Slick Changes

[Keith]

Has anyone any experience of "high performance" cables?

Something like Gore Ride-On (Low Friction or Professional) or Nokon Konkavex?
Worth the extra expense?
Worth using on gear cable, brake cable, or both?

[Alex S]

Loads of people don't use them, its not going to make you go any faster. Gear shifting efficiency is going to be dominated by how well tuned your derailleurs are and how worn your rings are etc.

Get them if you keep having problems with grit in your cables - diagnosed by a lot of friction when releasing tension - i.e. brake calipers don't release from the rims properly etc.

[Andrew G]

A lot of people use nokon cables on TT bikes but that's more to do with the ability to do tight cable runs with them through bars etc. I haven't got them myself, yet, but it's not going to have as bigger impact in a TT as a RR as the changes tend to be a lot more predictable and less frequent.

[Ivor]

The other reason to get them is simply for the "nice feel" of changing.
Never used the really expensive cables but it's certainly noticeable when you replace old cables that have had some water damage over time with a nice slippy new set. I guess the sealed cables stay like that for longer.

[Wal]

Back in the '90s, friends of mine who used the original Gore Ride-On cables on their MTBs always found they worked brilliantly for a while, then pretty much seized up as soon as the tiniest bit of grit found its way inside the lining. They all ended up switching back to standard Shimano cables. The latest versions may be much improved - check reviews.

For a cheaper alternative, take a look at Transfil Flying Snake cables, which have performed very well on my MTB. Like Gore Ride-Ons these use a full length liner and seem to keep the mud out quite well, promoting long-lasting smooth and precise shifting (although, my MTB has full-length housing to the rear derailleur, which helps with this).

Alligator I-Links are cheaper and lighter than Nokons, and from what I read, work just as well while being easier to install because unlike the Nokon system the links click together. Alligator has recently released a new smaller diameter, ultralight version for shifters only, which I'm thinking of switching to my road bike to when its current Dura Ace housings are due for replacement.