Mountain Biking - Location of cables on frame?

Does it really matter where the cables are located on a bike with regards to which tubes they run down?

After I got my Spec. Hardrock Comp, I realized that the gear cables run along the front of the downtube - right where the front wheel kicks up dirt, mud and rocks. Why would a manufacturer put cables there? Why not run them back along the top tube like many manufacturers do?

Am I wrong in thinking that the durability and reliability is compromised in having the cables mounted this way?

Never ask "why?"

Maybe it keeps the look of the bike "cleaner", you know?

No cables on the top tube gives the bike a simpler look.

Yeah, but don't the cables take a crap-kicking when they are located on the front of the downtube, right behind the front wheel?

yup.

I've been an advocate for full length cable housing for a while now. Get the dremel out and remove the cable stops, turning them into cable guides, and run full length housings. Your cables will last much longer and shifting and braking will be very nice with today's compressionless housing (I like the Avid stuff, don't remember right now what they call it).

Yeah, I think if mine were running down the bottom of the down tube I would go full housing as well. A friend of mine has a GT and there is a groove in the top tube for them to run in so they are flush with the rest of the frame. Seems pretty neat.

I would assume top tube cable routing keeps it free from possible damage, but at the same time, the biggest chainring a top pull derailleur can take is a 48...

Well he's getting rid of it soon, so I don't think he'll ever have to worry about it. I also don't know what a normal size is to reference the 48 against. But I would think that a bigger one wouldn't be too necessary in this sport. But again, I have no clue.

I don't like downtube routing. Crap definitely gets kicked up onto the exposed cables which has detrimental (sp) effects on ****ing and the life of the cable. I also like the idea of full-length housing, but I would never do it- too shaky for a dremel. The only positives I can think of are a clean look and a bottom-pull derailleur.

I have a bike with down tube mounted shifter cables and I've never had a problem with them fouling. The only place mud is going to get in is at the rear cable housing and with a simple Shimano grease sealed ferrule end it's not getting in.
http://img129.echo.cx/img129/1747/commuterrd6wt.jpg
As for the cables getting dirty (which is all that's happening unless you're also getting frame damage) who gives a flip? They're not in housing therefore there's no friction loss.

i ran full cable housing on my last frame for the rear brake. After a cleaning i found they were very clean, ide give it a shot. Just a handheld drill will easily make it through those cable stops.

i dont know if any of you have them.... but the antenna tubing that rc cars use is what is on my bike where the cable is exposed. the cable glides through. i think you could get it in long tubes rather that the 10-12 inch ones on rc cars...works flawlessly.

i dont know if any of you have them.... but the antenna tubing that rc cars use is what is on my bike where the cable is exposed. the cable glides through. i think you could get it in long tubes rather that the 10-12 inch ones on rc cars...works flawlessly.
I like IV tubing myself, but I only use it on the rear brake cable that runs directly under my top tube on my commuter so it doesn't rub when I rack it. Why use something that traps moisture?