Brake Setup

[onetrackmind]

This topic has the making of a big faait. And since we're going to barney over it, I may as well pull a punch and ask how can anyone in their right mind want to control the front brake with their left hand? It is....dare I risk it....stupid!

My life is over. I agree with Professor Bornman.

 

Stronger/more dominant hand = most controllable hand = best option to modulate/least likely to do something stupid in an emergency = best option for most effective (front) brake.

[TYGA]

With the advent of disc brakes you certainly do not need a strong hand to be able to stop a bike, I'd say having your clever hand doing the tricky bit keeping your face out the gravel is of much greater importance.

 

No matter how hard I try I can't get my friends to agree that they are ALL wrong with front brake left. The only reason it annoys me is I like swapping and trying different bikes on the trails and it usually puts a bit of a damper on proceedings when you are not used to the brake setup.

 

I bet you half the people on the hub would have to think long and hard about which brake does what....or would have to go look in the garage to check.

[TNOSE_E]

As per motorcycle and bicycle, most braking with the front. Front is right....

 

So I would imagine that it could also depend on whether you are goofy or natural?

Edited December 9, 2010 by TNOSE_E

[Thumper]

Was my old bike setup like that, I now ride the otherway round and have no idea when it changed

Hmmm I see even back then you were intimidated by pure awesomness / awesome balls smothered in awesome sauce, speed and were trying to trick me

[Tankman]

This topic has the making of a big faait. And since we're going to barney over it, I may as well pull a punch and ask how can anyone in their right mind want to control the front brake with their left hand? It is....dare I risk it....stupid!

 

Yup, got to agree here.

Right hand is dominant and have better control.

I would rater grab a handfull of brake with the left hand (rear) and do precision braking with the right (front)

[Mojoman]

Set up like my motorbike - front brake/right hand otherwise I tend to get confused

+1

[ngala24]

Still very close, 14 vs 16 votes

[Tumbleweed]

This topic has the making of a big faait. And since we're going to barney over it, I may as well pull a punch and ask how can anyone in their right mind want to control the front brake with their left hand? It is....dare I risk it....stupid!

 

Surely you mean throw a punch? Pulling a punch means something the total opposite.

[Cassie]

I had to actually go and look....

 

I'm so light on my brakes...always use both and feather the one a bit more than the other...

But it seems...front = LH side for me.... Cane like that from LBS...so why change?

[ngala24]

left hand front taking it at this stage

[manbearpig]

Thats why im asking, i ride with my left controlling my front

Ja, I remember. I had a high speed bail testing riding your Chumba cos of the mixed up levers. Anyone who rides a motorbike would have the front on the right.

[nathrix]

You can think what you want, front brake on my bicycle is on the left and on my motor cycle it's on the right

 

I know my left from my right and don't get confused. I did get tired in basic training with the poor souls that were confused every time when they turned to their army right (left) when the instructor shouted "ReeeeeeeGS SWENK!"

 

PS - my avatar is not to be confused with using the wrong brake, let's just call it a lack of concentration

Edited December 9, 2010 by nathrix™ ®

[pauloc]

Can't believe the split on this one! Thought it'd be an overwhelming majority for left hand rear. Only place I've heard of / seen it the other way around was when I rented a MTB in Croatia....

[Bike Mob]

I ride Front brake left hand:

 

2 reasons

 

Road bike is set up the same way: Front brake and front derailer on the same lever - rear and rear together.

 

On my mtb they are the same as my road bike for easy memory ...so also FR and FR together.

 

I use gripshifts, so if I want to charge into a corner, hit the front brakes hard with my left hand, thus freeing my right hand to do some shifting going into the bend then I can.

 

I have ridden motorcycles my whole life, and it does not interfere with my braking memory. I have also raced motorcycles and ran the gear shift upside down. then jump on a road bike with std right side up gearing and not made a mistake.

 

You should be thinking "with" your controls. Not "About" your controls.

[Guest coenie]

This topic has the making of a big faait. And since we're going to barney over it, I may as well pull a punch and ask how can anyone in their right mind want to control the front brake with their left hand? It is....dare I risk it....stupid!

 

That is like saying that everyone MUST write with their right hand?

[SwissVan]

Only the Illitebikes put the front brake on the wrong side, those that know use the right side.