Brake And Gear
Bike Cables

Especially now most of the cables on our bikes are tucked away, out of sight - not many of us think about the brake and gear cables on our bikes - until something breaks. Just because we can’t see most of them does not mean they are not important, and gear and brake cables play a massively important role on our bikes.

Both types of cable are known as Bowden cables - they have a twisted steel wire contained within a sleeve. These cable runs from your bike's control levers on the handlebars - to the brakes or derailleurs. These cables were always routed on the outside of the bike frame, but modern bikes and more premium bikes now have internal cable routing.

Brake Cables and Gear Cables are different - they provide two very different tasks, so you need to ensure you use the right cable for each application, and never use gear cables as brake cables - as they can snap with disastrous consequences.

It’s a good idea to check your bike cables regularly for wear and tear, replacing them if you spot any damage. At Westbrook Cycles, we stock and supply a range of brake and gear cables from manufacturers we know and trust to manufacture the highest quality cables for use across a wide range of bikes.