workingbike

I don't know why it is, but at least in North America, bikes come from the store with the back brake controlled by the right hand. From memory, in the UK, they have the front brake on the right. I Always change them over to give me the front on the right. I do this because I used to use motorcycles and I need the extra control I get from being right handed, your front brake is the most important, it gives you the most stopping power, it is the one you don't want to lock up!

I don't know why anyone would have it any other way. Whats your feeling?

Hobartlemagne 

I like right for rear, left for front, just out of habit.

Sheldon Brown explains why he likes your way here: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

HillRider

I'm left-handed so the conventional way seems correct to me.

I believe the original reasoning was that the front brake is "too powerful" so riders should use their weaker hand to avoid locking the front wheel and/or causing endos. No, it doesn't make sense as your "strong hand" should have better control and modulation.

vpiuva

My guess is since most people are right handed; someone way back when decided it was safer to put the more powerful brake in the weaker hand to prevent inexperienced riders from endoing.

edit: HR is too fast for me

workingbike

Yes, I thought that part of it was the fear of grabbing too big a handful and losing traction or going over the handlebars. I remember reading, back before sport motorcycles became more common in the US, that a survey of motorcycle injuries showed a high percentage had broken right fingers, where the brake lever had been pushed back on the fingers, which were still wrapped around the bar. i.e. not using the front brake.

Which reminds me, I need to do some more practice on emergency stops, that is, bum back behind the saddle. So far I only used it once, a few years ago, but I certainly need it then!

operator

Non-issue. Do whatever feels comfortable for you. Just make sure you tell someone you reversed the brakes if you lend your bike to someone else please.

This is a very good idea. I encourage everyone to do this. It might save you from serious injury sometime.

biknbrian

I used to ride both motorcycles and bicycles, though now I'm selling my motorized toys. I have never had any trouble going from one to the other. I just know what to do somehow. Incedentally I seem to have no trouble going from brifters to thumb/index-finger to thumb/thumb MTB shifters either.

bjkeen

I have two bikes with left hand front braking and one bike with right hand front braking. No problems here; I think I may like right-front better.

JeanCoutu

Most of my bikes are setup right front, lets me signal with left arm while being able to brake harder if I have to. My icebikes have been mostly setup right rear for the same reason.

Retro Grouch 

I normally set them up the conventional American way because - well - I'm an American. It's the way that I've always done it and nobody has ever given me a convincing reason to change. I've reversed the brakes for a few customers when they've asked so I don't really care.

One issue you may encounter, depending on the bike, is how the cable housings line up with the brake calipers. As a general rule on the bikes that I've worked on, the conventional American way lines up better.

El Julioso

Heh, I fractured my right arm in the UK due to the "reversed" levers. Tried to slide the bike sideways a bit with some good 'ol fashioned rear wheel lock-up to dodge a car that seemed rather intent on running into me... you can imagine the rest.

Braking power is really a non-issue with any properly-tuned bike that has either v-brakes or disc brakes. Either wheel can be locked up with one or two fingers of either hand.

I prefer the right-rear and left-front brake setup for 4 reasons:
1) I grew up on bikes set up this way

2) The cable housings tend to line up better

3) Any right-hander who plays guitar will probably have a more dexterous left hand

4) The way I often dismount my bike is to clip out my left foot, lean the bike very far to the left, and slide. I somehow manage to lay the bike down and stand up in one smooth motion. I could not do this if the rear brake lever was on the left side, because my left arm is simply too far away from the lever to grasp it near the end of the slide. I can't slide like this on the drive side of the bike, either, because I might bend the rear derailleur hanger in doing so.

Kommisar89

Yeah, well, they drive on the wrong side of the road in Britain too. (Just kidding, don't flame me all you Brits out there). It's the way I've always done it so I don't think about it. The dexterity and strength is not that different between my hands so I doubt that it matters at all. I try really hard NOT to lock up the wheels cuz I don't like wearing holes in $60 tires. Not that I'm arguing against practicing emergency stops if you can do it. I use all same safe driving techniques on my bike as I do in my car so I rarely find the need for it. I see a LOT of guys who don't follow that practice. Sometimes that makes it hard to keep up with a group like when they're running wheel to wheel in a pace line or running through intersections without slowing down but I don't have a death wish.

Treefox

He he!

That's the American attitude towards everything, isn't it?

HillRider

Before you get too smug, remember the headline in the London newspaper a few years ago:

"Fog In Channel. Continent Isolated"

Retro Grouch 

That's an interesting comment coming from a country that thinks the left side of the street is right.

Wordbiker

If you use a workstand you'll appreciate why the rear brake is on the right:

With the drivetrain also on the right, it's much easier to reach the brake and stop the rear wheel.

HillRider

Excellent point. That's a real finger saver.

operator

Bah, not really. One brake lever is going to have to be on the wrong side. No matter which way you set it up.

San Rensho 

I like left for front because with brake shifters, you can brake and simultaneously downshift. I ride motorcycles also and its funny, I never confuse the front brake going from one to the other.

ZenNMotion

I race cyclocross, where the convention is left/rear because you normally dismount for barriers and run-ups on the left, away from your drivetrain, with your right hand grabbing your top tube. You don't want to be using your front brake to control your speed when there is no weight on your saddle unless you want to face-plant under your bike. I don't want to rewire my brain depending on which bike I ride, so I set them all up "backward". But this also has an advantage when commuting in traffic, as its more important to signal left turns than right (in the US) and you can still keep most of your braking power (the front brake) while signaling (like at speed or going downhill). Even more important on my fixed gear in traffic, with only a front brake, it's better on the right so you can make left turns, signal and still stop in a hurry if needed. No other reason to have it right/rear other than convention. Switch, you'll like it (eventually)

mx_599

yeah, i set up all my bikes motorcycle style. i like it that way because i used to race motocross. i even set up my Campagnolo brifters on my road bike this way.

like everyone said, it is just preference. doesn't matter. i probably do it subconsciously to be different. it's not like i can't adjust to the other way (oops, double negative)

orange leader

I have both front and back brakes operated by my left hand lever on one of my polo bikes. It works pretty darned good. The other hand is too busy swingin' a mallet.

The other polo bike doesn't have any brake levers at all (fixie).

the scout

I thought that because in USA and all countries which drive on the right right it was more dangerous for a cyclist to turn left than right as you had to position in the middle of the road and it was necessary to indicate with your left hand leaving the right free for braking.
The standards authorities decreed that in these circumstances it should be the rear brake to prevent "over the bars accidents" especially with children and novices.
The opposite reasoning applies to the UK.
Almost all bike components are made with continental Europe/ USA in mind. You should see the torturous and ugly cable runs on UK bikes.

Kommisar89

Hmmm...that actually sounds plausable. Although I can't think of a situation I've ever encountered on a bike or motorcycle where going over the bars was even remotely likely. I've seen video of guys on modern motorcycles doing front wheel stands so I'm sure it possible but my motorcycles always had a long wheelbase and low center of gravity. With bicycles I've only ever experienced anything like that on moutain bikes on steep decents and even then only when I paniced and went for the brake when I should just let the bike roll. I suck on downhill.

DMF 

Another reason could be the separation of duties. The right gearshift is used much more frequently than the left. The front brake is overall more effective than the rear. To avoid confusing the brain in a tense situation, the rule: "Brake with left, shift with right" would cause the least dysfunction.


(How's that for rationalizing? Reminds me of the Brits in their colonies (e.g. Scotland). )