Questions tagged [cable]

Bicycle brakes and shifters use Bowden cables to transmit braking/shifting forces from the hand controls to the appropriate place.

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1 answer
59 views

Shimano Claris stuck in highest gear

I've got a 3-year-old bike with Shimano Claris (looks like ST-R2000-R) shifters. The other day, the temperature outside dropped to 40F. I took my bike out and found that I couldn't upshift the rear ...
4 votes
1 answer
4k views

How to replace hub motor cable in e-bike?

The hub motor wires are cut from near the axle and looks like I can't repair it without completely replacing it. The motor is similar to this one on Ali Express. I failed to open the motor because ...
3 votes
3 answers
17k views

My v-brake lever (just one) is stiff. What's wrong?

After tuning my brakes a lot (I was learning how), I suddenly noticed my back brake got really stiff. Did not really matter if the cable is loose or not, the lever itself feels really hard to pull ...
7 votes
2 answers
12k views

Pros and cons of mixed hydraulic/mechanical brakes vs pure hydraulics

Title of question is self-explanatory. Recently, it was added to the market brakes that are an hybrid mix between the mechanical Bowden steel cable and hydraulic system, which their oil tank is near ...
3 votes
2 answers
77 views

Do I need a specific Sturmey Archer indicator chain/rod and cable?

Like the title says, I have an old refurbished bike from the 50's I want to get working again. It has a Sturmey Archer 3 speed shifter and internal gear hub, and that's about all I know about it. It ...
11 votes
2 answers
27k views

What is the actual cable pull of brake levers?

I understand that there are 2 brake lever cable pull standards: Standard Pull Levers Long Pull Levers (for V-brakes and disc brakes) But what is the actual difference in pull? And specifically: what ...
3 votes
0 answers
78 views

Shimano nexus 8 internal gear shift cable holder is broken. What can I do?

I have a Cube Hyde Pro equipped with a Shimano Nexus 8. The cable holding place is broken. As you can see in the image below: As a temporary solution I glued it with a cyanoacrylate glue but it is not ...
1 vote
1 answer
57 views

What would you call the cable connection on a Race Face Aeffect R dropper post?

I'm very new to mountain biking, and even newer to bike maintenance. Appreciate your time on a question that I'm sure is simple; I just can't find the right words to Google it. I have a fairly nice ...
5 votes
1 answer
72 views

Bike cable tension not consistent when shifting up as compared to down

I'm trying to fix an issue on a (somewhat cheap) newer bike and it's giving me a bit of a run around. The issue is that when shifting up and down, the alignment is off. Normally, I could easily fix ...
8 votes
6 answers
655 views

Is there anything I can do with extra brake cable?

I'm changing my brake cables and I'm just thinking that it's such a big waste of cable since I only need a tiny bit and the cables are two meters long. Is there any way they can be used or anything? ...
0 votes
1 answer
198 views

Shimano 105 R5800 - Noise on largest cog?

Today, I had a weird problem with my road bike's rear derailleur. During an event (which was a 2-hour climb up an Alpine summit), I got a noise when riding in the smallest gear. It has a R5800 105 ...
2 votes
2 answers
635 views

What is the correct cable routing for this Shimano front derailleur?

I'm working on an old (2007-ish) Specialized Hard Rock Sport, and failed to take any pictures of the cable routing before dismantling it. I don't know what kind of front derailleur I have either, it's ...
14 votes
4 answers
3k views

Disk brake cables wear out too often - can I do something?

I have bought a City Bike Elops Speed 900 a year ago. I noticed that the disk brake cables wear out way too often. It happens sometimes only after a few hundred kilometers of use. They are torn at the ...
2 votes
2 answers
239 views

Tight shifting and handlebar weird stiffness

I got my hybrid bike serviced 2 days back. Before the service, the handlebar used to turn freely, and the shifter was not stiff. I had given it because the day before something went wrong with the ...
4 votes
2 answers
834 views

What methods are being used to stop internally routed cables from touching the turning spindle?

Internally routed brake and shift cables pass through the bottom bracket (from the down tube to a chainstay), where—if they're slack—they will rest against the frame and away from the spindle, but ...
1 vote
1 answer
89 views

New shift cable damaged after clamping to shifter

I just replaced all the cables and housing on my bike and was annoyed to discover on close inspection that the front derailleur cable has sustained some damage from the cable clamp on the derailleur: ...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Shimano RD-R7000 cable cut into thread?

