View Poll Results: Which brake lever controls the front brake?
Left
88
75.21%
Right
25
21.37%
No brakes!
4
3.42%
Voters: 117. You may not vote on this poll
Front brake, right lever vs. Front brake, left lever
01-16-08, 11:27 AM
#1
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Front brake, right lever vs. Front brake, left lever
Do you ride with the front brake lever on the right or the left?
For bikes sold in the U.S. you have to physically change your levers to ride with the right brake lever controlling the front brake. Previous threads have covered extensively why some people prefer one over the other.
So is it worth making the change over? I ride motorcycles and have never had a problem with either vehicle, even though I am currently riding with the left lever controlling the front brake. I am thinking for consistency to change my Shimano 105 to right=front when I redo my tape job soon.
For bikes sold in the U.S. you have to physically change your levers to ride with the right brake lever controlling the front brake. Previous threads have covered extensively why some people prefer one over the other.
So is it worth making the change over? I ride motorcycles and have never had a problem with either vehicle, even though I am currently riding with the left lever controlling the front brake. I am thinking for consistency to change my Shimano 105 to right=front when I redo my tape job soon.
01-16-08, 11:35 AM
#2
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I voted left, since that's how it is on my road bike; but, on my fixed gear, my front (and only) caliper is operated by my right hand, since that's the only single lever they had at the bike shop.
01-16-08, 11:45 AM
#4
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In the UK they come set up right hand front, and this is how I have always ridden
I also only have a front on my FG bike and that is right hand operated
I also only have a front on my FG bike and that is right hand operated
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01-16-08, 12:13 PM
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STI bike has it on the left, older downtube shifter bike has it on the right.
I don't believe you could switch it on an STI equipped bike, but on the older ones you could rig it up any way you wanted.
I don't believe you could switch it on an STI equipped bike, but on the older ones you could rig it up any way you wanted.
01-16-08, 12:19 PM
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01-16-08, 12:47 PM
#7
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left controller front end, right controller rear
i'd prefer it the other way around but since indexed shifters are non-ambidexterous, i opt to route my brakes accordingly
i'd prefer it the other way around but since indexed shifters are non-ambidexterous, i opt to route my brakes accordingly
01-16-08, 12:47 PM
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In my case:
Left = Front for Road and Fixed-gear bikes.
Left = Rear for Cyclocross and Mountain bikes.
Even though I'm right-handed, my left hand is dominant for cycling. Thus, I have the most effective brake (front) operated by my left hand. I reverse this for off-road riding, so that I can do cyclocross-style dismounts without locking-up the front wheel.
This often causes confusion in panic situations.
Left = Front for Road and Fixed-gear bikes.
Left = Rear for Cyclocross and Mountain bikes.
Even though I'm right-handed, my left hand is dominant for cycling. Thus, I have the most effective brake (front) operated by my left hand. I reverse this for off-road riding, so that I can do cyclocross-style dismounts without locking-up the front wheel.
This often causes confusion in panic situations.
01-16-08, 12:49 PM
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01-16-08, 01:52 PM
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Have a couple of friends that ride front brake on the left. Bit disconcerting to find no braking and rear wheel skid when you forget.
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01-16-08, 02:01 PM
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I prefer right front since most signaling is done with the left hand. I also like right front because I can modulate it better.
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01-16-08, 02:04 PM
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01-16-08, 03:06 PM
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I only use my left hand to signal when I'm making a left turn.
When I'm making a right turn I signal with my right hand. Eliminates a lot of confusion, seeing as apparently most automobile operators in these parts have absolutely no clue about the "Rules Of The Road", archaic or otherwise.
When I'm signalling a stop I use whichever hand is not controlling the front brake...which, on my two current bikes, means I signal stops with my right hand.
01-16-08, 03:17 PM
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When I bought my bike, I was chatting up the LBS pretty heavily, and commented about how I always get a moment of hesitation when switching between bicycling and motorcycling. They immediately said they could swap cables for me, and mentioned that many of them, who also motorcycle occassionally, have the right lever controlling the front brake. Oh, and there was no charge for the swap. Great shop.
01-16-08, 05:07 PM
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I'm from the UK and moved to the states 10 or so years ago. Had my bike here for 18 months after not riding for over 15 years and have to admit, I never even noticed the brake set up on my Lemond. Thinking it over now, I am sure my old Dawes was front brake right, so I guess I dont mind the brakes either way.
01-16-08, 05:16 PM
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01-16-08, 05:21 PM
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01-16-08, 05:44 PM
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01-16-08, 07:30 PM
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What's your point? You keep mentioning indexed shifters but the OP is talking about brakes?
Shifter cables != brake cables
Maybe you can clarify?
EDIT: I think I get it. You're talking about you want each STI unit to controll everything on the rear on one and everything on the front on the other?
Shifter cables != brake cables
Maybe you can clarify?
EDIT: I think I get it. You're talking about you want each STI unit to controll everything on the rear on one and everything on the front on the other?
01-16-08, 07:40 PM
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Right front brake every time. Worth changing.
ExMachina, did carlfreddy's edit get your meaning right?
If so, I don't think it's much of a mental leap to have the right brifter control
the deraileur and the front brake. I'm set up that way and never even thought about having everything on the right control what's in teh back.
ExMachina, did carlfreddy's edit get your meaning right?
If so, I don't think it's much of a mental leap to have the right brifter control
the deraileur and the front brake. I'm set up that way and never even thought about having everything on the right control what's in teh back.
01-16-08, 07:51 PM
#23
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The interesting poll option which isn't there is "I don't know".
I'm afraid if responses were honest it would be frightenly high
I'm afraid if responses were honest it would be frightenly high
01-16-08, 07:57 PM
#24
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01-16-08, 08:03 PM
#25
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you might be right and in future i may try the switch to see how it feels (for the sole purpose of safer signaling as mentioned above)