Hybrid Bicycles - Trek 720 Front derailleur cable problem

Hi, I have a Trek 720 hybrid, I just got it out of storage and am trying to shake the rust off my bike and my legs. Both of the shifter cables are rusty,I removed the front shifter cable and like a dummy I cant figure out how to route it under the bottom bracket into the bolt that tightens onto the cable at the derailleur. What am I missing other than common sense?

Are you sure the cable is routed under the bottom-bracket? The front-derailleur on the Trek hybrid I have attaches to the cable from above (top-pull). Not being familiar with your bike, it wouldn't hurt to make sure: Look under the bottom-bracket. If you see guides for cables under there, then you can figure it out from there. How does your rear-derailleur's cable attach? Above or below?

I would certainly suggest you get new cable (for both derailleurs) and new housing as well. If you're not familiar with working on bikes - or don't have professional bicycle cable-cutters - it might well be cheaper to have your LBS do the work for you. Perhaps even a full tune-up? Then you could take some time to read up on bike-mechanics and develop a tool-collection.

Good luck!

Thanks Panther,there are guides under the BB, from there up to the derailleur it looks like there should be some guide to keep the cable from rubbing the derailleur as it moves in and out but I dot see anything.

Thanks Panther,there are guides under the BB, from there up to the derailleur it looks like there should be some guide to keep the cable from rubbing the derailleur as it moves in and out but I dot see anything.

Not sure what you mean by rubbing the derailleur. Maybe pics? On the front derailleur, the housing ends at the braze-on stop on the the downtube and the inner cable continues down the tube, under the BB (through the plastic guide) up between the chainstays and fastens to the derailleur arm. Shouldn't be any rubbing.