I have a problem that must not be unique, but can't figure out the best way to resolve it. I live 15-20 minutes from trails and need to put MTB on the rack to drive to it. The problem is that brake cables routing under the top tube are in the way and because of the weight of the bike, can rub and scratch the paint off. One suggestion is to use "bike beam" or tube top bike adapter bar. I am looking for an alternative solution. Please help.

I have never had an issue with cable or housing scratching my paint in the scenario you describle, and my bikes have spent litterally tens of thousands of miles on a hanging rack.

I always secure the bike so it does not swing in the cradles, so that might be why I never had any wear on the paint.

If you are worried about it, just slip something soft like a piece of inner tube or fabric between the frame and the offending cable/housing.

Thanks for responding.
Maybe it depends on what type of rack you have. I use Saris rack similar to pic I attached. Although it has loop ( belt) ) to secure bike form swinging, it is too close to hanging point and does not really prevent biking form swinging completely. I have used it on Cannondale Delta V frame, and the bike has scratches on the frame and also slight damage to frame where the cable housing end fits. Piece of inner tube would protect frame, but would not help with cable housing end.
Now I got nice , like new F1000 and would not like to have the same problem, thus the questions.

Get a rack that doesn’t touch the frame. I like kuat.

Transfer ? Kuat Racks

Kapusta, what kind of bike rack do you use?

[QUOTE=OregonXC;20189638]Get a rack that doesn’t touch the frame. I like kuat.

/QUOTE]
I wish it is as easy. When I lived in USA, I had hitch rack type. Now I live in Japan and hitch is not that common. In addition, installation is 2-3x cost. This is why I purchased the other type of rack.

Thule Spare-Me rack.

It is a rack that mounted on the spare tire on the gate of my CRV.

Looking at the way your rack sits on the car and holds the bike, it does not look as easy to immobilize the bike as it was on my setup.

With the Spare Me, the first bike was right up against the spare tire, so all I had to do was bungee the bottom of the frame or a pedal to the rack or spare tire. The bike is basically pinned up against the spare tire or rack, so there was nowhere for the bike to swing.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

also known as helicopter tape. Since I already posted that

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotch-Moi...AQ56GK32X5ZF7X
This is freaking awesome stuff for things that really take a beating like your chain stays.

THANK YOU ALL for suggestions!

I have something to work with now. I need to figure out how to reduce swinging motion on the rack and add some padding to protect frame from scratches.