That gap/cut in the hollow screw of the cable mount is not supposed to be there, right? If so, is this a typical defect? The hollow screw is pressed into the derailleur body and not replaceable, so ...
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the best tool to crimp cable end caps?

What is the best tool to crimp cable end caps - especially those where access is limited, such as dropper post remotes? I have got a crimp area on my cable cutters, but it is a bit fiddly to use, is ...
5 votes
5 answers
12k views

What type of lubricant/grease is most suitable for brake and shift cables?

I bought this lube some time back when I cleaned the bearings in my rear wheel: Now I am replacing all the cables on my bike and the instructions say to use white lithium grease. While I was at the ...
3 votes
1 answer
107 views

Sourcing cable guide clamps - for multiple cables

I'm looking for a cable guide clamp (for loss of a better word), but struggling to find any suitable ones online (similar style to below). It is the component which you use to hold a brake/shift ...
1 vote
2 answers
113 views

Re-insert Gear Cable Plug / Fitting

My front derailleur wouldn't let me shift to the small chain ring, and after some investigation I located the issue to this plastic plug/fitting/thingy that seems to have popped out of the little hole ...
6 votes
1 answer
601 views

Shifter cable broke in the shifter and now the end is stuck in the shifter

So The end of my rear derailleur shifter cable is stuck in the shifter. Is it even possible to get out? See the picture below. Shifting up and down doesn't really do anything to its position. Edit: I ...
4 votes
2 answers
541 views

What do you call this brake cable? (MTB but 8mm depth)

I'm looking for the name of the cable marked "H", so that I can track down some replacements. In the photos, the one marked S1 is a Jagwire MTB brake cable, with a standard 6mm deep nipple. ...
15 votes
4 answers
4k views

What are strong methods of linking two shifter cables together?

Before you answer with "Don't." I would like to preface things by saying that I just really need a slightly longer shifter (and brake) cable but I can't find any on my local area and I don't ...
13 votes
4 answers
11k views

why change gear and brake cables?

So people say you should change cables because of stretch. But after the cables have stretched, isn't it just easier and cheaper to adjust the cable and pull it a bit tighter? Why do I need to replace ...
12 votes
6 answers
2k views

Ultegra RD-R8000 derailleur chewing up shifter cable - WTH?

I have an Ultegra RD-R8000 (GS cage) that has chewed up multiple shifter cables (Dura Ace and Jagwire) at the cable bolt. Seems that when in a high gear (11t chainring) the cable bends over the clamp ...
4 votes
1 answer
618 views

Replacing internally routed cable with no access holes

I have this 2013(ish?) Vellum Uno on which I'm trying to replace my front derailleur cable. I was unable to do the yarn trick where you tie a piece of string to the cable before pulling it out (the ...
5 votes
3 answers
336 views

Data on cable lubricant

Chain lubrication is a popular topic. Perhaps for this reason, it is possible to find data for chain friction and chain lubrication. Some of the results of the research are quite interesting. I'm ...
2 votes
1 answer
65 views

Are these devices cable quick-disconnects or adjusters?

Are the devices in the photo cable quick-disconnects or adjusters?
4 votes
3 answers
2k views

Cable routing around bottom bracket

See picture attached of a point in the rear derallier cable routing - should I put something in there to prevent rubbing (I can't fit any brake or gear housing in there - so if so what should I use?), ...
1 vote
1 answer
390 views

1 inch threadless headset with hollow cap for cable routing

Lets skip the questions about why I want to do this, but I would like to run my front brake cable through my headset. This is an older race frame with a 1 inch headset. Most headsets built for this ...
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Bike mechanic told me: Gear cable too "springy"

I bought a new groupset and I tried installing it all myself. Somewhere I must have messed up, because I could not get it to shift precisely. I took the bike to my local bike mechanic. He told me, he ...
4 votes
1 answer
642 views

Front derailleur cable touching frame?

Installing gears on my bike on my own for the first time. I pulled the front derailleur gear cable through an intended hole in the frame like so: So everything should be fine. However, looking under ...
5 votes
1 answer
751 views

Sturmey Archer AW shifter cable replacement with generic cable?

I want to replace the cable of a late 1980s AW IGH. I can buy new cable housing from just about anywhere, and cut it to size -- the end caps on the original housing are removable and I intend to re-...
14 votes
6 answers
2k views

Best drivechain for beach, seaside, coastal, winter, generally salty environment?

I live by the beach. Although I guess this is a similar problem to those who ride on salt-laden winter roads... It does take a while but, as evidenced by the endless bikes abandoned around the ...
3 votes
4 answers
3k views

How to run full length cable housing to front mech on a frame without cable stops?

I have an All-City Space Horse frame that has cable guides for full length housing where you use zip ties to secure the housing. But there are no traditional cable stops. The housing runs from the ...
5 votes
1 answer
297 views

Brake cable reach

On my 2016 Giant Defy with Shimano 105 shifters I am finding it very difficult to reduce the reach on my brake levers and they need pulling almost to the handlebar to brake. Is it possible to reduce ...
5 votes
3 answers
4k views

Cable end crimps?

I always see professional bike builds have crimped ends on the cables. I've never been able to find any tools or ends to do that, so I just wrap the ends in electrical tape to keep them from fraying. ...
1 vote
1 answer
274 views

How can I add cable tension to a Shimano 600 sidepull caliper brake on a 80s vintage road bike?

So I wanted to add cable tension to my rim brakes because I want to reduce the travel. I have small hands and don't have too much leverage on the hoods so if they actuated more easily then I would ...
7 votes
4 answers
14k views

Brake Cable Ends - Barrel and Pear Nipples

I can easily find images of these different nipples on Google, and as far as I can tell pear nipples are used on road bikes (in general) and barrel nipples are used on MTBs (in general). Barrel ...
1 vote
1 answer
46 views

front gear shifter cable sleeve, shifter to frame needs replacing, the old wire rusted inside

bought this bike 2nd hand from charity shop, front gear shifter was sticky and wouldn't shift to 3 [3+8 setup] as was already at 3. [streached?] ''bloke who brought it in said it just needs oiling'', ...
2 votes
0 answers
69 views

Road bike shifter cable breaks too often: Shimano ultegra 10 [duplicate]

My rear derailleur shifter cable just broke for the third time in two years 5000 miles/ 8000km. I was lucky this time. It broke a mile from the end of a long ride. What am I doing wrong? Are there ...
7 votes
1 answer
582 views

Gear shifting is good enough after 6 years. Does that mean I don't need to replace my cables?

My road bike gear cables have never been replaced, they are 6 years old now. The shifting at the back needs at tune up now and then, more and more frequently as time goes. But once it's done the ...
12 votes
3 answers
4k views

Why do I constantly have to re-index gears?

I've got a road bike with a high end 11 speed groupset that is about 3 years / 30,000 km old. Chain and cassette have both been replaced recently (i.e. 500 km ago). What I'm experiencing is a constant ...
2 votes
2 answers
650 views

Shifting cable maintenance/swap with internal cabling on Cube nuroad

I need some guidance on how to replace the shifting cable on a Cube nuroad with its internal cable routing. I prefer not to replace the outer cables nor to remove the hydraulic hose. The hydraulic ...
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Shifter cable ruptured near the inner end in ST-R7020 - usual defect?

Is is a shifter cable ruptured/torn near the inner end a usual defect with the ST-R7020 shifter or alike? Some words on the symptoms when this defect happened (might help others with diagnoses): ...
2 votes
3 answers
678 views

"Non-Aero" cable routing with "Aero" brake levers

Modern "Aero" brake levers, with their long bases and big hoods have some pretty significant ergonomic advantages over traditional levers. Personally though, I hate having to tear off my bar ...
-1 votes
1 answer
967 views

Apparently too much rear derailleur cable pull

I have a Deore XT RD-M761 GS medium cage derailleur on my touring bike that seems to move too much per shift. It shifts the chain on a 11-30 8-speed cassette with chainrings being 36/48 and the ...
5 votes
4 answers
1k views

Mechanical Ultegra's R8000 right-mech cable failure

On my Giant TCR Advanced SL I have mechanical ultegra R8000 groupset and every 7/8 thousands kilometers the cable constantly breaks(usually it should happens every 20 thousands kilometers). It ...
4 votes
1 answer
325 views

How should exactly the brake cable be fixed to V-brake caliper?

Regarding the V-brake calipers, where the cable is tightened with a screw: Should the cable go between the head of the screw and the washer (1), or should it go between the screw head and the body of ...