Drop bar brake cabling.

[Greasy Gilbert]

Thanks. I've now probably committed heresy because the rear worked much better running under the bar and the front worked better running over it. Don't tell anyone...

....your secrets safe with me!

 

[rogerzilla]

I've never seen a fixie with the front brake on the left. Turning right downhill is "fun" with the front brake on the right but it's probably best to stick to what you're used to.

One thing I do is to butcher the non-connected lever so just the body and hood remain. It's not just a weight weenie/fashion thing; it reminds you not to try to use a non-existent brake.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I've never seen a fixie with the front brake on the left. Turning right downhill is "fun" with the front brake on the right but it's probably best to stick to what you're used to.

One thing I do is to butcher the non-connected lever so just the body and hood remain. It's not just a weight weenie/fashion thing; it reminds you not to try to use a non-existent brake.

Couldn't you just fit the brake?

 

[Punkawallah]

There is an awful lot of that regulation which is routinely ignored by manufacturers/retailers.

Very few bikes outside the budget sector are sold with all the required reflectors, or a bell.

It is the same with lights. Hardly any of the lights sold in the UK meet the legal requirements for the mandated front and rear lights.

Unless the bike is older than 1990, and not included in the British Standard requirements.

 

[Alex321]

Unless the bike is older than 1990, and not included in the British Standard requirements.

Well since that regulation excludes second hand bikes, that wouldn't be an issue anyhow.

So far as the lights go, it seems you are correct, that the lights do not need to carry the BS approval mark (or foreign equivalent) if the bicycle was manufactured prior to 1990. I'm a little surprised that isn't the manufacturing date of the lights that is relevant, rather than the bike.

 

[Chislenko]

Going back to your original question Andy, prior to the diversion, I have a bike as you describe and the cables go under the bars (obviously not the front brake😊)

 

[GeekDadZoid]

I often think about the right left front back brake situation. I ride a bike pretty much every day to some extent or other, without checking I have no clue which way round the brakes are, something inside me knows how to brake properly but it's not something I am conscious of.

I had a Gazelle for a very brief period which had a combination leaver you could access from both side but which applied the back brake ever so slightly before the front automatically. Supposedly so you could hold your umbrella and brake at the same time.

 

[Punkawallah]

On topic, both my Galaxy (‘83) and Renown (’86) have cables crossing, then routing behind the bars with an elegant arch :-)

 

[Paulus]

All of my bike with old style cableing have them going behind the bars.

 

[Chris S]

Many thanks. Germans insist on putting brakes that way around too. The argument is that it's 'safer' because most people's right hand is stronger so having the front brake on the right is asking to be thrown over the handlebars

That happened to me. I've still got the scar down my face to prove it.