Which cables?

joestella28
joestella28 Posts: 165
edited February 2013 in Road buying advice
Hi all,

I'm about to build up my new frame and as such will be needing to buy a new cable set. Is there much difference between the various brands etc? Jagwire seems to be the go to brand, are the racer versions really worth double the standard Jagwire kits offered on ebay?

Thanks,

Joe

Comments

  • schweiz
    schweiz Posts: 1,644
    Although I have a racer kit on the BMC and there's one at home ready to go on the VN after we're done with winter, I'm not sure that the teflon coated cables are worth double the price of stainless steel cables. For one thing, the teflon has come off where the cable goes through the end cap on the outer so it's just a standard stainless cable at the point where the friction is highest! Make sure that you're not buying the cheapest galvanised cables though. They are a quarter of the price of stainless cables but for quid or so difference, IMHO, you should go for stainless.
    VN BMC Cube SS
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/30000
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Quality of outers does help with feel and provides a better stopping power as they do not flex as much
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • schweiz
    schweiz Posts: 1,644
    smidsy wrote:
    Quality of outers does help with feel and provides a better stopping power as they do not flex as much

    I agree but looking at the jagwire website, there only appears to be one type of outer available in either the shop rolls or the diy kits (Racer and Hyper). Hyper kits are standard stainless cables but only available as brake or derailleur so end up being more expensive than the Racer which has teflon coated stainless cables.

    The cheaper kits on ebay look to be people who have made kits up themselves from shop rolls of outer and shop packets of cables. Some offer stainless cables, some offer galvanised cables. You just have to be sure that you are buying what you think you are buying!
    VN BMC Cube SS
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/30000
  • joestella28
    joestella28 Posts: 165
    What decent alternatives are there to Jagwire? In my opinion 25 quid is a bit rich for a set of cables, how do the likes of clarks compare?

    Thanks,

    Joe
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Buy the bits a pieces you need from ebay sellers - you will get a set of Jagwire cables for less than £25

    http://stores.ebay.co.uk/starcyclespares

Categories