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Which side for brake lever?

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Old 11-05-12 | 12:30 PM
  #26  
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Old 11-05-12 | 12:40 PM
  #27  
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Old 11-05-12 | 01:47 PM
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Old 11-05-12 | 02:03 PM
  #29  
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The reason for the front brake to be on the left (for those who ride on the right of the road) is so the laft hand is free to signal. This goes back to the days when we also used to signal when we were stopping. When using both front and back levers, that would be a good idea. but if you are only using a front brake, then a lever would be a better idea. As for being able to use it the other way around, it is possible as we (from Down Under) who ride on the left of the road, we have our brakes the other way.
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Old 11-05-12 | 05:43 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Astrozombie
On the right because that's where motorcycles have them, consistency FTW?
I grew up riding motorcycles scooters and bicycles....after flying over the bars once on a bicycle everything is the same now
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Old 11-05-12 | 05:53 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla;14915146. If someone doesn't see me, my argument is "You really mean to tell me you [I
didn't see[/I] the big guy with long dreadlocks riding a sparkly pink bike???"
I have one of those BRIGHT yellow jackets made for extra safety and visibility. I refer to it as my "Harry Potter cloak of invisibility" because of all of the times I've gotten cut off while wearing it.

Scrod, what do you think about the Dial Compe double lever things on a moustache bar?
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Old 11-05-12 | 06:23 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by greatgoogamooga
Scrod, what do you think about the Dial Compe double lever things on a moustache bar?
I think it would be pretty dumb. Your hands are most likely never that close to the stem when using moustache bars.
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Old 11-08-12 | 09:53 PM
  #33  
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I've always put the front lever on the right like on a motorcycle, makes things less confusing for me. Other than that, I probably have a stronger grip in my right hand. (fap fap fap)
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Old 11-13-12 | 05:10 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Really ?

I find that pointing right with my right and left with my left is much clearer to drivers who have forgotten all about their driver training and think right hand signal with the left hand is you waving.
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Old 11-13-12 | 06:02 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by Bat56
True dat. People don't see bikes and drive right over them. So it doesn't really matter what arm was used.
People don't see ANYthing until it's directly in front of them. Walking and running around here, it's pretty ridiculous. My wife was out running the other day, and she had the signal (little walking man) and a car was coming from the opposite side to make a left. The driver tried to "beat" her and turn before she crossed, then honked at her, presumably for trying to cross the street even though she had the right of way.

Peds just have it rough out here, I went running last night and had a minimum of two instances where a driver didn't see me, started going and didn't stop until I was directly in their path. What really irks me is when drivers are in such a hurry to make a turn and beat peds, then come to a sudden stop because the next signal was red anyways. Driving teaches us so much about the nature of people.
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Old 11-13-12 | 06:29 PM
  #36  
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I always thought it made sense to have the right side operate the rear of the bike: right shifter operates rear derailleur, so right brake lever operates rear brake. Left shifter operates the front derailleur, so left brake lever is for the front brake. I tend to set up my ss/fg bikes the same way for consistancy between bikes, otherwise after a few beers things could get confusing.
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Old 11-13-12 | 06:31 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by cobrabyte
left shifter operates rear derailleur, so left brake lever operates rear brake. Right shifter operates the front derailleur, so right brake lever is for the front brake.
Really? I gotta cruise your flickr to look for pics of your multispeed bikes.
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Old 11-13-12 | 06:33 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
Really? I gotta cruise your flickr to look for pics of your multispeed bikes.
yeah, the motercycle talk got me all mixed up lol
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Old 11-14-12 | 12:07 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by BigglyPuff
People don't see ANYthing until it's directly in front of them. Walking and running around here, it's pretty ridiculous. My wife was out running the other day, and she had the signal (little walking man) and a car was coming from the opposite side to make a left. The driver tried to "beat" her and turn before she crossed, then honked at her, presumably for trying to cross the street even though she had the right of way.

Peds just have it rough out here, I went running last night and had a minimum of two instances where a driver didn't see me, started going and didn't stop until I was directly in their path. What really irks me is when drivers are in such a hurry to make a turn and beat peds, then come to a sudden stop because the next signal was red anyways. Driving teaches us so much about the nature of people.
This happens to me almost every time I go for a walk in LA.
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Old 11-14-12 | 12:24 AM
  #40  
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Which side for brake lever?

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Old 11-14-12 | 05:53 PM
  #41  
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Just my .2

I have a few turns on my daily ride that are right after traffic lights. Cars love to race off the lights, then cut me off as I make the right turn (and often forcing me into parked cars). I use the "Fancy" right turn signal, but make sure to extend my arm out fully to the left (as if I'm about to turn into them) before bending at the elbow. Seems to draw their attention quite quickly.
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Old 11-14-12 | 06:01 PM
  #42  
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Bikes: 650b traditional rando, 700c SS rando, 700c fast rando..... plus a mountain, folder, and retired urban track in the basement

geared bikes - front brake -> left lever
fixed - front brake -> right lever.

on my fixed i only have one brake, and i turn over my left shoulder a lot more to stare down cars, signal, etc. than i look over my right shoulder. taking my hand off the right to signal right for 2 seconds is not that big a deal. and, i'm usually in the city, which means a lot more interaction with cars.

on a geared bike i'm probably on some suburban backroads and no matter what hand i signal with i still have a brake.
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