Powercordz gear cables review

Scientific shifting solution

Our rating

3.5

69.00
59.99

Published: June 12, 2009 at 11:00 am

Our review
Slick science that’ll lighten up shifting feel and weight instantly

There are lots of different slicker shifting steel cable sets around, but Power Cordz are a whole new string for your bow.

Rather than steel inner cables, you’re getting 10,000 PBO (a rigid rod isotropic crystal polymer) fibres coated in low-friction nylon with an anodised nipple on the end.

These deliver the same braking strength as steel cables but at 25 percent of the weight and minus any corrosion.

There’s no need for Gore-style liners and they won’t stretch or need adjusting after a week. They feel silky smooth too, especially in Shimano shifters.

The recent dry weather hasn’t been the most gruelling test but the science says they should stay that way longer than most cables.

And though they’re pricey for cables, their lighter weight means you’ll knock about 50g off the average bike a lot cheaper than you would by swapping other equipment.

You do need to clamp them super tight to grip the fibres, which can split the coating and make them fray. A single kit won’t do a fully ‘through-routed’ bike either.

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