How to choose your road bike brake cables and casings?

Worn cabling is often the primary cause of brake malfunction, whether rim brakes or disc brakes in the case of mechanical or hydro-mechanical models, and therefore a potential danger for the cyclist.
It is therefore important to replace this wear part regularly. But how do you choose it?

The standards

• The CAMPAGNOLO type
• The SHIMANO/SRAM type

Cable and casing types

Reminder: cables and casings for the derailleur and for the brakes are not identical. They differ in the shape of the end and the diameter, and are therefore not interchangeable.

While the cable end is identical for SHIMANO and SRAM, the diameter does differ noticeably. CAMPAGNOLO is, however, the only brand to use a cable end different from all other brands for its levers.
Make sure to choose cables compatible with the brand of your levers.

Beyond standard cables and casings, there are versions that optimise the performance of your components.

The cable can be made of steel or stainless steel: the former is less expensive, the latter has a longer lifespan as it is more resistant to corrosion. Furthermore, to reduce friction and thus improve the performance of your equipment, it can receive a coating of polymer A (commonly referred to as PTFE or Teflon®).

The outer casing can also be fitted with waterproof end caps B to improve longevity and/or offer an additional liner C to further reduce friction with the cable.

Which cables and casings for my riding style?

First, select cables compatible with Campagnolo or Shimano/Sram depending on the brand of your levers.

For occasional use, a standard steel cable and casing kit will be more than sufficient.

An amateur will prefer a steel or stainless steel cable kit with polymer coating and casings with waterproof end caps for maximum reliability.

Finally, a competitor will opt for cables with polymer coating, and casings with a liner to optimise drivetrain performance.