Originally Posted by
Chombi1
Never saw the reason or logic to route cables in front of the handlebar.
Not sure why people still consider doing such.....
Here’s Sheldon Brown’s take on it:
- The traditional way to run exposed cables is so that they loop up and over the back of the handlebars. This provides the smoothest, most gradual curves in most cases.
- In the case of bicycles with cyclecomputers or stem shifters, it is usually preferable to run the cables under the bars so that they won't encumber access to the computer or shifters.
- Under-the-bar routing is also desirable for bicycles with unusually tall or short-reach stems, so that the rear cable won't have to make a sharp bend at the top tube.