Cycling UK Forum

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 12:39pm**

Whilst I have considerable experience of knocking up cables for motorbikes, I've never had to meddle with bicycle cables, so I need some advice. My Lady Wife, who is now in her early 60's, rides a Thorn Sherpa with the "trekking" bars as opposed to drops. She has a couple of afflictions which have necessitated an alteration to a more upright riding position, which I have carried out this morning to her delight. However, it hadn't occurred to me that this would mean longer control cables

So, I now need to replace all four cables ASAP so that both the outers and the inners are in the region of 50cm longer. What's the most cost-effective way of going about this? I note that the brake cables are thicker than the gear cables, but what do I actually need to buy? Are replacement inners of a certain "stock" length nowadays and do they come with the right nipples on one end? What about the outers and the ferrules for them?

Any guidance will be much appreciated, and btw I'll be ordering these online as we're bikeshopless in this neck of the woods.

(Bike is 2009 vintage, Deore BL-M590 V-brakes, Deore RD-M531 long cage 9-speed derailleur, Deore FC-M590 triple chainset)

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 12:48pm**

Yes, brake cables and gear cables are different.

What lengths do you now need?

Do you know what types of ends you need? Yes, some inner cables come with two different ends and you discard the one you don't want.

...

I'd start with SJS Cycles, and then let us know if you can't find what you need there:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cables/

...

Sheldon Brown "Cables":
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/cables.html

Park Tools Repair Help:
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-he ... -drop-bars

Jonathan

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 12:57pm**

You buy a cable set. eBay is full of them. There are gear sets, brake sets or both together. All you will need is a good set of cutters.
If you’re current cables are fairly new you can of course use the rear brake and gear cable as front ones and just buy one of each for the rear.

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 2:19pm**

Providing the actual brake and gear controls haven't changed and the cables are still on good working order then I would buy 1 x brake cable long enough for the rear brake, 1 x gear cable long enough for the rear deraileurs and a packet of cable ends and work in the following way.;
A) Remove all cables, but do NOT cut them. Just cut the existing cable ends off at the end of each cable, so that the cables can be removed intacted.
B) Install the new rear deraileur cable
C) Install the new rear brake cable.
D) After checking the condition of the old brake cable to ensure that it is not damaged or worn, use the old rear brake cable as the new front cable and cut to size.
E) After checking that the old gear cable isn't worn use that to operate the front deraileur and cut to size.
F) Finish the job by installing cable ends.
Always check the condition if the cables in a periodic fashion which reflects the use of that bicycle.
Always perform an emergency stop on a controlled manner, on private grounds before using the bicycle on the highway, to ensure the braking system is effective.
Never use a bicycle with frayed or damaged cables, or poorly fuctioning brakes and/ gears.

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 2:41pm**

Thank you very much indeed, gentlemen. I was wondering about the fact that on the Sherpa, the gear cable outers both run from shifters to lugs on the downtube where the old-style levers fitted, but that would not seem to be a problem. It now looks like all I need is one each universal gear and brake cable assemblies plus a few of the right-sized ferrules

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 5:41pm**

cycle tramp wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 2:19pm Providing the actual brake and gear controls haven't changed and the cables are still on good working order then I would buy 1 x brake cable long enough for the rear brake, 1 x gear cable long enough for the rear deraileurs and a packet of cable ends and work in the following way.;
A) Remove all cables, but do NOT cut them. Just cut the existing cable ends off at the end of each cable, so that the cables can be removed intacted.
B) Install the new rear deraileur cable
C) Install the new rear brake cable.
D) After checking the condition of the old brake cable to ensure that it is not damaged or worn, use the old rear brake cable as the new front cable and cut to size.
E) After checking that the old gear cable isn't worn use that to operate the front deraileur and cut to size.
F) Finish the job by installing cable ends.
Always check the condition if the cables in a periodic fashion which reflects the use of that bicycle.
Always perform an emergency stop on a controlled manner, on private grounds before using the bicycle on the highway, to ensure the braking system is effective.
Never use a bicycle with frayed or damaged cables, or poorly fuctioning brakes and/ gears.

Taking your first paragraph - nowadays you can pretty much only buy "rear cables" for both brakes and gears - you just cut the front down to size.

AND I wouldn't buy a "set" - go to your LBS as they will have bulk boxes of gear cables and both types of brakes (road & MTB) - and they shouldn't be much money based on the wholesale cost of a box. Likewise if you need new outers (again 2 sorts - gear and brake) the LBS will have it on a bulk roll and cut what you need.

Finally two tips: When you have identified where you need to cut the inner cables coat the area with Superglue and when it dries cut through the glued section - it reduces the risk of fraying when you thread cables in the outers. When you cut the outers poke a point of some sort (a spoke is idea) into the inner lining to make sure it's open and will not impede the inner cable.

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 6:01pm**

robgul wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 5:41pm AND I wouldn't buy a "set" - go to your LBS as they will have bulk boxes of gear cables and both types of brakes (road & MTB

Note the OP says

danfoto wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 12:39pm I'll be ordering these online as we're bikeshopless in this neck of the woods.

Until recently a bike shop was a 40 ml round trip for me. Fortunately I now have one within a 20 mile bike ride and I now usually trade half a dozen eggs for a cable.

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 7:19pm**

Buy outers by the metre off ebay - good choice of colours!

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 7:36pm**

Hi, Suggest Tandem Cables, gear inners. For the brakes I'd suggest one standard rear inner, one tandem inner and separate outer cable length to suit the total required. MM

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 9:12pm**

I buy all my cabling needs from cyclebasket.com. I tend to buy about 10 metres of each casing and a fair number of stainless wires. while delivery seems expensive the savings involved makes feasaable to buy this way.
It also saves searching around and spending on travel.
Ebay deliveries tend to be slow and second class postage usually becomes more than two days by the time the items get posted.
I believe Spa Cycles offer similar products.
Both of these shops/suppliers are my usual go to places for most cycling items.

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 10:07pm**

"Ebay deliveries tend to be slow and second class postage usually becomes more than two days by the time the items get posted"

Bought a good few times from ritch-hill-cycles with excellent service. No relationship except as satisfied customer!

Posted: **11 Jul 2021, 10:39pm**

I use Decathlon, for cables, if I remember correctly, good price and quality, said Brucie. For the brake, just get the appropriate nipple for the leaver. I usually buy some to have in stock, for when needed.
Cheers, Rob.

Posted: **12 Jul 2021, 7:31am**

I used a jJagwire gear a cable set on my last build that I bought from eBay, about £30.00 I think. Have used Clarks in the past and not much difference in quality but Clarks was cheaper.
I would advise getting a good quality cable inner and outer cutter.

Posted: **13 Jul 2021, 12:53pm**

Paulatic wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 6:01pm
robgul wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 5:41pm AND I wouldn't buy a "set" - go to your LBS as they will have bulk boxes of gear cables and both types of brakes (road & MTB
Note the OP says
danfoto wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 12:39pm I'll be ordering these online as we're bikeshopless in this neck of the woods.
Until recently a bike shop was a 40 ml round trip for me. Fortunately I now have one within a 20 mile bike ride and I now usually trade half a dozen eggs for a cable.

I hadn't thought of that....

How many eggs will that dogma f12 be sir!!

Cheers James

Posted: **13 Jul 2021, 4:50pm**

Paulatic wrote: ↑11 Jul 2021, 6:01pm
Until recently a bike shop was a 40 ml round trip for me. Fortunately I now have one within a 20 mile bike ride and I now usually trade half a dozen eggs for a cable.

You keep chickens? Cool! - Any type of specific breed?

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