Re-cabling this old Specialized HardRock and I’m having a conundrum with this rear brake cable as it goes from the cable stop behind the head tube to the cable guide on the seat post collar (cantilever brakes).
The cable stop behind the head tube is clearly designed to not include a cable continuing along the top tube toward the back because it’s rounded off with no insertion point.
I put the little rubber bumpers on the bare cable to avoid it scratching the top tube, but when the cable gets to the cable guide at the seat post it brings the cable out all far from the frame it looks odd and the bumpers don’t even touch it.

I’m not sure if I remember pulling off some sort of housing from there during tear down but maybe I did? Even if there was how would it also not float out there given the angle of the cable guide entry point on the seat collar?

Heres some pics:





Maybe someday the forum software will learn how to accept portrait oriented phone pics- sorry they are sideways...