General Cycling Discussion - Why is the right brake lever always for the back tire?

I was going to switch mine today because I use my front brakes more than my back, and I am right handed. But then I thought about it and it occured to me that if I was to do such an outrageous thing, some rare bike god would probably cast a lighting bolt apon my bike...

Anyone know what its like this on every single bike?

In the UK it's the other way round. I prefer it the normal way (left for front, right for rear). It makes sense to me, as it corresponds with the derailleurs. Plus I'm left-handed.

All my bikes are left-rear, right-front, but then, I built them all myself.

The rear caliper is actuated on the left side - routing the rear cable down the left side gives a bit more slack to make a wider radius loop around the steering head.

I run my brakes right/front.

Its not always. I don't run it that way.



The rear caliper is actuated on the left side - routing the rear cable down the left side gives a bit more slack to make a wider radius loop around the steering head.


That might explain why it started, but it doesn't explain why it continued. People got used to it, Having a small handicap in my left hand I had to adapt so I had more power/control on the front brake, so I switched. Todays brakes, especially on mountain bikes don't suffer from caliper based cable routing issues

The reason is since most people are right handed, they wanted the less powerful brake tome controlled by the right hand. The theory is if you panic-brake, your right hand will grip the brakes stronger than the left and you're more likey to go over the bars.

The reason is since most people are right handed, and they set up the 'primary' brake to be controlled by the right hand. They incorrectly assume that the rear brake is the 'primary' brake.

I run right-front.

The reason is since most people are right handed, and they set up the 'primary' brake to be controlled by the right hand. They incorrectly assume that the rear brake is the 'primary' brake.

I run right-front.

Try going full speed and use your "primary" brake. Afterwards, show us some pics of your face. Thanks.

Typically it is left-front/right-rear in right-hand drive countries (like the US) and left-rear/right-front in left-hand drive countries (like the UK).

I've decided to confuse myself and leave mine the way they came, so my road bike is left-front/right-rear, and my folder is right-front/left-rear. For added confusion, the motorcycle of course is right-front, right foot-rear. ;)

haha

Because, in cases where one would use hand signals, such as I do when riding in traffic, which is almost never (ride in traffic, that is, I signal, but ride trail/off road) the right hand would signal, the left hand would be available to use the only effective brake, the front one. Very simple.

Because, in cases where one would use hand signals, such as I do when riding in traffic, which is almost never (ride in traffic, that is, I signal, but ride trail/off road) the right hand would signal, the left hand would be available to use the only effective brake, the front one. Very simple.
Same reason I run right/front. I signal with my left arm. I'm right handed, it keeps my dexterous hand controlling the bike and the power brake in that hand.

Tradition. No other reason. (Either hand can engage either brake equally well. With disastrous results if one is not careful.)

I suspect it's a matter of tradition with no real reason.

If you want a "just so" sort of story, consider the mnemonic: leFt Front, Right Rear

'on every single bike' . . . never been abroad, huh?!
Really screw things up and and use a double-pull cable/lever to actuate one brake . . . you can dispense with the extraneous lever.

Because when you work on a bike in the stand with the drivetrain facing you, the nearest brake stops the rear wheel. It's a PITA when it's reversed and I charge those customers extra.









(kidding).

Because when you work on a bike in the stand with the drivetrain facing you, the nearest brake stops the rear wheel. It's a PITA when it's reversed and I charge those customers extra.









(kidding).

we do. none standard drive trains cost extra to work on.
usually. those people can work on their own bikes.

Reason #2: There is no primary brake, it's a myth.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/Wordbiker/CopyofErikbiking.jpg

As you can see, both brakes are in use. For mountain biking, especially the DH category, both brakes are needed and one or the other will become the "primary" brake depending on the situation. Sure, the front brake takes more of the load due to inertial transfer, hence the use of a larger disc rotor on the front, but there are times where it would be death (or injury at the least) to grab more front brake than rear.

Reason #3: You shift more often on the right.

If one makes the assumption that the front brake is the more powerful (true, but see Reason #2), having the front brake on the left allows the most powerful brake to be used for simultaneous shifting and braking, useful in almost any discipline of cycling under the right conditions (track bikes excepted...meaning bikes on a velodrome). Major shifts are made with the left hand, but only when the terrain varies drastically. Braking and shifting simultaneously is almost always under duress and with little time to think about it.

