What cables for my best bike?

barrybaines

Just building up my new full carbon Argon 18 Krypton and have everything sorted except I would like to buy some decent cables (brake and gear) I had initially thought about the Nokon jobbies but after a bit of research seem to find a very mixed review on them! And at the price they want for them I'd rather not run the risk of being one of the people that don't get on with them.
So my question to you all is what would you reccomend? (bearing in mind I was gonna spend around £80) And where can I find what you do reccomend?

Regards
Barry

giant_man

Gore Ride-On cables are reputed, as are Jagwire.

Wappygixer

what brake levers are you going to be using?

barrybaines

Sorry forgot about that, I have Ultegra SL groupset.
Have just been reading a bit about flying snake cables made by Transfil anyone got any experience of these?

Wappygixer

A couple of guys at work don't rate Nokon cables.

I think that Shimano make a decent cable at the top end, not to well sealed but as its your best bike wont be out in winter?

Also as its says above Gore cable have a good reputation.

barrybaines

It may find some bad weather at times so would definatley prefer some sealed cables, just for peace of mind if nothing else. As the bike may be sat around for long periods in between use.

andyrr

Flying Snake cables - lightweight nice carbon/kevlar outers.

alfablue

I use Transfil Mudlovers, which are superb, completely sealed and maintenance free. From what I can tell the Flying Snakes are just lighter more bling versions of the same idea, so based on my experience I reckon they are probably the best cable you can get taking price, looks and function into account.

Anonymous

Another vote for Gore Ride-On...

robbarker

You're best off using bog standard Shimano cable, use the four-ring sealed endcaps on the gear cables, and change them regularly. You can get cable in bulk from Parker International, amongst others, and it's the most economical way of keeping your bike running sweetly in the long term.

maddog 2

+1 Gore Ride Ons

Chip \'oyler

What's wrong with Nokons?

juankerr

Flying Snakes are very popular with the MTB crew for keeping out the trail crap so I'm sure they would do fine on a road bike. Plus, they are lighter than regular cables and look good.

James_London

The Gore Ride-Ons are excellent and keep most of the muck out. The completely sealed version is overkill for a road bike though maybe worth using on a cross bike.

I've used the Transfil Nox Snakes and liked them but not a big difference to stock Campagnolo cables.

robbarker

Chip \'oyler wrote:

What's wrong with Nokons?

The £50 rrp?

Genuine Shimano gear cables are less than £5 per pair if you buy in bulk - by which I mean inners individually and outers on 10m rolls.

ugo.santalucia

barrybaines wrote:

Just building up my new full carbon Argon 18 Krypton and have everything sorted except I would like to buy some decent cables (brake and gear) I had initially thought about the Nokon jobbies but after a bit of research seem to find a very mixed review on them! And at the price they want for them I'd rather not run the risk of being one of the people that don't get on with them.
So my question to you all is what would you reccomend? (bearing in mind I was gonna spend around £80) And where can I find what you do reccomend?

Regards
Barry

80 pounds for the cables? You must be completely mad... I would feel robbed if asked to pay 8 pounds.

I am also surprised there is someone so bored as to write a review for a set of cables... I couldn't find more than two words to desrcibe my cables: "they work"

synchronicity

Obviously you've never tried anything but bog standard cables and housings then. Some housing does work better than others. Most of it is the same. Even flying snake outers use a traditional steel core (I don't think a few kevlar wraps does anything performance wise).

ugo.santalucia

synchronicity wrote:

Obviously you've never tried anything but bog standard cables and housings then. Some housing does work better than others. Most of it is the same. Even flying snake outers use a traditional steel core (I don't think a few kevlar wraps does anything performance wise).

I don't know... I think my cables and hosing are the same used by Ballan to win the World CHampionship... if they're good enough for him...

synchronicity

Classic reply.
So what happens when all the pros start using my own brand of housing eh? :idea:

(and before you start, I'm actually still using a square-taper bottom bracked with 1" fork on my best road bike )

alfablue

Whilst the Pro riders might use cable x or cable y, I don't have a full time mechanic to fettle my bike (and probably re-cable) at the end of a ride, and I ride in all sorts of mucky conditions day after day with little time for cleaning cables. That's why, for me, fully sealed cables (Transfil Mudlovers) have been fantastic, and have been entirely smooth and maintenance free for 2 years+ and will probably go on for a lot longer. Given the relatively low price they actually work out cheaper than replacing conventional cable sets more frequently.

ugo.santalucia

synchronicity wrote:

Classic reply.
So what happens when all the pros start using my own brand of housing eh? :idea:

(and before you start, I'm actually still using a square-taper bottom bracked with 1" fork on my best road bike )

You would be surprised by how standard a PRO bike actually is... no ridicolous carbon brakes, no ridicolously light wheels that fall apart if you hit a pothole, and no expensive cables and housing, I'm afraid.. .standard Shimano or Campagnolo parts

fossyant

synchronicity wrote:

Classic reply.(and before you start, I'm actually still using a square-taper bottom bracked with 1" fork on my best road bike )

Snap !!!

Shimano or Campag - higher end quality and you are laughing....and it's not expensive....

barrybaines

Well I have ordered the flying snakes, thanks for some of your input. And I know standard stuff is fine but as I said I fancied some fancy ones for my best bike. Initially liked the idea of being able to fold the NOKONS but reviews didn't add up to the heavy price tag.
The Flying snakes are relatively well priced for watertight units and look very nice (I'm a tart, so what!)
If they are crap then I will go back to standard issue and advise all that I have spunked my money on an un-needed modification 8)

ride_whenever

Flying snakes are very very good. But I doubt you really need them on your best road bike. They're best suited to bikes that are abused, like winter hacks and mtbs.