MrJacques Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 (edited) I have noticed that most new bikes are set up the 'American' way with the right hand brake lever being used for the back brake. It's one of the 1st things I swap around. All the bikes I had growing up used the moto style, so it's just more natural for me. How do you have your brakes set up? Edited November 3, 2011 by Jacquers
jannosmit Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 I have mine American. Whatever floats your boat. Braking is all on instinct. I prefer it American because my right hand is dominant, in an emergency I won't summersault over the bars, only reason.
MrJacques Posted November 3, 2011 Author Posted November 3, 2011 Yeah, it's more a personal preference thing than anything. My instinct is to use the left hand for the rear brake. With time I would get used to it the other way around if need be.
MrJacques Posted November 3, 2011 Author Posted November 3, 2011 YAWN!!!! Indeed, I'm a little bored at the office
AndreZA Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Yeah, it's more a personal preference thing than anything. My instinct is to use the left hand for the rear brake. With time I would get used to it the other way around if need be. Why do you have to get use to it? Ride what is comfortable to you.
Kranswurm Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Funny enough road bike American(why is it called American?)Â MTB Moto
MrJacques Posted November 3, 2011 Author Posted November 3, 2011 Only need to get used to it if you are on someone else's bike and they have a different setup.
Domestiquehated Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 A Brit explained it to me thusly: Imagine you are descending a hill on a road bike... You need to make a right hand turn at the bottom of the hill while still travelling at speed. Because you are a law abiding cyclist who is always keen to uplift the image of the cycling fraternity, you wish to indicate your turn by raising your right arm and pointing in that direction. Now imagine that a sudden obstacle is observed in the road ahead and it is rapidly approaching. Because the bike is a bit wobbly with only one hand on the handlebars it is tricky to take violent avoiding action. HOWEVER, in an attempt to proactively minimise the medical bills you can tap off some speed by pulling the brake with your left hand. Oh, so it was your FRONT brake on the left hand side? Too bad for you...
kosmonooit Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 If you ride (or have ridden) an motorcycle, right front!  But whatever, make sure all your bikes have the set-ups, helps to avoid faceplants. The thing that I get mixed up on is all those over damn levers on shock locks - is it ON or is it OFF?
patches Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Why do you have to get use to it? Ride what is comfortable to you. or ride the way your bike came cos swopping sides means swopping hoses and bleeding brakes.
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