A couple of months ago, we got in a set of the GORE RideOn Sealed Low Friction System shifting cables in for review. This premium shifting cable has been around in the mountain biking world for quite sometime, but I never picked up a set to try out. Now was the time and here is how they did on the trail.

From RideOnCables.com

Ideal for mountain and cyclocross bikes, cables are completely protected from mud, dirt and the elements by continuous liners and GRUB™ Seals. Available for derailleurs or brakes, this patented cable coating technology is designed for low friction and durability.

The Sealed Low Friction system uses a clear, plastic inner sleeve to completely protect the shifting cables from the elements no matter of you are running full housing or the conventional multi-section housing setup found on most mountain bikes. Luckily, I had the chance to install two sets of these cables from GORE in both situations (the Turner 5.Spot requires full length cable routing). The idea is to keep that inner friction of the cable vs. housing consistent and keep the cable as clean as possible throughout the entire bike.

Install Process On the GORE RideOn Cables

GORE RideOn Cable System Parts

While the installation process does require a couple of extra steps outside of normal cable install due to the inner sleeve, they are not any harder to install than normal cables and take about the same amount of time. I have used other sleeve systems in the past (specifically Dry Cables) and the GORE inner sleeve is much more durable. As you feed it through the housing, you don’t worry about it snagging or ripping as the wall of the sleeve is stiffer. That said…don’t go shoving it in the housing. Take your time and everything comes out great.

The GORE RideOn Cables come with extra pieces to further keep the motion points away from dirt and grime that loves to mess up your shifting on the trail. Rubber boots (Grub Seals) slide onto the cables at the derailleur points to provide a seal between the exposed cable (to get routed through the derailleur) and wear the inner sleeve starts. While I used this and it installed easily on the front derailleur, I use SRAM rear derailleurs and that creates a problem due to the design of the SRAM system. If you install the rubber sleeve, it can bunch up in the derailleur interface. I just left it off completely, but GORE has attached instructions with the set showing how you can modify that rubber sleeve to work.

The First 2 Weeks with the GORE RideOn Cables

GORE RideOn Cable System

The first two weeks with any set of brand new cables can get interesting. Typically, you get used to adjusting the cable tension of your shifting cables to accommodate for cable stretch that is a normal part of the “breaking in” process of new shift cables. With the GORE cables, not only did I not adjust a thing in the first 2 weeks of use…but I haven’t adjusted anything to date. This is the first set of cables that I have not had to touch after install. When they say the cables were “pre-stretched” prior to shipment, GORE means it.

Riding With The GORE RideOn Cables

You guys know just as well as I do that a shifting problem during riding can be a huge annoyance. When you just want to get out and ride, there is nothing worse than a chain that is constantly clicking and jumping on the cassette due to stretch or junk in the cable housing. As of today, the GORE RideOn Cables are still working flawlessly. And I don’t mean they work with a couple of little tweaks…I mean that I have not had to think about a shifting issue at all since install. All of the shifts are quick, crisp and with minimal cable drag.

Quite frankly, these are the best performing set of cables I have ever installed on a bike. Having used Dry Cables in the past (the inner sleeve design actually ended up ripping and really ruining a day…twice) and Shimano XTR cables (which work great after you get through the stretch period), I can say…without a doubt…that these cables are a cut above the rest in performance…but you pay for it.

Overall on the GORE RideOn Cables

The GORE RideOn Cables is the best shifting cable system I have ever put on one of my bikes. Sharp, crisp shifting with basically zero maintenance makes trail-side shifting issues a thing of the past. However, this comes at a cost that is about twice what I am used to paying for shifting cables. One kit did cover a large Turner 5.Spot running full length housing with some housing left to spare, so you can be pretty confident that one kit will be more than enough for your needs.

The Good

• Precise shifting from day one with zero adjustment
• Easy install process
• Durable inner shifting sleeve keeps cables away from trail grime

The Bad

• High retail price
• Have to do minor modifications of you want to use rubber boot on SRAM RD’s

Where to buy Gore Ride-On Cables