Replace worn gear cables to prevent damage to shift lever

The modern dual control lever – be it an STI unit from Shimano, a DoubleTap offering from SRAM, or any of Campagnolo’s beautifully-fashioned Ultra Shift offerings – is a complex mechanism. Allowing a worn cable to remain in situ to a point where its operation places excessive stress on the mechanism is a false economy. Only one thing is worse.

A cable that snaps while in the lever housing can be a nightmare to remove, and likely to require the services of a professional mechanic. Partial or complete disassembly is typically required, and on the rare occasions where it’s possible to retrieve the remains of the cable while the lever is in a complete state, the procedure is still lengthy.

The diminished performance of a worn cable is obvious, says Andy. The additional pressure required to make a shift should be a clear sign that replacement is due. Ignore these signs at your peril. Replace the cable if you’re confident of doing so, or seek the services of your local bike shop.