Cables and a solution.

[David Martin]

I had the misfortune of having my rear mech cable snap on me. I was at the bottom of the ride home from work, about a mile of mostly uphill.

Trying to locate a new rear gear cable that would fit has been problematic. I could order from an online supplier but then I would have to spend some time waiting for it, and need to keep a spare in case it breaks again.

So I was thinking about obtaining a device that would allow two normal length cables to be used, so when I need to swap the cables it is a lot easier to obtain replacements.

The answer comes from cable splitters for folding bikes.. I now have cable splitters on order and will be using those in future with standard gear and brake cables.

I'll let you know how I get on.

..d

[Andydauddwr]

Hi David,

This is how it is done on tandems with couplings too.

AC

[Martin109]

Can we see a picture of such a cable splitter?

[Andydauddwr]

Can we see a picture of such a cable splitter?

The section shown at the top is a colar through which an ordinay cable is threaded.  The section below is fixed to an un-terminated cable end by way of an allen bolt.  The two sections then screw together.

We've used these a couple of times lately as the new steed travels indoors and I've been quite impressed so far...

AC

[Quisling]

<life of Brian>

Splitters!

</life of Brian>

[Si]

BODGE ALERT!

those little plastic jobbies with two screws in them for connecting electrical wires together.  OK, not ideal if you want to split a lot but if you are knocking togesther long runs of cable from short bits then they work great (assuming that you have lengths of un-outered cable).

[Wowbagger]

We have these on our tandem, on for the back brake and two more for the gear cables (Rohloffs have two cables).

We broke a cable at the splitter in Orton, on our way to Carlisle on LEJOG. I was still able to change gear, in one direction by using the twist grip in the normal way, in the other by grabbing the loose end and giving it a tug. When we got to Penrith, Aragon's excellent bike shop fitted a new one for us.

[matthew]

As fitted to my father's Moulton APB so that it can split at the king pin.

Matthew

[Martin109]

Hi David,

This is how it is done on tandems with couplings too.

AC

Are these splitters available online?

[Wowbagger]

Hi David,

This is how it is done on tandems with couplings too.

AC

Are these splitters available online?

I'd be surprised if SJS don't do them, since they fit them to every S & S coupled tandem they sell.

[bikenerd]

Biketrax (Edinburgh) do the official Moulton ones.
Which reminds me: I need to buy another before I set up the front derailleur as I left one attached at only one end.  The other end went bouncing down the road

[Andydauddwr]

Hi David,

This is how it is done on tandems with couplings too.

AC

Are these splitters available online?

We got ours from J&D in Ilkley (http://www.jdcycles.co.uk).  There isn't much in the way of componentry on their site, but it might be worth giving them a bell, as they are one of the most helpful bike shop I've had dealings with (no connection, just a satisfied customer).

AC