Downtube Cable Stops

[Jay]

I had my Roadini built up with downtube shifters.  I liked them, but I've decided to try out brifters on this bike (won't get into 'why' right now).

I set the bike up yesterday and used some downtube cable stoppers I picked up at a local bike shop.  I'm not mechanically inclined, so I decided to try a local bike 'hub' where you can work on your bike (as often as you like) for a very reasonable annual membership fee, it's a not-for-profit and is pretty cool (more on that another day).  There are mechanics on hand to give pointers and help when in a pinch.  When installing the shift cables and housing, we used ferrules that insert into the cable stoppers.  Below are photos.  This looks wrong to me, as the hole on the cable stoppers is a lot larger than the shift housing ferrule.  Things are working, but I feel like there is a more appropriate ferrule or something for this set up.  I haven't wrapped bar tape yet, as I wanted to be sure of brifter position, so if I did something wrong I welcome tips!

[Tony Lockhart]

You may have used a brake cable ferrule, as opposed to a shift cable ferrule. Here's a quick Google Image search. 

[Michael Connors]

Those look like shimano cable stops that come with bar end shifters. Shimano includes cables with larger ferules. Also, Analog Cycles sells Jagwire 5mm shift cable (if it fits in your brifters)

[Garth]

As long as the shifters work fine, I would leave it alone. 

[Jason Noonievut]

This was helpful, thanks!

I called a shop to ask about options and one was to use the barrel adjustment for rear derailleurs (they sell replacement ones for cheap).  That fits a 4mm shift cable and ferrule nicely.

Jason

On Mar 31, 2026, at 4:19 PM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

As long as the shifters work fine, I would leave it alone. 

On Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 11:42:14 AM UTC-4 Michael Connors wrote:

Those look like shimano cable stops that come with bar end shifters. Shimano includes cables with larger ferules. Also, Analog Cycles sells Jagwire 5mm shift cable (if it fits in your brifters)

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[Jay]

I called a shop close to where I work, sent them a photo of how it was looking, guy said to come by and we'll go through some options.  Ended up with this ferrule that has a sleeve that goes below the DT cable stopper and thus holds it in place really well.

Funny, the other 5 bike shops I called, at a complete loss lol.  One of them said they can order in some replacement barrel adjusters but it would be two weeks (from another country!).  Where I went, the guy had this small parts container with so many extra bits; he thought about what was best, took his time; was a really good experience.