Potentially dumb questions regarding gear cabling

[shouldbworking]

Hi,
I'm currently building my first bike from scratch. Major bits are on, the only task remaining before setup is fitting gear cables. As its a new frame I have no outers to copy.

First question - why don't gear cables have full outers? the only reason I can think of is friction?

Second question - the shifters came with the cables and such, with all the end pieces as shown on the right in this example pic


What ones of those do you use when? Most are 'normal' but theres the one with the longer thin tube at the end, and then one longish one which is flexible, as pictured above the one with the thin tube after the main body.

Have to say it's a bit nerve wracking building a new bike. It reminds me of the first time I did work myself on a cars brakes, knowing if I got it wrong it could all end in tears.

[Gumstabber]

Both my mountain bikes have full outers on the gear cables. keeps the crud off the cables.

[hornetrider]

The one with the thin bit of tube at the end is for the egress point at the rear mech. You then slip the rubber grommit above it over the thin bit and it helps prevent mud ingress.

At least, that's what I assumed when I built mine and it works pretty well

[shouldbworking]

Cheers, sounds good.

Can't run full outers without drilling out the cable guides so that'll have to wait for now. Ah well, should give me a chance to discover just how inadequate my cable cutters are at creating a tidy end.

[P-Jay]

You can buy little 'do dars' that will allow you to run uninterrupted gear cables - I forget the name of them, but they're pennies to buy. Interrupted cables are the work of the devil unless you never intend to use your bike outdoors.

[itsnotarace]

shouldbworking said:

why don't gear cables have full outers? the only reason I can think of is friction?

Weight mostly, gear outer cables weigh a ton