How to find the right Bike Cables AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Bike Cables
- Brake vs shift inner cable
- Shift inner cables are about 1.1 to 1.2 mm thick; brake inner cables are about 1.5 to 1.6 mm. Never swap them. Shift cable is too thin for braking loads, and brake cable won't fit shifters.
- Cable head type
- Road brake levers take a pear or mushroom-shaped head; flat-bar mountain levers take a barrel head. Campagnolo shifters need Campagnolo-compatible shift heads. The wrong head will not seat in the lever or shifter.
- Housing type
- Use compressionless (axial-strand) housing, typically 4 mm, for shifting. Use spiral-wound brake housing, typically 5 mm, for brakes. Axial shift housing can split under brake force, and spiral brake housing compresses and ruins index shifting.
- Inner cable finish
- Prefer stainless inner cables that are polished, slick or coated over plain galvanised ones. Low friction and corrosion resistance give a lighter lever feel and longer life.
- Length and fittings
- Buy housing long enough for the full run, or a kit that includes enough of it, plus the correct ferrules and end caps sized to the housing diameter. Short runs cause tight bends and friction, and missing ferrules let housing ends deform.
Brands that matter
- Shimano: OEM-grade shift and brake cables and housing, including coated options.
- SRAM: Cable and housing kits for its mechanical shifting and brakes.
- Jagwire: Widest aftermarket range of kits, housing colours and fittings.
- Campagnolo: The safest choice for Campagnolo shifters, which need specific head shapes.
- Gore: Sealed, low-friction Ride-On cable systems for poor weather.
- Alligator: Budget-to-mid aftermarket cable and housing kits.
- Yokozuna: Low-friction brake cable and compressionless brake housing.
What to avoid
- Using shift housing for brakes.
- Cutting housing with ordinary pliers, which crushes the end. Use a proper cable cutter and open the liner.
- Reusing frayed inner cables or kinked housing.
- Running cables without ferrules and end caps.
- Buying a single-head cable without checking it matches your lever type.
Questions
Do hydraulic disc brakes use cables?
No. They use hoses and fluid. Only mechanical disc and rim brakes use brake cables, though hydraulic bikes may still have shift cables.
Should I replace housing when I replace inner cables?
Usually yes, if the housing is old, kinked or gritty, because worn housing causes most of the friction.