Brakes.. Front on the left or right.

[Lanzecki]

I was out and about last night cycling the route that the recent local 2 days cycle race took. I was dreaming of being in contention for the GC. While never having ridden a competitive km in my life

Ohh, the point of this post? Yea getting there, I promise.

I'm coming down the back of the Ballyhoura Mtns in the wet after a climb and I suddenly realise that my brakes are the wrong way around... All my other bikes (non-roadies) have the front brake on the right hand. My roadie has it the other way around.

I'm now obsessing about getting mixed up in the wet locking the front.

The only reason I can see for this is that the brake cables are not crossing in front of the headset.

Comments? Any reason I cannot change?

 

[ianrauk]

You have a Euro or US specific bike.

 

[Steve Malkin]

There's nothing to stop you from fixing the cables the other way round if you want to.
On all my bikes I set them up with the front brake on the left, but that's just because I'm left handed and having the front brake in my stronger hand just feels 'right' somehow.

 

[HLaB]

FWIW, When I've done cycle tours in Ireland the brakes have been that way round. One explanation we could adapt (UK & Irish), the Americans couldn't The truth of it the majority of the world is that way and they deal with international customers

 

[Lanzecki]

Thanks Guys. I'll change them this evening. I have several bikes and I only realised last night on a dark, wet hill I'd never ridden that they were different to all my other bikes. Strange that I noticed at the time I needed confidence...

 

[Lanzecki]

I removed the cable inners this afternoon, but the outers are not long enough. Mainly the one that used to go to the front brake needs to be 3-4 inches longer to reach the stop behind the headset. If I strip the bar tape away can I swap liners? Or are they fixed to the levers?

Sorry I can strip bearings and derailiers, but these new fangled brake cum gear levers are something I've never had to touch. Mainly cos they've worked faultlessly since 2009.

Any hints? I was thinking about renewing them totally since there was some rust, but I want to double check with you up to date people before I go shopping.

Ohh, I have Shimano Ultegra 6600 if that make a difference.

 

[Brandane]

Any hints? I was thinking about renewing them totally since there was some rust, but I want to double check with you up to date people before I go shopping.

I'm a cheapskate with Tiagra shifters, but assuming they work on the same basic set-up but with better quality bits for the Ultegra:
All you need to do is strip the bar tape back to the shifter, disconnect the brake cables from the brake lever by pulling it through from the lever end (obviously need to disconnect from caliper for this). The old cable will probably be frayed at the caliper end, making it pretty much impossible to re-use. Disconnect cable outers from lever by simply pulling them off (you will need to swap them over between levers due to differing lengths).
Thread new cable into levers and through existing - swapped over - outers (although maybe best to renew outers too, as you say there is some rust; I always grease the cables before fitting too). Re-attach cable to caliper and adjust BEFORE cutting off excess length (don't ask how I know this )! Then re-tape bar. Bingo......

 

[byegad]

Well the reason why we have them with the front on the right is so when signalling a right turn, in the middle and potentially gravelly centre of the road you will potentially only lock up the rear wheel not the front. Similarly where people ride on the wrong side of the road signalling left leaves your right hand on the rear brake.

Is it vitally important? Probably not, although as an ex-Motocyclist it is intuitive that the right hand brakes the front wheel and the left lever is the clutch. I'd struggle the other way around.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I think it makes sense to have your front brake on the right if you are right handed because you have a bit more strength and control which is more important on the front brake. In my extremely humble opinion, but of course one should really do whatever is most comfortable for you.

 

[Lanzecki]

Brandane proven the outers are removable, so I'm gonna replace the entire cables. I might as well do the gear cables as well.

This is a pitty cos I've just fitted new bar tape

 

[srw]

If you've been happy since 2009, why change now? Especially since it'll be a real hassle.

I ride one bike (it's American) with the levers the "wrong" way round. I can't say it causes me any problems.

 

[DooDah]

I had the same problem. I ordered my first road bike from Wiggle and they asked me if I wanted a UK or Euro setup. I said UK as my other bikes were bought in the UK. Promptly forgot about it. I recently acquired a used Bianchi in France, went for my first ride on it, pulled on the (what I thought was) the back brake and very nearly went over the handlebars. First thing I did when I returned home was swap them round. The problem I have now is that I am selling the bike and the natives do not understand why the brakes are back to front

 

[Profpointy]

I believe the logic of right-front is cock-eyed !

My understanding is that it is based on the belief "you should mainly use back brake" and hence right hand is free for (the more important turn right) signalling. I think this bizarre belief, which used to be taught to kids, perhaps still is, stems from the perceived danger of going over the handlebars if grabbing a handful. Whilst it's doubtless possible to go over the handlebars, not stopping and / or skidding using back brake only is a far bigger hazard.

I have a couple of steep downhill right turns on my commute route (Black Boy Hill in Bristol if anyone's interested), and it's a choice of braking or signalling, so effectively you can't signal and just stop in the middle of the road and hope it's obvious to the motorists !

All that said, my bikes are conventionally right-front configured, as I fear the change would catch me out, more than the benefit - but I do believe in the benefit of the other way round.

 

[DooDah]

I believe the logic of right-front is cock-eyed !

My understanding is that it is based on the belief "you should mainly use back brake" and hence right hand is free for (the more important turn right) signalling. I think this bizarre belief, which used to be taught to kids, perhaps still is, stems from the perceived danger of going over the handlebars if grabbing a handful. Whilst it's doubtless possible to go over the handlebars, not stopping and / or skidding using back brake only is a far bigger hazard.

I have a couple of steep downhill right turns on my commute route (Black Boy Hill in Bristol if anyone's interested), and it's a choice of braking or signalling, so effectively you can't signal and just stop in the middle of the road and hope it's obvious to the motorists !

All that said, my bikes are conventionally right-front configured, as I fear the change would catch me out, more than the benefit - but I do believe in the benefit of the other way round.

????????
Am I missing something here, surely if you ride on the left hand side of the road and want to turn right, you will be braking with your left-hand and signalling with your right. So you will actually be using your back brake? Hence why the brakes are st-up depending on which side of the road you ride on.

 

[Brandane]

This is a pitty cos I've just fitted new bar tape

If you mean you will need new tape, then not necessarily, as long as you taped the bars starting at the drops and finishing nearest to the stem (and didn't use sticky tape!). I have found that it is quite easy to re-use the bar tape - especially if it is quite new - if you just unwrap as far as the shifter. Use something to keep it in place at that point (a cable tie or similar) so that it doesn't unravel all the way, as the bit round the shifter is where the tape is stretched out of shape and is difficult to re-tape.