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Running a front brake-Which side does the lever go on?

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Running a front brake-Which side does the lever go on?

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Old 11-24-08 | 02:13 PM
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Running a front brake-Which side does the lever go on?

So, I am trying to figure out which side to put the brake lever on, put it on the right b/c it is my strong side, or put it on the left b/c I still mountain bike and don't want to get out sync with the levers?

Or does it matter at all?
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:16 PM
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i do it on the left cuz all the bikes i've had always had front brake on the left.

i can see how the right may be more comfortable tho.
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:16 PM
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USA = left side.
UK = right side.

that's what i've heard.
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:16 PM
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flip a coin
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:18 PM
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Put it on the left for consistency's sake.

Unless you're used to riding a motorcycle, in which case- put it on the right for consistency's sake.
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:23 PM
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Do whatever you want.

I set up all my bikes with the right on the front and the rear on the left.
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:28 PM
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doesnt matter. I run on the left because I wouldn't want a friend riding my bike to go over the handlebars thinking it was a rear brake
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:31 PM
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it doesn't matter
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:33 PM
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If you only have one lever, is it really that confusing as to which brake it is?

I have it on the right on my fixed gear because I carry stuff on my left sometimes. Standard left on all my bikes with two brakes, and I've never gotten it confused.
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:38 PM
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just mount it on the top tube then you don't have to decide
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Old 11-24-08 | 02:39 PM
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On my Angus the front is on the right, but my Exile has it on the left. I don't have a problem remembering which is which, but then again I haven't had to do any emergency stops on the Exile yet, so who knows what would happen in one of those OH SHI-moments.
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Old 11-24-08 | 03:08 PM
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I like mine on my right, but if your brake caliper has the feed on the right side (which most to all of new calipers do), then you are gonna have to do some bending of the cable to get it all to run smoothly (which may also put some un-needed tension in awkward spots on the cable and its twists/turns).

you can also run the cable out of the other side of the lever - which looks kinda "backward" in order to get around some of the drastic bending.

or, if you are pretty set on running a right-handed front brake, you might just wanna seek out a left-cable-accepting caliper.
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Old 11-24-08 | 03:13 PM
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i put it on the left because if i'm in the drops and have to reach up quickly to brake, i'm more comfortable steering with only my right hand
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Old 11-24-08 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by huerro
Do whatever you want.

I set up all my bikes with the right on the front and the rear on the left.
lets hope you never get a roadie with brifters...
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Old 11-24-08 | 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by trons
lets hope you never get a roadie with brifters...
why is that?

that is how I have my roadie setup.
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Old 11-24-08 | 03:38 PM
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Whatever feels comfortable. I'd put it on the right, if that's your stronger hand. If you have one brake, you'll get used to it really quick.
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Old 11-24-08 | 03:58 PM
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right, so you can hand signal and brake at the same time
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Old 11-24-08 | 04:01 PM
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Its simple, if your running just a front brake place the lever on your right if your right handed, place it on the left if your left handed
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Old 11-24-08 | 04:05 PM
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Old 11-24-08 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by trons
lets hope you never get a roadie with brifters...


Seems to work just fine for me.
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Old 11-24-08 | 05:09 PM
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oops. i thought the shifting part was specific to front/rear... guess not
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Old 11-24-08 | 05:15 PM
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^^It is, but the brifter doesn't care which brake it's connected to.

On that bike: right lever = rear mech and front brake, left lever = front mech and rear brake.

It makes more sense to me that way. I'm right handed, so my right does the vast majority of the braking and shifting and stays on the bars when I reach for a water bottle or snack from my jersey pocket.
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Old 11-24-08 | 10:18 PM
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I plan on the right. I am use to my scooter and old motorcycles being the right hand= front brake.
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Old 11-24-08 | 10:26 PM
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Whatever you're comfortable with. Mine came with the standard set up for both brakes, and I left it that way.

One weird thing, though. I'm right handed, but I can ride one handed with my left hand all day very easily, but it takes much more focus using my dominant hand only... I just thought it was strange.

Last edited by GoodEyeCycler; 11-24-08 at 10:30 PM.
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Old 11-24-08 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by buzzybelmondo
right, so you can hand signal and brake at the same time
It is more practical to signal right turn with your right hand.
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