City Bike Cables and Housings

Two systems

The city bike uses two gear systems. The traditional derailleur, lightweight and cost-effective, like on a hybrid bike. The hub with integrated gears, hidden in the rear wheel, allows you to change gears while stationary, at a red light, and protects the mechanism from rain and dirt. Both are controlled by a cable, often through an integrated twist grip that is intuitive and built into the handlebars.

The transmission

The city bike transmission also has:

• Derailleurs.
• Cassettes and Chains.
• Chainrings.
• Cranksets.

All the transmission details are on the transmission page.

In the rain

An urban bike often sleeps outside and rides in all weather: the humidity seeps into the cables, rusts them, and stiffens the controls. It's best to use stainless steel cables and inner liner housings, or even sealed housings with jointed ends. A stuck brake cable is dangerous: check regularly that the levers return properly to position.

Maintenance and replacement

Replace the cabling as soon as the gear changes become hesitant or the brakes lack bite, and at least every two years for daily use. For a hub with integrated gears, adjust the tension using the visible colour markers on the hub. Avoid using a pressure washer near the entrance of the housings, and drop a bit of lubricant at the ends.

Good deals

Good deals can also be found in good deals, promotions, clearance, sales, and Black Friday. The new products showcase the latest collections, and the items shipped within 24 hours are prepared and dispatched in 24 hours. The key events of the year follow a stable pattern: Black Friday at the end of autumn, year-end festivities, winter sales, French Days in spring, then summer sales and back-to-school.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a brake cable and a gear cable?

The brake cable is thicker, with a pear or barrel head, and runs through a spiral housing that resists compression. The gear cable, thinner, slides in a housing with longitudinal wires for precise shifts.

How do you adjust the speeds on an integrated hub?

You adjust the cable tension at the adjustment barrel until the markers on the hub align, often for a specific gear. A loose cable can skip gears or prevent you from shifting into higher ones.

When should you change the cables on a city bike?

Change them when braking becomes hard, when the gears shift poorly, or if a cable is fraying or rusting. A bike stored outside year-round requires an annual check, as rain speeds up corrosion.

How can you protect your bike cables from rain?

Sealed housings, with closed ends and cables with a slippery coating, prevent water from getting in and rusting the cable. A drop of fine lubricant at the entrance of the housings also extends their lifespan.

Twist grip or lever, which to choose in the city?

The twist grip, integrated into the handlebars, is intuitive: you change gears with a flick of the wrist without letting go of the handle. The trigger lever, more precise, is suitable for cyclists used to derailleurs.