Doffing the cycling cap to some of the less glamorous bike components.....
#1 Cable end caps
These humble little pieces of alloy are designed to stop brake and shifter cables from fraying and to stop you from stabbing yourself in the finger on an exposed strand of wire!
Tension in the cable should be distributed roughly equally across all of the strands if the cable is intact. Frayed cables cannot do this and are therefore more prone to snapping. End caps help to maintain the structural integrity of the cable.
Maintenance tips
Use a crimping tool to fit end caps.
Make sure the cable is correctly routed through the pinch bolt (there is often a marker or a groove to follow).
Don't overtighten the pinch bolt as this can cause the strands to separate (Shimano recommends about 5 - 7 Nm).
Replace frayed cables- go to a qualified bike mechanic if you are not sure how to do this.
Don't forget to check the cables on kids' bikes too.
"Gears are optional but brakes are essential!"
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