Today I was adjusting a derailleur on an older Nishiki Prestige. Everything looked good, until I shifted up to first gear. The SIS cable housing completely blew out, for a "sudden and complete failure". This was at the short section of housing that goes into the rear derailleur. The plastic was not crusty, but felt plyable -- it looked good from the outside. I've not actually seen this happen before.
This week I'll be changing out my brake cable housings on my Kestrel's (usual rider) brakes. Sudden and complete loss of the ability to shift would be rare and mostly tolerable, but brakes are a different situation. It seems that the pressure on the housings is much greater under heavy braking than from shifting. The descent from high atop the Sierra Mountains requires very good and dependable brakes.
Just wanted those doubters (like myself) to receive this timely (to the string) occurance.
Looking for a Benotto track fork (not drilled) for a 53cm, from about the early 1980's.
[Also, for those non-shiny hubs, you can always send them to Velochrome. Runs about $20 to polish them up, maybe better than new (we do not anodize). Cranks are $40 - $75, depending on condition of oxidation, not including rings.]
Steve Dahlquist
Velochrome Frameset Painting
V 559-592-6367
F 559-592-2585
C 559-967-3318
steve@velochrome.com
22582 Carson Avenue
Exeter, California 93221
http://www.Velochrome.com