I know in this age of electronic shifting the humble cable is on the way out but what's your winning setup for smooth, crisp, faultless shifting?
Been using Shimano SP41 outer and Optislick inners with my SRAM Eagle setup for a couple of years but the mechanic in our LBS recently told me that SRAM inners are slightly thinner (1.1mm - something I wasn't aware of) and he personally uses SP41 outer with Clarks or SRAM 1.1mm inners, always with aluminium end caps.
I've also seen a lot of recommendations for Yokozuna shift kits which are SRAM / Shimano compatible but only come with 1.2mm inners.
Would be interested to know what others are using.
Why would you use SRAM cables @1.1 in an outer that's designed for 1.2mm. SP41 and optislick all the way for me.
I used to like those Goretex cables. Crazy expensive but very smooth.
Yep, full length SP41 and opti-slick here, shifting on multiple bikes is flawless, quick and entirely maintenance free despite the winter conditions. Makes me question why I would bother with electric (but then I don't run full suss).
I imagine the recommendation for 1.1mm inners is to reduce drag even more?
I don't have any issues using SP41 and Shimano inners. That's on MTB, road and gravel.
I used to like those Goretex cables. Crazy expensive but very smooth.
Yeah, I had the Gore cable setup for a decade, the ones with extra-thin cable, full-length sleeve, and then the outers. But they're no longer available, and recabling my old hardtail a couple of months back I wasn't sure what to use instead. So I just set up Shimano SP41 cable/ inner, run that til it gets gunky and then look at alternatives
I know in this age of electronic shifting the humble cable is on the way out
Not on my watch it's not.
SP41 for me, usually with Jagwire or Clarks inners and plastic end caps.
And a dob of that Cable Magic stuff.
Not the "ultimate" but tends to work well enough.
I've given this serious consideration in the past and may even have had a thread or two on it.
The original Gore stuff was amazing, then it disappeared and relaunched a few years later but that seemed to delaminate really badly and then it vanished again.
Shimano PTFE is great at first, but starts to gym up fairly quickly.
Optislick is a really good compromise between slick and durable.
However, I've just gone with a workshop box of 100 stainless Shimano cables. My thinking is that they may not be as smooth as optislick on day one, but after a while, there's no real difference. Then, I can afford to fit new cables much more often so day one stainless always feels better than midlife optislick.
Also got a roll of SP41 housing to go with it.
By the time I get through all that, I'm pretty sure all my bikes will be wireless.
Shimano SP41 with sram 1.1 inner cable.
I prefer the genuine Shimano ends caps with the little seal inside them for keeping the crap out at the mech end.
Some great responses so far.
Regarding the Shimano outer / 1.1mm inner thing, I was told;
1. SP41 is the best bang-for-buck outer (I pay something like 3 euros for a full run). It comes pre-treated with one of the best cable lubes and any differences in friction compared to more expensive stuff would be imperceptible to the Average Joe rider. No need to buy anything else.
2. SRAM designed their shifters and derailleurs around 1.1mm inner cables. The instructions say to use only 1.1mm cables. 1.2mm cables are 9% bigger diameter. Even thought they technically work with SRAM, the worry is that some friction may be added at the shifter and / or derailleur. I have no way to verify this though.
3. 1.1mm inners work with SP41 because you are potentially removing even less friction (looser fit inside the outer).
4. Downside - using a 1.1mm inner in SP41 could potentially add extra space for dirt and crud to build up in inside the outer, but if you have full outer routing (like most modern MTB frames) with sealed alu endcaps, then this isn't an issue.
A note about the metal / alu endcaps - in the past I've only ever used alu ones on the derailleur side and its only recently that I found out SRAM say to use one at both ends.
The SP41 end caps are sealed as well so there shouldn't be any difference?
I use the end caps with the noodle as it protects the cable as it goes through the ferrule on the derailleur, which is likely to get filled with water and mud so makes sense to keep the cable covered at least until it's out in the open where contaminants have a chance of being washed off.
However, I've just gone with a workshop box of 100 stainless Shimano cables. My thinking is that they may not be as smooth as optislick on day one, but after a while, there's no real difference. Then, I can afford to fit new cables much more often so day one stainless always feels better than midlife optislick.
That's my solution, I figure that what kills cables in UK conditions is contamination, not lack of lubricant. If possible fit a sacrificial ~6" length of outer at the derailleur end and change that and the cable as soon as shifting feels less than perfect.
Having said that the KCNC coloured / coated wire is pretty bling and works well and lasts well. I used to use it on the road bike as the cables were visible.
Currently running a Jagwire slick inner that's got the machined smooth surface in SP41 outer bought in a boxed roll, I was wondering if the 1.1mm diameter would cause a problem but so far no issues, I use sealed alloy ferrules both ends for a bit of colour, SRAM, Jagwire, Uberbikes ones are all decent, running 12sp XTR shifter with XT mech, also XT with optislick, both lubed regularly both work great.
