Ictoanta

This may be a very silly question...

Which side do you have your front/rear brake on? (or well, the lever for the brake on the handlebar... the brakes themselves are somewhat obvious )

Personally, when putting together my FG, I've put the front brake lever on the right and the back brake lever on the left, because that's what I'm used to from my SP cruiser (front + coaster brake) (and mopeds when I was younger). Apparently it's kind of weird, I've been told...

So, simply interested in what everyone does/prefers.

RaleighSport

Umm... on my geared bikes it just depends what I feel like when I build up. On my fixed gears, right hand front as I don't run a rear.

Ictoanta

I guess that's why my cruiser has front on the right as well, as the back is a coaster. Mopeds take their cue from motorbikes I think, where the clutch is on the left, front on the right and back brake is at your toe...

UltraManDan

I only run a front and its on the left. Just seems more natural to me there. But I suppose it's whatever you prefer, who cares if it's weird?

Scrodzilla

In the trash. Brakes are for suckers!

ThermionicScott 

The "cool kids" put their front brake lever on the right, but I'm too entrenched and unconvinced to change, so it stays on the left, where it has yet to cause a single problem.

Scrodzilla

Actually, putting the front brake lever on the right has nothing to do with being "cool", especially if it's your only brake. Because you signal with your left hand, it makes much more sense to put it on the right.

Dave Cutter

I think there are also regional differences. I am not sure the placement you're accustomed to in the Netherlands is "weird"... in the Netherlands.

ThermionicScott 

I use my left hand for signalling only half of the time. I'll let readers do the math.

(Like you, all my bikes allow me free use of my left hand for signalling. )

darkarcher

In the USA at least, all factory bikes will have the front brake on the Right. Same for motorcycles if that matters. Feel free to prove me wrong if you have some info I am not aware of.

Scrodzilla

None that I've seen (and I've seen a lot of bikes). Front shifter/brake is always on the left and rear shifter/brake on the right.

UltraManDan

Any stock built bike I've ever seen in the US comes with the front brake on the left and rear on right.

prooftheory

Braking and Turning Your Bicycle

79pmooney

Yes, but ... There are those of us who have spent so many years running left-front that changes to an action that became reflex decades ago could cause at least one crash in the re-learning process. For me, that is a near certainty. Of course, I am going to run two sets of hoods for climbing anyway, I like symmetry (so two levers) and I cannot see the rear brake, hence it slows me down not at all so I just run two brakes. Problem solved.

Edit: I wish my early bikes had come right-front and I had learned that standard. Switching over every new bike would have been well worth the hassle.

Ben

darkarcher

My dyslexia is kicking in again. You are correct, its opposite motorcycles. Front brake on left, rear on right.

Mumonkan

lolhandsignals

UltraManDan

+1

hank0604

Sheldon's theory was that people had an incorrect idea of how to brake, and used their rear brake much more often than their front. Compounding this was the also erroneous belief that it's super easy to throw yourself over the handlebars during hard front braking. These two factors combined to cause manufacturers to put the supposed more important brake lever--the rear lever--on the right side, where most people's dominant hand is. Then, it just became the way things were done.

Apparently, this is largely an American thing, as European bikes are set up with the front brake lever on the right.

As a lefty, though, I'm perfectly happy with my front brake lever on the left.

Jared.

I personally point where I am going, as I don't trust drivers to try to remember what signal is a left turn, and which is a right.

prooftheory

Signally right is basically a courtesy. Not signaling left will get you killed.

TejanoTrackie 

I've always had my front brake lever on the right side and the rear on the left. When I've received complete bikes that are setup by default with the front on the right, I immediately reverse them so I don't forget which is which and end up on the ground as a result. However, if I only have a single front brake, which is the case with my fixed gear bikes, it doesn't matter since my brain can manage this situation regardless of where the brake lever is mounted or which hand will be used. In fact, I've set up two of my bikes with the lever on the left side, because they are cross levers mounted near the stem, and this setup provides better cable routing to the front brake caliper. Also, the front brake on my fixed gear bikes is for emergency stopping only, and is not used for routine slowing down or stopping.

Scrodzilla

This.

hairnet

I too have the right lever connected to the front brake. It is simply more intuative for me.

Scrodzilla

hairnet