Ultegra Brake and Cable Replace/Install

[lb121]

Hi All,

Need to purchase and have installed a new set of Brake and Gear cables for my Giant TCR Advanced which is running full Ultegra.

Unfortunately my preferred LBS(Stanmore Cycles) has closed down and I'm now forced to look elsewhere to have my servicing needs met. I visited another LBS who quoted me $240 to purchase and install the cables which I feel is a bit excessive considering I can purchase the cables locally for $80 all up.

What are your thoughts on this price?

What would your LBS charge?

Can you suggest an LBS around the inner west?

Regards,
Lachlan

[macca33]

Honestly, if you are baulking at the cost, then it may be best that you learn to perform the replacement yourself (plenty of instructional manuals / videos on the net)- it is not overly difficult if you take your time and measure twice - cut once.

As for the LBS quote, there would be at least a couple of hours in doing the changeover - bar tapes, etc, etc; so that and the addition of new cables, tuning the bike, etc would mean that $240 is not overly excessive.

cheers

[rkelsen]

$80 for brake cables? I hope you're not serious?

I'm still using some that I purchased for $4 each back in 2009.

Look on Ebay, buy the cheapest you can find and install them yourself. It's an easy job.

$240 is sheer lunacy.

[ball bearing]

Get yourself some quality cable cutters:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Park-Tool-CN ... 460c12e778" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Changing the cables is routine maintenance and very easy.

[Saturnstarzz]

Ball bearings right but this will help you if you want to have a crack yourself. Torque wrench might be handy to have .

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techd ... 605105.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lb121]

Think I will end up doing it myself it will be a good learning experience. I've been told the latest version of ultegra requires a special gear and brake cable due to the under bar integrated brifters having higher friction which is why the cables are so expensive.

[TDC]

Think I will end up doing it myself it will be a good learning experience. I've been told the latest version of ultegra requires a special gear and brake cable due to the under bar integrated brifters having higher friction which is why the cables are so expensive.

Bollocks. Cables have been routed under bar tape for years without the need for space age cables. I relalced the FD cable on Ultegra 6700 with a standard 1.2 mm gear cable and the performance was the same as before.

[biker jk]

Think I will end up doing it myself it will be a good learning experience. I've been told the latest version of ultegra requires a special gear and brake cable due to the under bar integrated brifters having higher friction which is why the cables are so expensive.

I have one Ultegra bike which uses the PTFE coated Shimano cables. On the other Ultegra bike I used Jagwire cables. There is NO difference in shifting between the two bikes. One piece of advice is to make sure that you don't have too tight a bend in the gear cable outers routed under the bar tape. You have the option of routing behind or in front of the bar so choose the route which produced the smaller bend.

[lb121]

Bollocks. Cables have been routed under bar tape for years without the need for space age cables. I relalced the FD cable on Ultegra 6700 with a standard 1.2 mm gear cable and the performance was the same as before.

Thank you for this confirmation the LBS I visited today insisted that I must use the PTFE cables sets otherwise shifting and braking will suffer, will be ordering some jagwire and doing myself over the weekend.

[outnabike]

Hi lb121,
This mob has some cheap stuff that may suite you.
http://cyclingdeal.rtrk.com.au/?scid=14 ... 2262021944" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lb121]

Thanks for the replies everyone much appreciated.

[__PG__]

Pedro's cable cutters are also recommended.