift frequency is certainly a factor in any discussion of cable life. Shift more, the cable dies sooner.
However, shift frequency is certainly a factor in any discussion of cable life. Shift more, the cable dies sooner.
Likes For HillRider:
#11
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,526
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2751 Post(s)
Liked 3,407 Times
in
2,062 Posts
Take the loose cable and pull it into a useable gear and tie it off on the frame/bottle cage where ever you can.
Or find a stick or whatever road side of a size that works and wedge it into the derailleur parallelogram so it sits in a useable gear.
Likes For dedhed:
#12
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
Are the cables routed inside the frame? That requires a different technique for cable replacement. Don't just pull out the old cable! There's usually no guide or tube inside the frame. See my old post for an example.
Front derailleur cables seem to last "forever", I usually just change the rear cable. Brake cables don't wear out either, I wouldn't replace them unless there was wear in the housing causing the brake pull to feel rough.
The LBS should be able to sell you inexpensive generic loose shifter cable instead of the housing + cable kit. I'd replace the housing every other time.
There should a window to see the shifter cable inside the shifter where it takes the bend, just fold back the hood and see. Regularly looking for broken strands is a good idea after around 2000 miles.
The LBS should be able to sell you inexpensive generic loose shifter cable instead of the housing + cable kit. I'd replace the housing every other time.
There should a window to see the shifter cable inside the shifter where it takes the bend, just fold back the hood and see. Regularly looking for broken strands is a good idea after around 2000 miles.
#13
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
This sounds easy enough. Thank you!
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,972
Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 186 Times
in
122 Posts
I have done the same thing and my Ti has exposed cables. I ride year around but in the winter they tend to go bad faster. Right now I have over 4000 miles on my rear cable since the change in June 14th. I have been riding huge miles and really so far so good. At any point you start to feel the shifter being a bit sticky or require even a slight more attention in the shifting then check it out and put on a new cable. A new cable is cheap. For me too the rear loop is the first to go. I upgrade and bought the Shimano premade rear loops they use for ultegra, I also have Shimano 6800 mechanical but I did upgrade the rear derailleur to 8000 because I like the angle better for the pinch bolt clamp and shifting is smooth but so was the 6800 derailleur it is spare now.
In the end a new cable put in is a no brainer. Worth the $4 bucks I use Jagwire or shimano die drawn, it like why mess around on something easy to keep working and not expensive.
In the end a new cable put in is a no brainer. Worth the $4 bucks I use Jagwire or shimano die drawn, it like why mess around on something easy to keep working and not expensive.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North of Boston
Posts: 898
Bikes: 1973 Schwinn Sports Tourer plus a " few" more :)
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 211 Post(s)
Liked 199 Times
in
147 Posts
All great advice and knowledge !!!!!
Thank you all for sharing. I hope this never happens to me, or anyone else..
But if it does...it's good to know what to do
Safe riding !!!!
Thank you all for sharing. I hope this never happens to me, or anyone else..
But if it does...it's good to know what to do
Safe riding !!!!
#16
Senior Member
I've put at least 10000 miles on my last set of cables and they are fine. I'm running Chorus 10 and used Campy cables.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times
in
569 Posts
Shimano shifters are hard on cables. Replacing the rear shift cable once a year is a common practice to avoid the hassle you just went through.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 2,562
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 982 Post(s)
Liked 587 Times
in
403 Posts
I have to say this has not been my experience. I have an old mountain bike (Trek 6000, bought in 2000) with about 6,000 miles, and a low-end Shimano drivetrain. I have an old road bike (Airborne Carpe Diem, bought in 2001) with about 8,000 miles, and an Ultegra 3 x 9 drivetrain. My current commuter bike (Tern Verge S11i) has an Alfine 11 with a trigger-shift and 10,000 miles on it.
None of these bikes' original shift cables has given any trouble. I must be lucky!
None of these bikes' original shift cables has given any trouble. I must be lucky!
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,456
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4247 Post(s)
Liked 2,957 Times
in
1,815 Posts
Thank you! Your old post is very helpful. The cables for my bike are internally routed, but without the thin internal tubing shown in your old post. Your suggestion to run thin internal tubing over an existing cable before removing the latter and leaving the former as a guide for a new cable is brilliant. Where can I buy such thin internal tubing (preferably for both brake and derailleur cables)?
Likes For himespau:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times
in
569 Posts
I have to say this has not been my experience. I have an old mountain bike (Trek 6000, bought in 2000) with about 6,000 miles, and a low-end Shimano drivetrain. I have an old road bike (Airborne Carpe Diem, bought in 2001) with about 8,000 miles, and an Ultegra 3 x 9 drivetrain. My current commuter bike (Tern Verge S11i) has an Alfine 11 with a trigger-shift and 10,000 miles on it.
None of these bikes' original shift cables has given any trouble. I must be lucky!
None of these bikes' original shift cables has given any trouble. I must be lucky!
My comment only applies to brifters with concealed cable housings- they have a tight bend right by the lever,
& as the OP states, it's hard to get the broken end out- still, inspecting them once in a while is not a bad idea.
#22
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
Pre-pandemic, Uber XL would be no brainer, but I did not have a mask with me last time. I will put one in my jersey pocket from now on; I can retroactively justify switching from football to bike jerseys.
#23
Senior Member
Funny you should mention that. Just this Summer, My front derailleur cable broke. Just to be sure, I replaced both front and rear. The rear had a couple of broken wires, up near the shifter end. The bike is a Bruce Gordon that I bought in about 1992. I thought it odd that the front, which gets shifted much, much less than the rear, broke first.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times
in
446 Posts
The rear derailleur cable in my bike snapped this past Wednesday during a ride, leaving the chain on the smallest rear cog and me needing a ride home. My diagnosis revealed that the cable was severely frayed and snapped inside the right STI lever, a big PITA to remove. There are about 2,300 recorded miles on this bike, and another maybe 500 to 700 miles before I started using Strava and/or Wahoo apps to track my mileage. This failure seems kind of premature? I know many of you ride much higher mileage (but maybe shift less often) than I do; how often / frequently do you folks change your derailleur cables?
I have bought both derailleur and brake cable kits and am working on replacing them all. Luckily the cable routing in my bike does not look too convoluted.
I have bought both derailleur and brake cable kits and am working on replacing them all. Luckily the cable routing in my bike does not look too convoluted.
#25
Method to My Madness
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,719
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1982 Post(s)
Liked 1,501 Times
in
1,041 Posts
I have to grease the cable at the housing? I thought buying the fancy $$$ Dura Ace polymer coated cable and housing kit means I can avoid doing so. Would lithium grease do or do I need to buy another type of grease?