I am wondering about this... for front derailleur cable routing, I understand that top tube routing is best to avoid the cable getting fouled with dirt. Does anyone have experience with cyclocross models with downtube cable routing? How do you keep the front derailleur cable clean, and dirt out of the housing?
It isn't just for keeping them clean. It also helps to prevent them from getting snagged. During dismounts, especially in the middle of the pack at the beginning of a race, there are feet and bikes flying everywhere at the first dismount. Cables on the top tube are much less likely to get snagged by a foot, pedal, skewer, or whatever else the sven nis wannbe thinkin he's gonna bunny hop the barriers forgot to bolt down. Trust me, I speak from experience on this issue. Also, though it's not much of an issue with cyclocross, I had a good sized rock pop up and smack my downtube shifter cable in a MTB race about 15 years ago. It didn't last the rest of the race.
On my CC and MTB bikes I do exactly what the previous answerer wrote. The cables have a teflon liner the whole length. The one thing to consider then is the ferrule and cable braze-on openings. Look for ferrules that have openings large enough for a liner + cable. MTB brake ferrules will work. If the braze ons aren't open enough, and your confident of your handskills, a dremel tool with an engraving cutter will slot out the hole nicely (don't do this if you've had no experience, though I suspect you have)
On my mountain bike I use Aztec Teflon cables/housings. I'm sure other brands exist too. The cable is sheathed in a teflon impregnated plastic cover which then goes right into the cable housing. Not only does it stay cleaner, the cable works more smoothly then any I've ever used. I've had this same cable on my rear derailleur for 8 years (1000's of miles) or so and it still works like the day I installed it. At the time a pair cost under $20 I'm sure. A bonus is that your shifting will be crisper than it ever was.
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