UK fixie front brake
 

just bought my first fixie - loving it!
the back brake is about to come off but was thinking about moving the front brakelever to the LEFT side for safer right turn/signal manouvers (sp).
What u opinion fixie guys?

bump for a pom

why isn't it there allready?
is that a uk thing?

The brake with the most stopping power should be used with your best hand(although not a lot of people do this), but if you want your right hand free for hand signals-put it on the left. It's all up to you.

yer , its the other way in england, we love to be different!

Front brake=right hand in Aus.

I am a right front braker. Sheldon convinced me to do it. It makes sense to have it connected to your stronger and possibly more dextrous hand.

I'd say do what your most comfortable with.

I have mine on the right hand side because thats what I'm most comfortable with. Only becomes an issue on really steep hills ;)w

thx 4 ur replies guys :)

I'm going to guess that NONE of the people in this thread actively use hand-signals. If you're going to be signalling like mad, sure, throw it on the left.

Whatever you do make sure that all of your bikes are the same. Nothing sucks more than grabbing a handful of front brake when you are not expecting it.

I have a rotator cuff injury so I can't even raise my left arm.

Are you really THAT right handed?

i'm actually LEFT handed but have always been a "front braker" (right hand in UK) on all my bikes.
I guess its really an issue of being new to fixed and not feeling totally in control atm :)

I use "roadie signals", where you point in the direction you are turning with that side's arm. How many drivers do you think really know what left arm in an "L" means?

^ very very true, the "left arm in an L" thing just doesnt work, no one knows what you're talking about, I learned this riding a motorcycle with no turn signals for a few years. I too run my front brake on the right as it is on a motorcycle, feels more natural too me.

Too true. I doubt people in my area even have their drivers licenses... idiots on the road.

I know a motorcycle rider that moves his front brake lever to the right side because that's where it is on a motor bike. I've never found it to be a problem and would rather not have to switch the levers on every bike I buy. Yer gonna have to if you get used to it on the wrong side.

The only bike I have with levers switched around is my polo bike. I have both levers on the left side so that I can strategically use my rear brake, though I rarely think to use it.

Here's a question for you UKies, on road bikes, the left brifter controls the front derailler and the rear brake? The right brifter controls the rear derailler and front brake? Seems strange to me. Front/front and back/back seems more logical. On a fixed gear it wouldn't matter though, and I've run brakes on the right.

Why? Brakes and shifters are completely separate mechanisms? On a longer road descent, you want your more capable hand on the front brake.