Doubt me? Try shifting and braking at the same time with just your right hand. You'll thank me if it's not your front brake lever.

All my bikes that have handbrakes have Right front because that is what I've grown up with. I'd probably injure myself with the brake levers the wrong way round. I'll agree it makes shifting a rear derailleur while stopping harder, but...



Left hand front brakes are just wrong.:D

Left hand front brakes are just wrong.:D

Right hand, Rear brake, Rear derailleur, Right on. :D

...and like it matters on a recumbent. You can't even hop a curb. :rolleyes:

The braking while signaling reason is bull. Any braking that the rear brake isn't able to cope with, is too powerful to be done with only one hand on the bar. You'd turn and fall instantly.

Brakes?

Right hand, Rear brake, Rear derailleur, Right on. :D

...and like it matters on a recumbent. You can't even hop a curb. :rolleyes:

I can't hop a curb on any of my other bikes either... due to pilot error.:o

... and if you're using the left hand to brake the front wheel, you're doing it backwards.:p

In the UK it's the other way round. I prefer it the normal way (left for front, right for rear). It makes sense to me, as it corresponds with the derailleurs. Plus I'm left-handed.
I'm also a lefty, so I don't think I'd change it.

I grew up using traditionally set up brakes which are right rear and left front (here in Canada) but have switched to a right front / left rear on nearly all my bikes.

I ride fixed gear bicycles (most with single front brakes) and if I am to signal and brake at the same time my right hand needs to do the braking to allow me the ability to signal.

This makes so much sense I have converted nearly all my bikes to what some here call a moto style as I now find that I am always reaching for the right lever to make stops... I rarely use rear brakes even when they are there.

Modulation is not an issue.

Typically it is left-front/right-rear in right-hand drive countries (like the US) and left-rear/right-front in left-hand drive countries (like the UK).

I've decided to confuse myself and leave mine the way they came, so my road bike is left-front/right-rear, and my folder is right-front/left-rear. For added confusion, the motorcycle of course is right-front, right foot-rear. ;)

For even more added confusion, you could have a bike like my best friend's 72 Triumph Spitfire. Left foot rear brake, right foot shift. That would confuse the hell out of me, if he'd ever let me ride it. Also, no turn signals for added fun.

http://www.bradsbikes.net/image_collection/picview.aspx?maxWidth=500&pic=20050410193921.jpg

Almost exactly the same as this one.

When I rode off-road, I used the rear brake quite a bit, mostly for controlling speed. [Not a fast or serious rider.] When I need to stop, my left hand is more than able to stop the bike using the front brake with the modulation required--but I just feel like my dominate right hand is better on the rear brake, for off-road/low traction situations. Plus, it's "always been that way"--why would I change? Only driven a motorcycle once, and don't intend to again, so there's no confusion there.

But, each to their own.

left-rear/right-front in left-hand drive countries (like the UK).

Do you mean left hand drive as we drive on the left hand side of the road?

Because left hand drive over here means the steering wheel on the left, which isn't done in this country

My earlier referrence to signalling was that bicycles/bicyclists can legally signal right and stops with a right hand/arm. It isn't bull, it's Washington state law. 'Spent 48 years under it.

Because i'm not a commie *******!

Just a thought, but it seems that being confused on the bike while riding around people can jeopardize everyone's safety.

Try going full speed and use your "primary" brake. Afterwards, show us some pics of your face. Thanks.

My face looks fine. At full speed the rear brake isn't going to do squat - tire just slides. All the power is in the front. The rear is just control & heat absorption. The front takes control, so that's where the master hand works best.

Although I have bikes set up LF and RF, never a problem.

If YOU hurt your face using the front brake at speed, then YOU need to learn how to ride a bicycle properly.

In the UK it's the other way round.

Right. And, that's because the usual recommendation that I always saw was to use the traffic-side arm for signaling.

Secondly, most people think that using only the front brake will cause an endo. Plus, if either brake is going to lock up or be sloppily modulated, it'll be safer if it's the rear brake than the front.

Put those two points together and you end up with the rear brake on the curb side (left side in the UK, right side everywhere else).

I suspect it's a matter of tradition with no real reason.

That's what I think too and I've been messing with bikes for a long time. Way back in the 60's, when I started, somebody told me it's because the rear shifter is on the right which makes me wonder why is that?

