I seem to go through a lot of cable housing, cables, caps, and end caps. So I figure why not buy them in bulk?
Jagwire sells 50m boxes (164ft) and they're on Amazon. On several occasions I've been in the middle of a job to either run out of housing or caps.
Also, the cheapest housing and cables around here (as far as I know) are at FreeRide which charges a dollar per foot or a dollar per cable.
They can be had online for more than half that (depending on the product) Also, I think it would be nice to just have a bunch of it and not run out as easily.
Would anybody be interested in buying some with me? The cables come in boxes of 100. I'm thinking of splitting it three ways.
I like supporting LBSs, but I don't like paying double, triple or more for something nor do I like the inconvenience of running out of what I need.
I agree this is the way to go if you have multiple bikes and do the wrenching yourself. I bought all of this stuff a while ago and whenever I'm building a bike its reassuring that I won't run out of stuff. You can always check at your LBS for prices of that stuff they would sell it too you I think.
I think that if you find a price at amazon and go into a gerry's he will match the price.
Performance sells housing by the foot, you have to ask for it at the repair counter in the back. Can’t remember what they charged me for 2’ but it was around a buck a foot. The service guy was cool and he just gave me 2 end caps…and they were open on Sunday when I needed it.
How often are you guys replacing cables?
I think I have close to 5k miles on mine over 3 years. Am I supposed to be replacing these or something? 
At least every year. Generally more often because my shifting becomes less crisp and precise. On my cyclocross bikes I expect to change it several times a year.
If you change yours it would probably be a world of difference. You should change it to avoid breaking a cable as well.
At least once a year, maybe twice. Esp with 10 spd stuff the risk you run is breaking off the cable in the shifter which is a big hassle and can ruin the shifter. SRAM road stuff can break (more quickly) if the cables are dirty.
8 & 9 spd road stuff is more durable in this regard.
I generally do over 5000k a year, all weather.
Plus, it's refurbishing and giving other people bikes as well. I think I did three last year, got about two this year, and still have like four or five more to do.
A decent amount of the older bikes I encounter have totally shot cableshousing and I've spent too much time screwing around with tuning, only to realize (duh!) the housing is what's causing all the problems.
@Chris
I had that happen just a few days ago. The head got caught between the shifting mechanisms and the housing. Was such a PITA to get out.
I only replace when it does not function anymore. Maybe I have a high tolerance for poor function. May have to consider this.
I took a look at the cables on my bike, the original cables, and one is starting to fray.
I noticed that the fraying break cable is thicker than the derailleur cables. How important is the size? Can the thicker break cable be used for everything?
Brake cables and shift cables have different ends on them, so they can't be used interchangeably.
I assumed that since this was bulk cable, it just came in a spool and you (somehow) put your own ends on it. Is bulk cable sold as a big box of long lengths with ends already attached? This is my first time hearing anything about DIY cable replacement, so educate away!
Bulk cables mean a box of 50 (100) that are all ~3m in length. One end already has an end attached to it, so it's brake or shift specific.
If you use nothing but cheap bulk cables, you'll use a lot of cheap bulk cables. Spend a bit more on a stainless-slick cable and have it last a few years with some basic maintenance every once in a while.Good housing helps with this too, and always use shift specific housing for your shifters, not brake housing. And ignore teflon coated cables.
Also the more gears you got up in those shifters the more apt they are to get all finicky when things get dirty or start to wear.
Chris brings up another issue, if you are buying bulk cables you'll need to order four different boxes of cables to fit road and mountain bikes, bulk cables don't have the handy double ends where you cut off the one you don't need.
The drawback to the nice Stainless/slick cables? A file box of 100 is 3 times more money than the galvanized stuff.
