Brake lever: left or right?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Montréal, QC (Canada)
Bikes: 2008 Surly LHT complete & 1988-ish fuglyfixed Specialized RockHopper
Brake lever: left or right?
Question for the folks that use a brake on their fixie: do you put the lever on the left side (regular since it's the front brake) or the right side?
#2
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Toronto
Bikes: Leader 735TR 09 58cm 46/17
I only have front brake and it's on the left side, partly because it is there on my geared bike, and partly because i thought the cable reached better from the left side.
#3
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: NJ
In the UK, the usual side for front brake is on the right.
I however, run mine on the left, as it leaves the right hand free for fending off cards and indicating for right hand turns (as we ride/drive on the left).
However, as I'm now living in the states (as off yesterday), for the same reasons I might ride it on the non-conventional right hand side.
I however, run mine on the left, as it leaves the right hand free for fending off cards and indicating for right hand turns (as we ride/drive on the left).
However, as I'm now living in the states (as off yesterday), for the same reasons I might ride it on the non-conventional right hand side.
#4
Thread Starter
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From: Montréal, QC (Canada)
Bikes: 2008 Surly LHT complete & 1988-ish fuglyfixed Specialized RockHopper
#6
cab horn

Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Montréal, QC (Canada)
Bikes: 2008 Surly LHT complete & 1988-ish fuglyfixed Specialized RockHopper
Oh, mine's going on the left side for sure, because I ride other bikes and my left hand "knows" how to modulate a front brake properly - my right hand doesn't. That would be, for me, dangerous. Also, My fixie is built from a mountain bike, with v-brakes, so cable routing also suggests I use the left hand side.
I was just curious.
I was just curious.
#10
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Santa Barbara
Bikes: SE Quadrangle, '82 Venus NJS, '03 Bianchi Pista, '86 P'sonic Mt Cat, Fat City Yo Eddy '91 + '93, B'cuda A2E, '86 Trek Elance 400, '88 Centurion D.Scott Expert, '88 Fisher Mt Tam (and no longer with me: SE OM Flyer, Umezawa/B-stone/Samson NJS)
I am used to two brakes on mountain bikes, but on an old BMX bike I had only a back brake on the right, and now with my fixed gear bikes I've had only front brakes on the right.
for one brake, I like it on the right side whether it is front or rear.
for one brake, I like it on the right side whether it is front or rear.
#11
gridlock junky
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 201
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From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 1944 JC Higgens Cruiser, 1988 Univega Aero Speed, 1993 GT Ricochet, 2005 Electra Cruiser, 2006 Cervelo Dual, 2007 IRO Mark V
right side front brake - left hand signal
setup the same on all my bikes -- wouldn't have it any other way in the USA
setup the same on all my bikes -- wouldn't have it any other way in the USA
#17
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Everett, WA
In the UK, the usual side for front brake is on the right.
I however, run mine on the left, as it leaves the right hand free for fending off cards and indicating for right hand turns (as we ride/drive on the left).
However, as I'm now living in the states (as off yesterday), for the same reasons I might ride it on the non-conventional right hand side.
I however, run mine on the left, as it leaves the right hand free for fending off cards and indicating for right hand turns (as we ride/drive on the left).
However, as I'm now living in the states (as off yesterday), for the same reasons I might ride it on the non-conventional right hand side.
#21
Raving looney
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada
Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)
Mine is on the right side as I'm an ex-pat from the UK, just used to it that way and didn't think it wise to change. I swap/swapped around any other bike I've had here to be the same, too.
#24
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#25
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Van BC
Right is right for me. Too bad modern dual pivot brakes all seem to have the cable go in on the right too. It makes for an awkward cable bend; crossing over to the left would be a lot straighter and more natural.