On the other hand, why change? Most of the people who ask me to reverse their brake levers are riders who want the front brake lever to be the same as their motorcycle. I once had a bicycle cop who wanted to be able get at his gun more quickly with his right hand. It's usually not a big deal to do but sometimes the cable routing to the rear brake can look a little goofy.

I too haven't a clue why the rear brake is on the right, but I'm not changing tradition, since I can just see myself crash landing by instinctively grabbing a handful of front brake on the right, while signaling with my left hand in a hard stopping scenerio.

Typically it is left-front/right-rear in right-hand drive countries (like the US) and left-rear/right-front in left-hand drive countries (like the UK).
All of the bicycles I bought in Germany and every bike I ever saw being ridden in Germany is right hand -front wheel brake.

All of the bicycles I bought in Germany and every bike I ever saw being ridden in Germany is right hand -front wheel brake.

The German bike I bought for my father was right/front.

I have my rear brake connected to my left and right foot.

Do you mean left hand drive as we drive on the left hand side of the road?

Because left hand drive over here means the steering wheel on the left, which isn't done in this country

Sorry, maybe I used the wrong terminology. I meant driving on the left side of the road.

For even more added confusion, you could have a bike like my best friend's 72 Triumph Spitfire. Left foot rear brake, right foot shift. That would confuse the hell out of me, if he'd ever let me ride it. Also, no turn signals for added fun.

http://www.bradsbikes.net/image_collection/picview.aspx?maxWidth=500&pic=20050410193921.jpg

Almost exactly the same as this one.

I wanna try it! :D

The new Rudge is perfect...the front rod brake is on right hand.

No Sheldon in this thread yet? http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#whichside

I'm left-front because that's how I learned and it still works.

Because, in cases where one would use hand signals, such as I do when riding in traffic, which is almost never (ride in traffic, that is, I signal, but ride trail/off road) the right hand would signal, the left hand would be available to use the only effective brake, the front one. Very simple.

I swapped mine for the exact opposite reason. The front brake being stronger, I found it awkward to brake front, signal left, risk swerving. It makes absolutely no sense to have the right brake front for this reason. Especially with my discs. I've found no difference whatsoever with the exception of signaling.

"Most of the people who ask me to reverse their brake levers are riders who want the front brake lever to be the same as their motorcycle."

Don't know why they are front/left on US bikes, but I swap mine over for this very reason. Much easier than swapping a motorcycle front brake to a left hand lever...

Not that there aren't plenty of people who ride both and don't swap things around, but if I get in an emergency situation on either, it's good to have the same kind of motion or reflexive reaction on both machines where split seconds could make all the difference in the world.

Put those two points together and you end up with the rear brake on the curb side (left side in the UK, right side everywhere else).

Except , India, Japan, Thailand, Australia, NZ, South Africa, Indonesia...

i never stopped to think about this... i've always used my rear brake for most of my general braking... i use both when i actually need to stop fast... rarely do i ever use just the front brake... been doing that since i learned to brake on a wee tiny bike with training wheels... those little bikes only have back brakes...

It's Right-Front as standard in Oz, and I really had hassles when we hired bikes to ride around San Francisco. I just couldn't remember that my brakes were reversed and I kept skidding the rear tyre. I'm very used to throwing the front brake on and using my braced arms and bodyweight to keep the back tyre down, but with the rear brake under my right hand, it almost ended in disaster several times.

For the record, I have no trouble with braking and gearing down at the same time with my right hand; I'm just used to it. I grab the brake lever with my third & fourth, the bar with my second & fifth fingers and my thumb's on the shifter. *shrugs* It works.

I was going to switch mine today because I use my front brakes more than my back, and I am right handed. But then I thought about it and it occured to me that if I was to do such an outrageous thing, some rare bike god would probably cast a lighting bolt apon my bike...

Anyone know what its like this on every single bike?

It is because most people are right handed and therefore that hand is stronger, more dominant. Theory is (and most people would argue with it) that in a critical situation you will use your dominant hand, squeeze tight and quick, and flip the bike.

Having said that, there is strong evidence that using the front brake will stop you faster, and is more efficient and cotrollable. Many on this forum have switche them, and I believe most fixed gear people use a front brake only.

Brakes?

:lol: