Cabling

Mettan

Has anyone ever had any gear cabling snap during a ride? - how unlikely is this?- reason I ask, in in relation to Sportives next year, and trying to cover all eventualities before-hand - happy with potential tyre/tube and eventually chain issues - not sure about cabling though.

Smokin Joe

Not yet touch wood, but it does happen, usually the nipple breaking off at the shifter. I have never carried a spare but on a long event it wouldn't take up much room if you wanted to play safe.

maddog 2

it's pretty rare. I've had one go when touring but that was after 500 miles off road :shock:

just take one gear cable. This can double up as a brake cable on most brake systems, so you cover both situations.

tatanab

Extremely unusual assuming everything is assembled well.

In 40+ years of riding I have only seen one cable break. That was a gear cable and the break was caused by a rough edge on a guide under the bottom bracket. Not on one of my machines I hasten to add.

Even if a cable did break you can always screw the gear down a couple of cogs and you still have the front changer. If the front snaps, then again you can use the limit scews to line it up the best and just ride on one ring. I note that you specify "what if a gear cable breaks", if it is a brake cable that breaks then I would make sure the front one is connected and forget the rear.

When on tour I carry a spare brake cable and gear cable (long on of each).

Mettan

Thanks guys - the area I noticed was on both the front and rear deraileur were the cable clamps under the nut - it's slightly splayed out/worn at this point - admitedly it doesn't look terribly worn, but would just be concerned if this were to snap at this point during a sportive.