Review: PowerCordz MTB Brake Cables
PowerCordz brake cables are not cables (intertwined) at all, rather they are synthetic fiber Zylon HM cords. These cords are stronger than steel in tensile strength and have a higher modulus of elasticity (meaning they won’t stretch). While I don’t have the technology or strength to test these claims myself, I did test them out on the Soul Cycles Dillinger, a single-speed 29er, by equipping said bike with Avid mechanical disk brakes.
The results were fantastic. These cables gave a direct, solid feel at the lever, did not stretch and most impressively remained smooth in function despite a lack of maintenance. The feel was incrementally more accurate than I have ever achieved with traditional brake cables, I believe this to have not only been a function of the cables not stretching, but also the Kevlar-lined compression-less housing [compression-less housing is usually reserved for derailleur cables, because it is not able to withstand braking forces]. I attribute the smooth function to the cord’s smooth outer cover and that the housing is pre-lubricated with teflon. In fact the housing is so good, I would not recommend using the cable stops often found on many frames, rather run the housing uninterrupted from lever to brake.
Powercordz really market their product based on the weight savings they provide compared to traditional steel cables. For me the best selling point though is the smooth-operation and low maintenance. Are they worth it? Well, PowerCordz brake kit sells for $69, last three years (manufacturer’s claim) and are low maintenance. Good traditional steel cables sell for $20 to $25 and last about a year. So if you’re planning to keep you bike a good while, they’re worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be sticking with the current steel cables on the majority of my bikes, but when it’s time to replace those cables, I’ll be buying PowerCordz.
Installation of the cables is very straight forward, the instructions are very concise and easy to read. If you have installed brake cables before, this is a piece of cake! -Moe
What’s the setup like? I assume there is a special clamp or something at the brake to keep the Powercordz from being crushed by a traditional pinch bolt.
Did you also use the Powercordz for shifting? If so, did you notice any improvement?
No special clamp, they look like regular cables. Since the Soul Cycles Dillinger is a Single Speed bike, there was no need for shifter cables. I do have a set for derailleurs that I’m going to use on my next project.
I also concur with David, the brakes have a fantastic feel, since I ride with hydros on the rest of my mountain bikes, I would forget that I was riding with mechanical brakes.
On the Powercordz website they show/use some special washers to use with a traditional pinch bolt. The Avid mechanical disk brakes already use a clamp with a large surface area, so they we unnecessary in this case. Most road brakes with the quick-release at the caliper already have a washer or washers to prevent damaging the cable from clamp-up force.
They’re great cables, but I still prefer a hydraulic disk brake set-up for more braking power and IMO better modulation. These cables are a good improvement for mechanically actuated disk brakes, but not a replacement for hydraulics. I bet they’d be fantastic for derailleur use!
Ok…I had seen references to something called a “Windsor clasp” (which is just a fancy washer, I guess) on another review.
I should read these more carefully…you mentioned that these went on a singlespeed, yet I asked about shifters. Duh! Not enough coffee this morning.