Prevention is better than cure when it comes to replacing the brake cable – shifting with worn or corroded cables can cause lasting damage to the shifter, while removing a cable that splits while in situ is extremely difficult.

Good quality cables will also make a big difference to how the whole braking system feels.

After cutting the end cap from the existing cable and loosening the bolt holding it in place, remove the handlebar tape (it can be an ideal time to replace it, to further refresh your ride), and pull the inner cable from the outer casing for inspection.

If it needs replacing, feed the replacement through the lever (paying attention to where it emerges) and then feed it through the cable housing – which may or may not also need to be replaced.

To help with replacing the cable, it may be useful to leave the old cable in the lever – so you can follow it in with the new one.

If you have opted to replace the cable housing too, check the size – offer the outer casing to where it should be on the lever, holding it place with your thumb. It should be feed down to the caliper with smooth curves and, once you have the desired length, it should be cut with sharp cable cutters to avoid ‘burring’.

Next, feed the inner cable inside the housing, and seat the outer into its slot inside the STI lever – it should not be just pulled roughly into place as this could create unnecessary kinking.

Replace the allen bolt and turn the caliper’s barrel adjuster clockwise to tighten the cable, and test the tension in the system – there should be sufficient lever movement, and if there is not you will need to loosen the barrel adjuster again.

Check out our video for more information here.