 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Imagine the scene, you are out on the trail, your gear cable breaks, and you thank your lucky stars that you always have a spare cable in your rucksack. Except in this case you are sent royally up the creek as the cable you hurridly ordered and hurridly stuffed into your rucksack has a blinking nipple on both ends. Did you bring cable snips too?
They say look before you leap and here I really had my eyes wide shut, how I wish I had looked at this cable more carefully before ordering. Ins my defence, I didn't expect to have too, I assumed all cables came with one end soldered. Heed my warning, don't assume anything, it makes an ass of you and me (mostly me)..
Thankfully this scenario didn't happen to me, but I still had a bitch of a time in the workshop threading mr rapidly fraying end through my full length cable outers.
What idiot thought this was a good idea? Both nipples are identical, surely it must be more expensive to put a nipple on rather than a tiny bit of solder to make a decent end. More money for an inferior product. GRRRRRRR [img] 
[/img]
I think you use one end for the left gear shifter and the other for the right?
I though of this, but not long enough (not on my bike) and it says on the packet [b]rear wire[/b], but still the invention of soldered ends has to be the greatest thing ever, no? Why change it. Even a perfectly well cut end is likely to fray (I managed to thread it but I am awesome), mucho annoyed..
so it's one really long wire with a nipple on either end? what would it take to snip this in the factory or is it that this was a second's product that skipped QC at the factory?
I've used the "Universal Brake Cable". That comes with a nipple at each end too, but that's one road, one MTB so makes more sense 🙂
the cable is 2275mm long? thats enough for rear and front mechs on some bikes. measure the length of cable you need, using the old one as a rough length.
the leftover bit can be use for the front mech
erm, if my gear cable broke when i was on the trail i'd just cycle home in whichever gear it left me in. i'm sure i'd survive.
I had this also, but fortunately I was carrying a very robust Park tools cable cutter - i use it to remove *illegal* fences/dangerous semi buried wire while out on rides... it happens loads at my local ride spots.
And to preempt the geeks, I'm well aware of the weight penalty for carrying the cutter, but as I am a big strong boy & not racing professionally I don't regard it as a problem. HTH
measure the length of cable you need, using the old one as a rough length.the leftover bit can be use for the front mech
this is assuming you have the snips and ferrule to cut and seal said wire on the trial!
PJ201> what you need my friend is a SingleSpeed - do it, do it NOW! in 6months time you will be taller, broader shouldered and your nob will be red raw from shagging!! 😉
the leftover bit can be use for the front mech
No it can't, it's not long enough - HTH
no there is no trial,
yes I have a small leatherman when ever I go on the trail
[i]this is assuming you have the snips and ferrule to cut and seal said wire on the trial! [/i]
cut it to length before you go.
I put a dab of superglue on the cut ends if I can't be bothered to heat the soldering iron up and do it properly.
Soldered ends went out when the stainless cables arrived....solder simply will not wet it.
Most gear cables I have seen in the last 15 years have been welded at the end so it flows through the outer nicely, then needing the alloy cap to be crimped on after cutting, after installation.
This idea of one long cable with 2 nipples will not be adopted in my cave or rucsac.
PaulD
PaulD thanks for the tech updated, please forgive me for my misuse of jargon. I too want an end that is fixed in some way to prefent fraying during installation, soldered or welded either would keep me happy..
If my gear cable broke out on the trail I would use the limit screws to put it in the middle and continue my ride as either a 2 speed or 9 speed bike ( 2x9 setup)
In decades of riding I have broken a gear cable once when riding.
Teej, it was a hypothetical situation, it never happeneded, my point is a cable with two identical nipples is dumb no?
Anyway in two decades of riding I have broken cables at least three times, mostly DH, but a cable is so light I've been able to fix every time, how lovely. 🙂
My last gear packet had two inners, of different lengths (obviously F&R). Imagine taking the front without checking!
I'm just guessing here as they aren't the clarks cables we stock but I would have thought one end with be a shimano sized and the other will be Campag (although the normal clarks cables we have in the workshop actually fit both despite being labelled as shimano). A bit like the universal brake cable mentioned above, but less obvious what the difference is
Matt
Are you sure both end are the same?
Gore cables come like this one end for Shimano/Sram the other for Campag, the difference in size is 0.5mm!
TBH I don't have a problem with this why not decrease the SKU count to decrease costs?
If the ends are fraying after you've cut them you need better cable cutters!
erm, if my gear cable broke when i was on the trail i'd just cycle home in whichever gear it left me in. i'm sure i'd survive.
The rear mech would move you to the lowest gear? A derailleur relies on tension ...
Rapid Rise or not?