Which way around do the pro's have their brakes set up?

[Cyclopathic]

As they prefer or all the same? If as they prefer does it pose a problem if they have to have their bike replaced, either by their team or by the race organizers bike car?
Very trivial question I know but just curious to know.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Rear brake on the left, RD shifter on right. That gives more control when downshifting on the brakes, when banked over. They don't all do the same thing, but I have it on good authority that's the preference. Because most people are right handed.

 

[Dan B]

I am surprised, in that case, that most brake calipers are made with the cable entering on the right not on the left, because if the front brake lever is on the same side as the cable entry that means the cable bends through a tighter angle (it also looks ugly, but ...).

 

[Yellow Saddle]

This is a hornet's nest. Wait for it.

 

[raindog]

rear brake is always on the right - just study photos if you've never been to a pro race

 

[raindog]

I am surprised, in that case, that most brake calipers are made with the cable entering on the right not on the left, because if the front brake lever is on the same side as the cable entry that means the cable bends through a tighter angle (it also looks ugly, but ...).

absolutely - that's why the front calipers are made like that - cable always comes from the left lever

 

[Citius]

There are two ways of doing it - some riders like it one way - other riders like it the other way.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I wonder if it causes problems when they have to use a replacement bike that may be set up differently. Also apologies if this topic has already been done to death.

 

[Citius]

I've got a French mechanic for when my bikes need a serious overhaul ( I like to fettle and replace easy stuff, but they do need big overhauls from time to time) the first thing he did, the last time I took one of my bikes to him, was swap the shifters over, so the rear brake was on the left, he told me to trust him on that, he was so right, it's a lot nicer for me that way round.

Ironically, being a French mechanic, he appears to have set your bike up the UK way. Anyway, you don't need to swap the shifters - only the cable routing into the shifters.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I've got a French mechanic for when my bikes need a serious overhaul ( I like to fettle and replace easy stuff, but they do need big overhauls from time to time) the first thing he did, the last time I took one of my bikes to him, was swap the shifters over, so the rear brake was on the left, he told me to trust him on that, he was so right, it's a lot nicer for me that way round.

Good grief. How many French mechanics do you have?

 

[Cyclopathic]

I imagine that if you swap them around that it's a bit like the first time you decide to use your left foot on car brakes, you know, just to see what it's like and you nearly catapult yourself through the windscreen.

 

[Dan B]

Good grief. How many French mechanics do you have?

He keeps them in a box

 

[Racing roadkill]

Good grief. How many French mechanics do you have?

One French Mechanic, and one very bad wifi connection.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I imagine that if you swap them around that it's a bit like the first time you decide to use your left foot on car brakes, you know, just to see what it's like and you nearly catapult yourself through the windscreen.

Very much so to begin with, once you're used to it, it's sweet as a nut (for me anyway).

 

[woohoo]

The general convention has been/is: if you ride/drive on the left then the front brake is on the right (and vice versa). There are plenty of articles that cover the background to this. However, there are always exceptions e.g. in days of old, Italian riders had the front brake on the right (have a look at some pics of Pantani for example).

I have one bike set up the "British" (and Australian etc) way and another set up a la Continental and have no problems adapting to the different set-ups.

(Also completely OT but Italian lorries used to have the steering wheel on the right so that the drivers knew just how close they were to the edge on mountain passes).

Edit ... and I'm sure that Evans had the front on the right when he rode for BMC but the rest of the team had the front on the left