Bike speed cable Black Friday: deals

Recognising a gear cable

The gear cable is thinner, around 1.1 to 1.2 mm, compared to 1.5 to 1.6 mm for a brake cable, and ends with a small cylindrical head. Its casing, 4 mm in diameter, is referred to as having longitudinal strands, incompressible, for precise gear changes, whereas a brake casing, which is thicker, is spiral. Cables designed for Shimano are also suitable for Sram shifters; Campagnolo Ergopower shifters require their own cables, like the stainless steel cables from the brand offered here for £25.

When to replace cables and casings?

Poorly shifting gears, a lever that returns slowly, or a frayed cable at the shifter indicates it's time for a change. In the city, rain, salt, and outdoor parking quickly dirty the casings: replace them with the cable, otherwise the new cable rubs against a worn casing. After a few rides, casings and ends compress and tension decreases; an adjustment knob on the derailleur or inserted into the casing allows you to reset it without tools.

What else is included in the listing?

The listing mixes gear cables with electric cables, for charging a Di2 battery or diagnosing an electric bike, a telescopic seat post cable, and a bike rack cable: read the designation before choosing. A new cable is a good opportunity to check the rest of the drivetrain, including rear derailleurs on Black Friday, city bike chains from the promotion, and cassettes on Black Friday. Throughout the year, city cranks complete the service, and urban drivetrain on Black Friday brings together all the parts. For the rest, keep an eye on the clearance and the new arrivals.

Which cable brands are available during the promotion?

Shimano manufactures its Optislick cables from stainless steel covered with a polymer coating applied by electrolysis, which reduces friction; its Polymer cables, higher-end, aim for the fastest gear shifts possible.

Jagwire brings together in its 2X Elite kits, designed for a bike with front and rear derailleurs, polished stainless steel cables without coating, hence without a layer that wears away.

Sram offers its 4 mm gear casing in a 30-metre roll and its ends by the hundred, workshop formats.

XLC combines in the SH-X04 kit cable, casing, and accessories to replace a derailleur control in one go.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Black Friday sale on gear cables take place?

The event gets its name from a Friday, the one after Thanksgiving. However, the discounts from Vélo-Store on cables, casings, and kits on this page run from the start to the end of November.

Can the old casing be kept with a new cable?

Only if it's recent and clean. Bent or dirty, it hinders the new cable and nullifies much of the gain.

Why does a new cable stretch?

Because the casings and their ends settle in during the first uses. Adjust the tension using the adjustment knob; so-called pre-stretched cables limit this phenomenon.

What length of cable should be chosen?

A rear derailleur cable is generally sold in 2,100 mm or more, which is enough for most bikes; a cargo bike may require more. The excess can be cut off with pliers.

How to read a discount on cables sold in bulk?

Relate the crossed-out price and the displayed unit price: a lot of 20, 50, or 100 cables cannot be compared to a single cable. For equal quantities, check the length, material, coating, and what is included in a kit, including casing and ends or not.