Moolz Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Being totally new to MTB, I purchased a bike last week Saturday.After chatting to a few mates - it seems as though my front and rear brakes are on the opposite sides... Is there a standard for this? Set up on mine - right brake = rear, left brake = front...
stewie911 Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 It can be either way. Depends which way you prefer it.You get left hand rear levers, left hand front levers etc
AndreZA Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Who ever told you it is wrong is nuts. It's personal choice just like shoes, frame colour and you women.
CAAD4 Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Whatever you feel comfortable with. Just don't ride anyone else's bike anytime soon if you go different to the norm, as you may end up going over the bars..
RudoJ Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Being totally new to MTB, I purchased a bike last week Saturday.After chatting to a few mates - it seems as though my front and rear brakes are on the opposite sides... Is there a standard for this? Set up on mine - right brake = rear, left brake = front...Mine is the same. It Just makes sense:Left is front brakes and front DerailerRight is rear brakes and rear derailer
levett Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 As everyone say's - personal preference! I, personally have front on the left, and rear on the right - left = front derailleur and front brake, right = rear derailleur and rear brake (oh and I'm left handed) - this is even though I also ride a motorbike (which has the front brake on the right, and the clutch on the left). Not relevant to SA, but this is the legal position in the UK: Convention in the UK is to operate rear brake with left hand, and front brake with right hand. In Europe, and in the US, it's the other way round! So, bikes made for the UK have to be rigged up for our way of doing things. Bicycle retailers have to fit brakes as per the quality standard BS6102 - a legal requirement - and this requires British bikes to be displayed with brakes operated left-hand for rear brake; right hand for front brake. Once the customer owns the bike, he or she could change the brakes around, or could request the bike shop to do so. UK bike journalists who go to trade shows to test bikes have a lot of fun asking mechanics to switch over the brakes to the 'British way'. This rarely happens and it can be, ahem, interesting to ride with the brakes dialled in the 'wrong' way. .As you can see - confusing! (always be careful if you ride someone elses bike!)
Brighter-Lights Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Whatever you're comfortable with BUT... All motorcycles have their front brake lever on the right... I also prefer my front brake on the right.
SwissVan Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Mine is the same. It Just makes sense:Left is front brakes and front DerailerRight is rear brakes and rear derailer Wal to me having the front brake on the right makes sense cause I'm used to motorcycle front brakes being on the right. Personaly I dont think about which side what lever is on, my fingers just know where to go and if you have to swop my brakes / gears around I'll be in big dwang.
Wernervdmerwe Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 I ran mine right front as well, but now all the guys I ride with has right rear. Due to the joy of swapping bikes and seeing how different setup can change something, I have relented and is taking the time to get used to having my right hand control my rear brake. Interesting stuff!
Moolz Posted October 22, 2010 Author Posted October 22, 2010 Awesome - thanks for the comments...I suppose I would need to ride a bike with the opposite configuration to mine to determine what my preference is...
RudoJ Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Wal to me having the front brake on the right makes sense cause I'm used to motorcycle front brakes being on the right. Personaly I dont think about which side what lever is on, my fingers just know where to go and if you have to swop my brakes / gears around I'll be in big dwang.Guess I find my setup logical because I've never ridden a bike...Can probably fiddle around a bit and see if the oppsosite work just as well or even better
levett Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Oh, and some disc brake levers can not simply be 'swapped over' (some can though) - they are bought either: - front leftor- front right and - front rightor- front left You can 'swap the hoses' over, but that requires (probably) new olives (seals) and for the brakes to be bled - i.e. it's not as easy to 'trial' as it was with V brakes! (though in every other way, disc brakes are bitter - my opinion!)
Thumper Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 Wal to me having the front brake on the right makes sense cause I'm used to motorcycle front brakes being on the right. Personaly I dont think about which side what lever is on, my fingers just know where to go and if you have to swop my brakes / gears around I'll be in big dwang. Think all the MX guys run their brakes that way round!
Peewee1 Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 At the end of the day, if you ride motorcycles as well, it should be the same as that(front on the right).
levett Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 At the end of the day, if you ride motorcycles as well, it should be the same as that(front on the right).Not for me - I ride a motorbike, and deliberately have my bicylce brakes with the rear on the right, and the front on the left!
Weight Weenie Posted October 22, 2010 Posted October 22, 2010 If you're right hand dominant it only makes sense to have the front brake (main/most powerful/important) on the right as you should have more power in that hand and thus be able to brake better
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