Bulk gear cables/ou...
 

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[Closed] Bulk gear cables/outers - Fibrax or Clark?

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Looking to buy a bulk box of gear cables and outers.

I need to service the fleet and also need them for when I teach my maintenance courses (once I can get an assessment - flippin' lockdown....).

Can't decide between the Fibrax or Clark Stainless cables and SP4 outers.
Haven't used the Fibrax cables or outers but led to believe they're really decent.

Looking around £140 for the Fibrax cables & outer (from Fibrax) and £100 for the Clarks (Cycle Basket).

Are the Fibrax cables/outers worth the extra over the Clarks?
Or are there any other alternatives?


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 6:17 pm
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Which Fibrax? They have various models. The better ones are easily a match for Shimano SP41.


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 6:35 pm
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Just the standard stainless.


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 6:37 pm
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I've been using clarks stainless for years in my bikes, in SP40 shimano outers with the sealed ends wherever poss. Generally the inners last the life of the bike, because I am a tart 🙂 They're more than good enough.


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 6:43 pm
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If the fibrax ones are die drawn/polished it may be worth the extra if the Clarks are not.


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 9:19 pm
 mboy
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Just the standard stainless.

Noooooo

I cannot stress this enough... Cable quality is more important than the groupset you choose! Scrimping on cables is the falsest of economies, especially when decent cables are (relatively speaking) still pretty cheap...

Die drawn stainless 1.1mm is a minimum requirement to go on any of my bikes. 1.1mm isn't strictly necessary for Shimano setups (but it doesn't hurt), but you NEED 1.1mm for anything SRAM otherwise it'll feel like a bag of shit!

Sealed SP41 (or equivalent) outers too, and decent ferrules.

Why do you need 100 anyway? I've still got several dozen left as when I closed my shop 18 months ago, I'd not long bought a new box of inners...


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 9:50 pm
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alexnharvey
If the fibrax ones are die drawn/polished it may be worth the extra if the Clarks are not.

No, not die drawn slick - just the standard stainless cables.
Die drawn are £164.


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 9:52 pm
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Fibrax make cables for Clark so the stainless ones are the same ...made in Wales not a sweatshop in China so there my go too for Cables etc


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 11:29 pm
 Aidy
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Clarks normal stainless has been fine for me


 
Posted : 26/01/2021 11:37 pm
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mboy
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I cannot stress this enough… Cable quality is more important than the groupset you choose! Scrimping on cables is the falsest of economies, especially when decent cables are (relatively speaking) still pretty cheap…

Die drawn stainless 1.1mm is a minimum requirement to go on any of my bikes. 1.1mm isn’t strictly necessary for Shimano setups (but it doesn’t hurt), but you NEED 1.1mm for anything SRAM otherwise it’ll feel like a bag of shit!

Are the Clarks cheap stainless ones die drawn and 1.1mm? Because they work great in all my bikes, SRAM and Shimano equally well.


 
Posted : 27/01/2021 2:18 am
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made in Wales not a sweatshop in China so there my go too for Cables etc

That's good to know.

I assume thier outers are not made in UK?


 
Posted : 27/01/2021 7:50 am
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We use Fibrax at work, pretty sure their outers are made in the UK.

We get ours from Ison (outer & inner) for a lot less than that (trade).


 
Posted : 27/01/2021 8:30 am
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Buy fewer and get the die drawn ones.
How do they come? Could it be more economic to buy 100 polished inners and a roll of outer?


 
Posted : 27/01/2021 8:45 am
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The Die Drawn 1.1mm Slick cables are £2.08 each direct from Fibrax.
Yeah I could probably get those and buy less - will probably take me ages to get through 100 even with servicing and maintenance courses.


 
Posted : 27/01/2021 9:58 am

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