I know they drive on the wrong side of the road..

[Slow6]

I always thought the standard was rear brake to the left hand. Every bike I have ever owned was that way.
I finally got to take the new/old ground control out for a proper spin today and had not even noticed until using the brakes in anger that it was bum about :?
The chap I picked up the bike from shipped it over from the states himself and never rode it.. do different countries have different standards?
I'm sure I could get used to riding on the wrong side of the road.. but I don't think I'll ever get used to locking the front wheel up unexpectedly :shock:

stupid question I know.

 

[Easy_Rider]

Yep, they have front brake on left hand. They may argue it makes sense but i ask you, which way round are motorbikes throughout the world

I've only recently found this out too, my brothers friend got caught out in France when he bought a bike there and subsequently nearly went straight over the bars!

I thought we were alone in the world, glad there are others with common sense too!





And if anyone says anything about the driving, just ask them which side they used to drive on and most were on the left

 

[Slow6]

and subsequently nearly went straight over the bars!

As did I today.. my first steep hill climb in over 10 years and then locking up my front wheel while trying to fight off the fire in my chest on the way down.. aaagh I remember what that slow flight over the bars feels like and I'm pretty certain I'm not going to bounce like I used to.

rest of the ride was fun

righto!.. thanks for the quick answer, I'll go and un-Americanize it right now.

 

[bduc61]

well I'll defend the french side

if you are right handed ( which statistically is the majority) then it does make sense to have rear brake on right hand as you 'd better use your stronger hand on the brake that even if you block it, will not "summersault you" ( especially as a "reflex braking" would make you less subtle with the pressure)

the debate is open as which brake you should use more ( front or rear - I remenber that Sheldon Brown says you ought to use front more ?) :?:

 

[perry]

You've got to be a special kind of moron to pull so hard on a front brake that it lifts the rear wheel to the point where you don't relinquish your grip and let the bike drop but instead hold fast and go over .

We drive/ride on the left because when we controlled most of the world and had proper fights face to face with johnny foreigner the vast majority of people were right handed and would hold their sword in the right hand and approach from the left .

Forget motorized bicycles , the safety bicycle predates that by a significant amount , hmm i wonder where the term "motorbike" derives . The naturally stronger hand is the right and the stronger brake is the front , thats why a lot of cars stuck with drums at the rear for so long and now discs at all four corners are so common the rears are a lot smaller compared to the front .

Picture a scene where your riding down a hill , you want to turn off to the right shortly , cutting across the flow of inattentive motorists . You need to indicate to let all the cars passing you know your sick of that road and want another so you stick out your right hand . Now i personally would rather have my left hand left to deal with the rear : a sliding rear wheel is a whole lot easier to control than a front that has already left you lying on the ground because it was too much for the tyre to deal with turning and braking on an angle . A left turn isn't as dangerous , theres no cutting across tonnes of speeding metal , its just a matter of turning off , if you fall its unlikely you will end up under a car .

 

[DoctorRad]

You've got to be a special kind of moron to pull so hard on a front brake that it lifts the rear wheel to the point where you don't relinquish your grip and let the bike drop but instead hold fast and go over.

Or, be seven years old (Alex), riding your first proper mountain bike on which your stepdad-to-be (me) has just set up a lovely front XT V-brake newly purchased at the Bristol bike jumble.

His first downhill on the new bike, got up a wee bit too much speed, grabbed a gert big handful of front brake and went sailing right over the bars. Oh how I tried so very hard not to laugh like a drain. He bounced very well and got some cool bruises.

Dr Matt

 

[Slow6]

You've got to be a special kind of moron

Nup.. Just a moron, definitely not special :shock: but thanks for the kind words anyway.

I think it's just down to what you're used to.. muscle memory I guess. even after so long out of the saddle the left hand to the front brake just feels wrong.

 

[bduc61]

You've got to be a special kind of moron

Nup.. Just a moron, definitely not special :shock: but thanks for the kind words anyway.

I think it's just down to what you're used to.. muscle memory I guess. even after so long out of the saddle the left hand to the front brake just feels wrong.

would say the same for the reverse continental setup
if you have been taught like that, difficult to change

 

[perry]

Ouch

You know what i mean , an adult on the roads needs enough experience not to grab a handful , whichever brake it is . I set up children's bikes with a lot of flex in the front brake , lots of modulation so it isnt snatchy . Sometimes crappy plastic levers give enough

I once had to set up a bike for a bloke who could only use his right hand ( i didn't want to ask why ) front brake was the middle finger , rear was inboard and under that so used the index , rear mech was a rapidfire and a friction thumbie handled the front mech .

 

[BG]

Just one more tip - and it's only applicable you're using V-brakes:

You may want to replace the noodle on the front with one that has more of an arc on it as odds are if the bike is from the US it has one on the front with only a 90 degree bend. When the cable for the front comes from the LH lever there is less of a bend to the cable outer so this is fine, but when it comes from the RH one you may want one with more of an angle - about 120 degrees I think.

Check in your LBS, they should be able to help you out.

Probably doesn't make much of a diference... but hey.