Won't shift on first try

[Kelly728]

I am going through a cleaning overhaul this week. I must admit that I haven't been very adamant about bike maintenance, considering I really don't know what I'm doing, but I'm learning!

I recall having a few shifting issues in the beginning, took it into the shop for my warranty tune-up but at that point I got injured and my ability to test out the shifting was limited. It is really hard to say when I starting seeing these issues, especially with my flat routes.

If the cleaning doesn't help, off to finding an LBS that I can whine to about my shifting woes.

[OakLeaf]

Just for reference, how many miles do you usually get out of a shifter cable (particularly the rear)? Is yearly replacement enough regardless of mileage?

[aicabsolut]

I usually get one season. That was close to a full year at first. By upping my mileage and racing, the past 2 years, I've put on new cables at the end of March and had to replace the rear cable in the fall. Last year, I made it till October. This year, August. I've done more tough climbing this season, which probably has to do with it because of more shifting and more shifting up under heavier loads. I've put over 2000 miles on with this cable.

I think some of it depends on your drive train. Shimano shifters are pretty notorious for eating cables. I'd been told that I'd get a lot more life out of Dura Ace cables than standard Shimano, because they are thicker. So far with the rear, that hasn't been true for me.

At any rate, I think that it's pretty good practice to change cables at least yearly if not 2x a year.

[HillSlugger]

I usually get one season. That was close to a full year at first. By upping my mileage and racing, the past 2 years, I've put on new cables at the end of March and had to replace the rear cable in the fall. Last year, I made it till October. This year, August. I've done more tough climbing this season, which probably has to do with it because of more shifting and more shifting up under heavier loads. I've put over 2000 miles on with this cable.

I think some of it depends on your drive train. Shimano shifters are pretty notorious for eating cables. I'd been told that I'd get a lot more life out of Dura Ace cables than standard Shimano, because they are thicker. So far with the rear, that hasn't been true for me.

At any rate, I think that it's pretty good practice to change cables at least yearly if not 2x a year.

Do you have to replace the bar tape each time to replace the housing underneath?

[aicabsolut]

For the rear cable, it doesn't run under the tape with my shifters, so there was no problem there. I didn't change the housing this time anyway. It's in good shape. The cable was shredding up inside the shifter and not at a ferrule or something. I'll save that for when I do a complete cable replacement.

In general, it depends on the tape you have (and how gross it is). My tape has a gel backing that helps it stick to itself enough to wrap easily, but it's not adhesive. Adhesive-backed tapes are easy to rip when you take it off and harder to rewrap even if they don't rip. Then there's the dirt factor.

[HillSlugger]

For the rear cable, it doesn't run under the tape with my shifters, so there was no problem there. I didn't change the housing this time anyway. It's in good shape. The cable was shredding up inside the shifter and not at a ferrule or something. I'll save that for when I do a complete cable replacement.

In general, it depends on the tape you have (and how gross it is). My tape has a gel backing that helps it stick to itself enough to wrap easily, but it's not adhesive. Adhesive-backed tapes are easy to rip when you take it off and harder to rewrap even if they don't rip. Then there's the dirt factor.

I ask because I realize now that I should have replaced the cables on my used tri bike when I bought it but since I just replaced the bar tape I'm reluctant to want to do anything.

[OakLeaf]

I was thinking I ought to replace my rear derailleur cable, 2750 miles. From what you're saying I'm really pushing its life. Going to a show tonight - I'll stop by a bike shop while I'm in town. Thanks!