Brake & Gear cables

Hi all,
New member, first post!!
I am in the process of rebuilding a road bike from frame up and am trying to equip it with mid range components to get a nice balance of quality at affordable prices!! I am generally sticking to Shimano Ultegra for most things.
I have reached the point of needing to get new cables for brakes and gears and was after some advice please.
I have been told by my local Specialized dealer that they use “Clarks” cables in their workshop but that if I want to install a decent set of cables to look for the Teflon coated “Shimano Dura Ace” cables. There seems to be quite a considerable difference in price with these and I was wondering if I am really going to notice the difference or if I am just paying for a gimmick/name??
Is there anything in the middle anyone can recommend?
New member, first post!!
I am in the process of rebuilding a road bike from frame up and am trying to equip it with mid range components to get a nice balance of quality at affordable prices!! I am generally sticking to Shimano Ultegra for most things.
I have reached the point of needing to get new cables for brakes and gears and was after some advice please.
I have been told by my local Specialized dealer that they use “Clarks” cables in their workshop but that if I want to install a decent set of cables to look for the Teflon coated “Shimano Dura Ace” cables. There seems to be quite a considerable difference in price with these and I was wondering if I am really going to notice the difference or if I am just paying for a gimmick/name??
Is there anything in the middle anyone can recommend?
0
Posts
they just last longer.
teflon coating is nice but does ware off in certain areas.
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
Interesting attitude from the dealer. Translation - we put cheap censored cables on bikes in the workshop because our customers are stupid. Or, translation - Clarks cables are great and we use them all the time but you look stupid so go and buy some really expensive cables!
FWIW, I think the Clarks ones are probably OK - I don't recall reading any horror stories about them on here. I replaced the gear cables on my Ribble recently - just the inners. The originals were Campag and the new ones unbranded in a poly bag. They work perfectly well but the magnet test shows they are a bit more ferrous than the originals (new ones magnetic, old not) - so probably they won't last as long. I will probably try to source Campag again next time.
I'd either get the standard Shimano ones or seek out the Gore Ride On ones which can still be found. I think gear cables are more sensitive than brake cables so maybe spend more on the former if you must.
Agreed.
Anyway - FWIW, I use Jagwire kits as well on all of the bikes (except the tandem). Very good indeed and the price is pretty good as well. Lots of pretty colours as well.
I will take a look at the Jagwire ones then.
I am building an old "Guess RB1" bike. They are about 10 years old and are from an independent shop up in Nottingham (www.rocknrollbikes.com). It got quite good reviews when they were released, all be it ten years ago!! Anyway, a friend of mine was getting rid of one so it cost me £30 and it comes with Carbon forks. When I weighed the bike with all its original components it weighed less than my current Specialized Allez triple which has a smaller frame size!! The current RB1 is retailing at £500 although the spec is not great.
I have stripped the RB1 down to its frame and bought all new components to spec it up given that the starting weight was already low. With a bit of carbon here and there and maybe even a spray job......I should have a pretty nice bike for not too much money!! My main aim is to learn how to fix and maintain bikes so I can try and avoid paying for shops to do the servicing.
Are you doing a re-build or just looking at a change of cables?
see here: viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12881002&p=17899943#p17899943
ive just bought (hopefully delievered tomorrow) a kuota Kharma frame and looking to build it up, i'll be using the wheels that are on the spesh and then ive already managed to get ultegra mechs, brakes and shifters from here/ebay along with a dura ace 7800 chainset from here, all I need is cables, bottom bracket, stem, bars and pedals, then hoping to keep the allez as a winter hack
I might do a build thread in the members bike area just for fun
good luck, I had never heard of guess but the frame looks really nice and £30 is a bargin! I paid slightly more for my frame (well my credit card did!)
So far I have got (all 10 speed spec) Ultegra Cassette, Ultegra derailleur’s, Ultegra crank set, Tiagra STI double shifters, Look pedals, Cannondale carbon seat post, carbon handlebar stem, some lightweight handlebars (cant recall make), new wheels (cant recall make) so I just need to get cables, tyres and tubes now and then I’m pretty much good ready to build.
Looking at the Schwalbe Lugano 700 tyres (black/White) to fit the look of the bike. Not sure if they are any good but the reviews seem to be mixed with no horror stories!!
Also toying with the idea of a re-spray before I start........