stratus5 Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Look, its quite simple...The front brake goes to the right hand, the back brake goes to the left hand. Thats just the way its always been done. Sissy cyclists who over the years used their right hands and neglected their left are slowly corrupting the art of two wheels by putting the back brake in the right hand since this is whats used most agressively on most cycling courses I guess. My synapse are a bit slow. I ride a motorbike everyday, and its got the front brake on the right. Evertime I get on the MTB and grab a handful of left brake (expecting the back brake) I nearly go over the damn handlebars... Why the difference between bikes and motor bikes now? Was not like that when I was younger. I know...just swap them around, which is what I do, but its a pain when you have to bleed hydraulic brakes, new brake cables etc.
AndreZA Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Look' date=' its quite simple...The front brake goes to the right hand, the back brake goes to the left hand. Thats just the way its always been done. [/quote'] Not on any of my bikes I've ever owned.
bob_the_builder Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 It's not a motorbike/bicycle thing... it's a Euro versus the rest thing...
bob_the_builder Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Not on any of my bikes I've ever owned. You've only ever ridden "american" bikes then? Like your cruz, or a giant or something?
AndreZA Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Not on any of my bikes I've ever owned. You've only ever ridden "american" bikes then? Like your cruz' date=' or a giant or something?[/quote'] tons of BMXs = east2x Sancinis = South AfricanCannondale = USSantCruz = US All of them changed by me because that's the way I prefer it. It all comes down to choice. A manufacturer or country can not make you ride something you do not like.
bob_the_builder Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 tons of BMXs = east2x Sancinis = South AfricanCannondale = USSantCruz = US All of them changed by me because that's the way I prefer it. It all comes down to choice. A manufacturer or country can not make you ride something you do not like. Agreed, but that's where the root of the two systems is. It's the same as Euro cars have the indicators on the opposite side of the steering column to the jap ones.
AndreZA Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Agreed' date=' but that's where the root of the two systems is. It's the same as Euro cars have the indicators on the opposite side of the steering column to the jap ones.[/quote'] Believe me, you can change it if you want to. (with a bit of trouble). the same way you can shave the door handles, change the sound system or even change the motor. It all comes down to how important or easy it is to change. Nothing is unchangeable and comes down to choice.
Speed Devil Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Look' date=' its quite simple...The front brake goes to the right hand, the back brake goes to the left hand. Thats just the way its always been done. Sissy cyclists who over the years used their right hands and neglected their left are slowly corrupting the art of two wheels by putting the back brake in the right hand since this is whats used most agressively on most cycling courses I guess. My synapse are a bit slow. I ride a motorbike everyday, and its got the front brake on the right. Evertime I get on the MTB and grab a handful of left brake (expecting the back brake) I nearly go over the damn handlebars... Why the difference between bikes and motor bikes now? Was not like that when I was younger. I know...just swap them around, which is what I do, but its a pain when you have to bleed hydraulic brakes, new brake cables etc.[/quote'] The reason why the back brake is on the left as a general rule of thumb/standard, is because in the old days when bikes still had down tube shifters your right hand done most of the shifting on the rear. So to prevent yourself from going over the bars in an emergency situation while shifting, the left hand would operate the rear brake.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
bob_the_builder Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 The reason why the back brake is on the left as a general rule of thumb/standard' date=' is because in the old days when bikes still had down tube shifters your right hand done most of the shifting on the rear. So to prevent yourself from going over the bars in an emergency situation while shifting, the left hand would operate the rear brake.[/quote'] Exactly, when commondale and co started out, they swapped it over. Why? No one will ever know... There's now a Euro way and the rest of the world.
Speed Devil Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 The reason why the back brake is on the left as a general rule of thumb/standard' date=' is because in the old days when bikes still had down tube shifters your right hand done most of the shifting on the rear. So to prevent yourself from going over the bars in an emergency situation while shifting, the left hand would operate the rear brake.[/quote']Exactly, when commondale and co started out, they swapped it over. Why? No one will ever know... There's now a Euro way and the rest of the world. To make things as simple as possible...keep the rear brake and derailleur on the right and the front brake and derailleur on the left and then just remember....Right= Rear When cabling your front brake, the flow of the cable from the brake lever onto the caliper is a lot smoother if you use the right lever for the front brake. Which also means less resistance inside the cable housing when braking.Speed Devil2008-05-16 03:48:53
bob_the_builder Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 ever know... There's now a Euro way and the rest of the world. To make things as simple as possible...keep the rear brake and derailleur on the right and the front brake and derailleur on the left and then just remember....Right= Rear Speaking of which, I've seen pics of Merckx and his son riding bikes with the entire drivetrain on the left... Dunno which side was which brake though... Right Rear doesn't work for me... motorbike thing... Want bicycle same as motorbike...
slowpoke Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 when i bought my first mtb (the schwinn) the first thing i did was ask the shop to put front brakes to the right. i can NOT cope with things the wrong way araound. before 2003 i'd ridden wayyyyy more motorbikes than bicycles.just swap them over cos otherwise you'll never be really comfy.
Hog_ Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Being right-handed, I have better control in the right hand, which means I can feather the brakes better with my right. I had my brakes swapped around so that my left hand can happily lock up the rear while the right does the important stopping. Also, I used to ride motorbikes, so it just seems more natural to have the front brake on the right.
Speed Devil Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Brakes are for sissies. This debate is pointless. This not a debate. It's just a matter of personal preference. Then we could say that helmets are for sissies too
FlyingCheetah Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Right - Rear derailer & rear brake Left - Front derailer & front brake.... What's the issue?
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