Polypyrrole (PPy) doped with large counter anion of dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBS) has been electrodeposited on carbon fibers to obtain the composite of PPy/DBS/CF, and the preparation conditions for the flexible composites have also been optimized. The microstructures of PPy/DBS/CF composites are observed by scanning electron microscope, and the electrochemical properties of the composites are investigated by using electrochemical techniques. The flexible wire-shaped electrochemical capacitors can be fabricated conveniently by using the composites of PPy/DBS/CF as electrodes, and the performances of the flexible capacitors are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods in different polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based gel electrolytes. The results show that the electrolytes have significant influence on the capacitors' performances. The specific capacitance of PPy/DBS/CF can reach to about 29.0 mF cm(-1) when LiClO4/PVA and LiCl/PVA are used as electrolytes. The energy density and power density of the capacitors based on LiCl/PVA electrolyte can get 1.20 mWh cm(-3) and 0.59 W cm(-3) at discharge current density of 1.50 A cm(-3). Furthermore, the flexible capacitors based on LiCl/PVA electrolyte have excellent cyclic stability, which can retain 90.5 % of the initial capacitance after 5000 cycles, while the capacitors based on LiClO4/PVA only retains about 80.1 % of their initial capacitance. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.