{"id":37177,"date":"2022-05-24T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=639423"},"modified":"2022-05-24T17:14:33","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T15:14:33","slug":"buyers-guide-to-bike-brake-and-gear-cables-whats-the-difference-between-road-and-mountain-bike-cables","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/buyers-guide-to-bike-brake-and-gear-cables-whats-the-difference-between-road-and-mountain-bike-cables\/","title":{"rendered":"Buyer\u2019s guide to bike brake and gear cables | What\u2019s the difference between road and mountain bike cables?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Paul Norman\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 24 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Most of us don\u2019t think about the cables that connect our bike\u2019s controls to their derailleurs and brakes until they stop working well or break. However, they play a critical role in ensuring your bike runs, stops and shifts smoothly.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll cover: how brake and gear cables work; what the differences between the two are; how road and mountain bike cables differ; and why investing in high-quality cables is worth it.<\/p>\n

Of course, if you\u2019ve got hydraulic disc brakes<\/a> and electronic shifting<\/a>, you can be smug and move on, but for the majority of bike riders, wire cables are part-and-parcel of the riding experience.<\/p>\n

How do bike brake and gear cables work?<\/h2>\n
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Brake and gear cables pass through sleeves and then along the outside or inside of a bike frame.<\/span><\/figcaption> Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Brake and gear cables are a form of Bowden cable.<\/p>\n

They comprise an inner cable made of twisted steel wire that runs through an outer sleeve from your bike\u2019s control levers on the bar to the brakes or derailleurs.<\/p>\n

There may be parts of the inner cables that are unprotected by the outers, particularly for gear cables, with the outers finishing in \u2018stops\u2019 attached to the frame. Many cables now also route through outers that run their full length internally through the frame.<\/p>\n

The inner cable is anchored at both ends. Pull on the bike\u2019s brake levers or push the gear shifters and the inner cable is pulled through the outer cable, which in turn operates the brake caliper or derailleur.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a spring in the operated device \u2013 whether that\u2019s a brake caliper or derailleur \u2013 that moves it back when the cable tension is released.<\/p>\n

Brake cables vs. gear cables \u2013 what\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n
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The functions of brake and gear cables are distinct.<\/span><\/figcaption> Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The jobs done by brake cables and gear cables are different, so they\u2019re built differently.<\/p>\n

Your brake needs to work without risk of failure and to transmit significant force to the brake caliper, so the inner cable is built thicker than a gear cable.<\/p>\n

You can afford to have a bit of compression in the outer without it affecting braking performance significantly but it\u2019s very important that it doesn\u2019t split lengthways, so the metal wire in it is usually helically wound.<\/p>\n

Modern bike gears are usually indexed, where one click of the shifter moves the rear derailleur one sprocket or shifts the front derailleur between chainrings. There\u2019s less force applied, so the cables can be thinner, but the movements of the cable need to be precise.<\/p>\n

To accomplish this, gear cable outers are constructed differently from brake cables, with a bundle of individual wires wound over a long length to make the cable outer more or less compressionless.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also usually a plastic inner lining to help reduce friction between the inner and outer cables.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t mix and match gear cables and brake cables \u2013 you need the right set of inners and outers for each job.<\/p>\n

Using gear cables for brake cables is exceptionally dangerous and you should never do it. You run the risk of them snapping at the worst possible moment, with potentially very serious consequences.<\/p>\n

Road vs. mountain bike gear and brake cables<\/h2>\n
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There are subtle but key differences between shifter and brake cables. There are also differences between brands and disciplines.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Differences go beyond cable thickness too.<\/p>\n

At the derailleur or brake end, both brake and gear cables have \u2018raw\u2019 ends that are fixed by a clamp.<\/p>\n

At the lever end, though, they have differently shaped nipples \u2013 the lumps of permanently affixed metal that hold them in the levers \u2013 again making them non-interchangeable.<\/p>\n

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Ensuring you use the right cable is key to ensuring your bike\u2019s shifters or brakes work as intended.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jagwire<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The shape of these nipples is different between mountain bike (cylindrical) and road bike (pear-shaped) brake cables.<\/p>\n

There are also slight differences between the standards used by Shimano and Campagnolo for both gear and brake cables for road bikes.<\/p>\n

Why high-quality bike cables matter<\/h2>\n
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Brake cables in particular are under an enormous amount of strain.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jagwire<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Both brake and gear cables have to withstand a lot of stress.<\/p>\n

On road bikes, under-bar tape cabling means they have to move through tight turns. There are also bends at the derailleur end of cables on all types of bike. Internal routing only complicates the issue.<\/p>\n

Gear cables are wound through particularly tight curves within the shifters too, which means there\u2019s a lot of potential for wear.<\/p>\n

Brake cables normally have an easier time of it because their runs are straighter, but there\u2019s much more force travelling through them.<\/p>\n

In both cases, you really don\u2019t want your cables to fail.<\/p>\n

A snapped derailleur cable will mean a long ride home in a single gear. The effects of a broken brake cable could be much more serious.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good idea to check your cables regularly for wear or fraying and replace them if you see any damage.<\/p>\n

Pay particular attention to gear cables inside the shifter bodies because that\u2019s where they usually break.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s well worth investing in a high-end cable kit.<\/span><\/figcaption> Alex Evans<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Is it worth buying expensive brake and gear cables?<\/h2>\n

Generally speaking, more expensive bike brake and gear cables will feature polished inners, higher-quality outers and, potentially, better sealing from the elements. This should help ensure your brakes and gears work smoothly and predictably for longer.<\/p>\n

Below is a selection of high-end brake and gear cable options from the three big mainstream groupset manufacturers, and some third-party options.<\/p>\n

Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 road gear cable set<\/h3>\n

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