Originally Posted by
kross57
Interesting. Almost every vintage bike I have ever seen has the cables in front of the bar. Is there some advantage to switching or is it just aesthetic?
That's probably because it's been 30 years + since non aero brake levers have been standard, and people no longer know how to set them up.
I can assure you that the vintage correct way is behind the bars. There were always exemptions for personal preference - anyone can set up their bike however they like, but no bike would have left a professional shop floor with cables in front.