General Cycling Discussion - should I disconnect my brake cable when I put my bike on this car rack?

A friend of mine let me borrow his Yakima Joe Pro bike rack. When I went to mount my bike on it I noticed that my brake cable runs along the bottom of the frame of my bike. When I put my bike on this rack, the cable is pressed up against the frame of the bike. I decided to disconnect my rear brake cable. Is this necessary? Do I have to disconnect my cable every time I mount my bike on this rack? This is probably a newbie question but... what are the adverse effects of leaving it connected? The only thing I can think of is that it will stretch out the cable and I'll have to adjust my brakes periodically. Thanks.

Rack is a Yakima Joe Pro
http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/trunk/superjoe-pro-2

Bike is Giant Escape 2
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.2/8910/48614/

No. The weight of the bike will not harm the cable. If your concerned about the finish on the bike, slip a old washcloth or something between the cable and frame.

Definitely not going to stretch the cable. Your talking about the mear weight of the bike versus grabbing a handful of breaks while riding. Not even close.

But yea, slide something between there to save the paint if your concerned .

+1, cable pressed against the paint may make a mark in the paint, but
you can slip a rag in between and probably solve that.

I take one of those pool noodles and cut it into 3 or 4 lengths and then take a serrated knife and slit one side and slip it over the top tube on my car rack or as shown on my cleaning rack. Here is a old one I have been using a few years. Mostly protects the paint but helps with the cable also.


http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/51948/2846840740037547136S500x500Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2846840740037547136FNprBM)

Thanks so much everyone!

All the advice given is good, but I would like to add one thing:

Cables on bikes do not 'stretch' - this is a misnomer. When bikes are new, the outer cable housing will compress slightly, which has a similar result to what would happen if the actual inner cable were to stretch.

If the inner cable is pulled on too hard (like, damn hard, like it got caught on a fence post while you rode by or something), the housing will sometimes fail, or if the cable is frayed or very rusty it might snap, buy I have never ever seen an inner cable that has stretched.

On a new bike, where the cables are properly connected and assembled (and housings are properly seated and have the end caps - ferrules - installed) then there is a period during break-in where the housing will initially compress and the cable tension needs readjustment, but after that it wll be good for years.