Hi, I've got a couple vintage road bikes with this type of shift cable housing. I believe it's stainless steel, and at least on one bike I kind of want to keep it because it esthetically matches with all the other shiny silver components (Aluminum, chrome, stainless.)
Just wondering if there would be any real advantage to switching to newer cable housing? I know modern cable housing has a plastic liner, but I'm not sure about this stuff? These are old friction-shifter bikes, indexing isn't a concern.
by gregn8r1
7 Comments
You could.
The function will be better with modern stuff.
Yes, but technology has moved on a lot and the modern stuff is lower friction and has a protective coating to stop any corrosion or rusting etc.
If you’ve got friction shifters then it doesn’t really matter what you use.
Definitely keep it. Looks really cool, classic, and will work as long as it’s not rusted.
Can you or should you are not the same thing…
Can you? Yes, of course you can. Should you? Why do you have to?
Yeah looks cool
You should really replace it. There are modern versions with the same look:
https://velo-orange.com/products/classic-stainless-braided-kit-brake