Hey so I picked up a nice new CUBE attain at the weekend, looked great in the shop and is great to ride.
However when I was setting it up to go out for my first ride I (thankfully) noticed that the brake cables were set up american style.
Foolish of me for not checking in the shop I know 😀 BTW I can't be arsed with taking it back for what I think is an easy swap.
Anyway I've rode it twice and honestly don't really notice the difference.
So my question is, is it a big job to switch them? Is bar tape easy to unwrap and re-wrap?
They are tectro discs with sora shifters. I should only be out the price of 2 new cables and ferrules.
Not american - more likely to be Euro / nearly everywhere else but UK style.
So my question is, is it a big job to switch them? Is bar tape easy to unwrap and re-wrap?
Easy to unwrap but rewrap depends on whether it is adhesive backed and how well it was wrapped in the first place. Sticky back tape tends to tear itself to bits when you peel it off so best to factor in the cost of some new tape + some insulating tape to hold the cables on the bar and finish the ends. Lots of video how-to type stuff on youtube but its' not a tricky job.
I should only be out the price of 2 new cables and ferrules.
Hopefully just one new cable - you can re-use the rear for the front by snipping off the clamped/anialiated bit from the end of the rear and re-thread on the front carefully.
Fairly easy to do the re-cabling but can be tricky to set up mechanical calipers - try and find the instructions for the particular Tektro model.
Oh, you can probably get away without re-taping by cutting your brake outers just after they emerge from the tape - then using an inline adjuster and swap your off-cuts around. Assuming you're lucky and can thread the inner through the lever and straight into the outer without problem.
When I saw the thread title it reminded me of Cube road bikes. It's actually German style.
To be fair the shop should have built it correctly. I've changed dozens of them over when I was in a workshop. I'd take it back if it's a local shop.
But, if you're not a ham fisted galoot, it's a pretty easy job. Just wind the bar tape back far enough to expose wherever the cables pop out of the levers and it'll find it's way back into position easily.
If you can't work it out from there maybe it's a shop job! 😉
Edit: wow 3 replies while I was typing this. Shouldn't try to play STW on my phone
Also... Isn't it illegal to sell a complete bike in the UK with the brakes set up like that?
actually it might be an opportunity to upgrade the cable outers if they are not compressionless type. Cable discs can be fine but the cabling (and pads) make a huge difference between good and spongy.
Oh, you can probably get away without re-taping by cutting your brake outers just after they emerge from the tape – then using an inline adjuster and swap your off-cuts around.
also a good shout ^
Also… Isn’t it illegal to sell a complete bike in the UK with the brakes set up like that?
Haha yes I think it is, he must have gotten it straight from the box and set it up as is. Ok folks thanks for the advice. I could get used to it but its prob best to get it sorted.
Hopefully just one new cable – you can re-use the rear for the front by snipping off the clamped/anialiated bit from the end of the rear and re-thread on the front carefully.
Yes!!
inline adjuster and swap your off-cuts around
Unfortunately I don't understand what this means 🙂
Edit: I understand now
actually it might be an opportunity to upgrade the cable outers if they are not compressionless type
Jagwire I think, are they good?
First thing I had to do with my new gravel bike when it arrived was get the brakes swapped over. Fortunately (?) they're discs, so the bike shop was able to disconnect and reattach them without having to fully drain and bleed the lines. Still annoying though...
Oh, you can probably get away without re-taping by cutting your brake outers just after they emerge from the tape
Obvious point is obvious but [s]we've all done it [/s] we all know someone who's done it. Make sure you've pulled the inner cable past the point in the outer you're about to cut...
Obvious point is obvious but we’ve all done it we all know someone who’s done it. Make sure you’ve pulled the inner cable past the point in the outer you’re about to cut…
Haha yes, I would def do this, good point.
First thing I had to do with my new gravel bike when it arrived was get the brakes swapped over.
Its a PITA, more experience though.
actually it might be an opportunity to upgrade the cable outers if they are not compressionless type
Jagwire I think, are they good?
They can be - the Jagwire KEB-SL outer stuff is great for cable discs but they make a range of cable so it depends.
So for anyone that cares;
It was a relatively easy job to swap the cables over, it only cost me one cable and took all of an hour because I'm a noob.
The re-wrap job wasn't great because the tape was sticky backed and some of it split a bit. It will do for a while though.
The only issue is that the rear outer is a cm short now and if I turn the bars too far it pulls the back brake on, however its not an angle you could achieve in normal riding. Oh and I need some new helitape patches for cable rub as they aren't in the right place anymore.
The joys!
