Home > Other Fun Stuff > Gadgets & Hacks

CableLubie puts an oil port inline on your shift cables

25 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

cablelubie-inline-bicycle-shift-cable-lube-port4

The CableLubie is the product of a UK rider who was tired of even relatively new shift cables feeling sluggish after just a couple months of riding. The United Kingdom is, of course, known for wet weather and mud, hence brands like Hope and their diligently sealed hubs. But with shift cables, there’s only so much sealing you can do, particularly if your frame’s cable stops prevent full length housing.

For that, CableLubie puts a tiny oil reservoir directly into the shift housing, one up front and one in the back ideally. The anodized bit uses a self-sealing rubber sleeve to contain the oil and internal O-rings around the cable to keep it lubing them shift after shift…

cablelubie-inline-bicycle-shift-cable-lube-port3

The CableLubie comes with all hardware necessary reconnect the housing and re-ferrule it to slot into the unit. You’ll want a good set of cable cutters, though.

cablelubie-inline-bicycle-shift-cable-lube-port2

To refill, you simply use a syringe and needle to inject fresh oil into the reservoir. The rubber seals itself to prevent leaks. They recommend the ProGold Prolink Luber Pen since it’s ready to use as-is, and they sell that on their site, too, but everything’s sold separately so you can use whichever lube you like. That rubber seal also helps prevent the CableLubie’s metal parts from rubbing against your frame.

cablelubie-inline-bicycle-shift-cable-lube-port1

Retail for the kit is $6.99 per, with sets of two, three and four pieces from $12.99 to $21.99. Available now, each kit shipping with all hardware included, including Shimano-style and standard stainless steel ferrules.

CableLubie.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

25 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joker
Joker
7 years ago

pointless and outright dumb, buy lined housing.

Ken
Ken
7 years ago
Reply to  Joker

Disagree, lubing cables makes all the difference, especially on lower end components.

RemyXVX
RemyXVX
7 years ago
Reply to  Ken

ken’s right, night and day.

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

#brilliant

chasejj
chasejj
7 years ago

I’m ordering one now. Neat idea.

Mike D
Mike D
7 years ago

Novel enough idea, priced right… I’d say it’s worth a try! I’ll give this a go next build and/or tune up.

Antoine
Antoine
7 years ago

Problem is each time one add a stop in a linte a lot more drag is added. My favourite solution is inline cabling, no cable end from shifter to derailleur and a dust/mud protection on the cable on the rear derailleur to avoid it being filled by the rear. Work like a charm.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago
Reply to  Antoine

It’s lower friction to have the least amount of housing possible. Housing is low friction now but not as low friction as no housing, so long as your housing ends are debured.

TheKaiser
TheKaiser
7 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Though o-ring sealed ferrules would potentially change that picture, no? They tend to add friction on a new install, but (hopefully) keep some of the crap out, so that after some use the performance down the road should be better then unsealed ferrules. It would be cool if there was a practical way to test that vs. full length housing.

Toine
Toine
7 years ago

Is it compatible with my DI2 build ?

Cyril Figgus
Cyril Figgus
7 years ago
Reply to  Toine

I’m sure it is. You may have to do some splicing to get it just right, though

SImenf
SImenf
7 years ago

There is a better product out the Middleburn Cable Oilers: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/no/en/middleburn-cable-oilers/rp-prod3318

Just put the straw from your favourite spray lube in the hole and you’re lubing the whole cable in seconds. Good to go for another few months.

Phil
Phil
7 years ago

Middleburn cable oilers reinvented…

Lots of love for them but I found they just allowed water and grit ingress at the break.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/middleburn-cable-oilers

Matt
Matt
7 years ago

I’m gong to go ahead and point out two products that make this pointless.
First, the Middleburn cable oiler, which does pretty much exactly this and has been around forever (i realise Middleburn no longer exist however…)
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/middleburn-cable-oilers/rp-prod3318
Secondly, the Transfil waterproof kit
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/transfil-gear-cable-waterproof-kit/
Back when I couldn’t run full outer, I used this for many years in the Peak District, and it works flawlessly, keeping the exposed areas of wire covered.

I do feel sometimes, people develop new parts for the sake of it!

TheKaiser
TheKaiser
7 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Another cool part about the Middleburn is it has the potential to purge the outer housing of dirt, along with lubing the cable.

In the Cablelubie’s defense, it does have a reservoir, so it might require less frequent attention, although without the capacity to force dirt out, that may be of somewhat limited value.

Ross Mallinson
Ross Mallinson
7 years ago
Reply to  Matt

The middleburn accepts the standard straw on an aerosol can rather than a particular injector. I use them on the final pre rear derailleur loop which on winter bikes

ibcyclist
ibcyclist
7 years ago

The ultimate solution is eTap

PaulM
PaulM
7 years ago

It’s not exactly a new idea though is it? Look up “Middlebury cable oiler”.

PaulM
PaulM
7 years ago

Damn phone auto correct.
Middleburn.

GTPjon
GTPjon
7 years ago

^^^What PaulM said. They’ve only been around for 20 years or so…

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
7 years ago

need more rumor less rehash

Keith
Keith
7 years ago

I’ve never had a cable get sticky on my singlespeed….

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

Lotta weird complaining here. So now there are two cable oilers on the market instead of one. Meanwhile, there are dozens and dozens of seatposts (for example), and no one minds that.

oldfieldcycles
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim

i heard that the only seat post was a Thomson?

Mathmatical
Mathmatical
7 years ago

just a little synthetic ATF down the housing rocked my socks off its so good. Cheap too, try it. I also use ATF in certain rear hubs, lasts really long for some reason.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.