Source for "straw"

[def]

I've learnt from the LBS that the plastic tubing that goes around exposed inner cable to protect your frame is called "straw".

Straw is an alternative to grommets which in my experience have a finite life and do not do as good a job of protecting the frame.

The problem is sourcing it. I thought a bike shop would have it on a roll and cut off what is needed but no, they don't have it and don't know where to get.

Anyone have any ideas?

[uart]

Plastic tubing like that is used a lot in electrical and electronics work, usually to insulate exposed wires. In the electrical trade it's often referred to as "spaghetti". I'm not totally sure if it's the same stuff used on bikes, but you could definitely give it a try.

These links are just the first ones that came up on google as an example of what it looks like. I usually get stuff like this from Jaycar.
http://www.awcwire.com/producttoc.aspx? ... tti-tubing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.baxters.com.au/products/elec ... x-25m.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RonK]

Get some heatshrink from Jaycar.

[Tim]

Here ya go;

http://www.this link is broken/transfil-gear-c ... proof-kit/


It's actually meant for waterproofing exposed sections of cable but will do the job for you.
Cheap too.

[def]

Here ya go;

http://www.this link is broken/transfil-gear-c ... proof-kit/


It's actually meant for waterproofing exposed sections of cable but will do the job for you.
Cheap too.

Thanks Tim, that looks like the go. I feel like an idiot now for not finding it myself...

I did find these guys not far from me though:
http://www.westatehose.com.au/products- ... on-tubing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Their 4mm or 1/8" tubing will do the job as well. Don't know if they sell directly to public though. And I don't really need 100m.

[ValleyForge]

I swapped all my Shimano cable out a few years ago for Gore "Ride-On" cables which use a separate PTFE sheath over the whole length of the cable. Nice, especially when I was living in the UK with the crap weather, but a bit of overkill here. The spare sheath has been hugely useful for the FD cable run under & through BBs.

[uart]

Get some heatshrink from Jaycar.

No, not heatshrink Ron! Just plain (non heatshrink) sleeving - usually just called sleeving or spaghetti.

A lot of people confuse these two things. Normal PVC (or PTFE) sleeving does not shrink when heated and is much less costly than heatshrink. You only use heatshrink where you want to be able to shrink it to make a tight fit over a joint, something that you don't want on a bike cable.