Cable routing

[winjim]

I can't quite decide on how to route the cables on the new build. I'm sort of leaning towards: left lever to front brake, right lever to rear brake, gear cables crossed under downtube, as this would give the smoothest cable arcs and also look the neatest at the headtube. But it does have downsides. Firstly, one day I will inevitably pull the wrong brake lever, crash and die. Secondly, crossing the gear cables is just a bit weird.

So any thoughts? Should I just stick with the British right lever front brake arrangement? Should I keep my cables uncrossed?

Standard road bike, external cables...

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Whatever floats your boat Jim. I'm sure this needn't involve a think-tank.

 

[winjim]

Well no, but I'm just a bit bored and incapable of making a decision. Somebody out there must have an opinion...

 

[arch684]

I use my front brake a lot more than my rear and i'm right handed so will always have the front lever on the right

 

[KneesUp]

My gear cables cross on the downtube (bar ends - gives a nicer arc when the outer goes to the opposite side of the frame) I can't say it makes any difference of is even noticeable unless you look under the bike.

I've been over the handlebars on a bike with continental brakes once. I don't intend to do it again!

 

[mickle]

Don't p!ss about.

Right lever to front brake.
Rear brake cable to the left of the headtube.
Don't cross the gear cables.

 

[KneesUp]

Don't p!ss about.

Right lever to front brake.
Rear brake cable to the left of the headtube.
Don't cross the gear cables.

Why not?

 

[Milkfloat]

Why not?

 

[winjim]

Why not?

Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

 

[winjim]

Don't p!ss about.

Right lever to front brake.
Rear brake cable to the left of the headtube.
Don't cross the gear cables.

There's a lot to be said for the prevailing orthodoxy.

 

[raleighnut]

The reason for right hand front brake in Britain is due to us riding/driving on the left side of the road. When turning right and indicating thus (remember that, some of us still do it) you want the rear brake to be the one you use to stop when riding with one hand on the handlebars.
Just try braking with the front brake with only one hand on the bars sometime, preferably somewhere you'll get a soft landing.

 

[winjim]

The reason for right hand front brake in Britain is due to us riding/driving on the left side of the road. When turning right and indicating thus (remember that, some of us still do it) you want the rear brake to be the one you use to stop when riding with one hand on the handlebars.
Just try braking with the front brake with only one hand on the bars sometime, preferably somewhere you'll get a soft landing.

I also indicate when turning left and seem to have no problems. I do however, occasionally have difficulty when descending and indicating right. Sometimes the rear brake just doesn't provide enough stoppage. (I know, slow down earlier...)

 

[migrantwing]

I run cross cables at the headtube and downtube. Right lever = rear brake, left lever = front brake. It's a European bike and came that way. I'm used to it this way, always have been.

 

[bpsmith]

Mine is a Euro supplied bike. First thing I did was swap it to the British way of cabling the brakes!

 

[mickle]

Mine is a Euro supplied bike. First thing I did was swap it to the British way of cabling the brakes!

Hear hear!!