Front brakes on the left

[Mattie]

I wonder why bikes sold in the UK have their front brake levers on the right hand side of the bars, when it makes much more sense to have the front brake on the left side.

If you are trying to stop and turn right in traffic you want your right arm out and your left hand on the bars to grab a decent load of brakes, especially in the wet. I have not changed this bike's brakes over yet, because I do not commute to work on it, but I have with previous bikes.

[thirdcrank]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28715&p=225235&hilit=+levers#p225235

[meic]

I doubt there is a right and wrong in this. The foreigners who drive on the wrong side of the road also have their brakes the other way round to us, so I guess they like to use their back brake when turning across the traffic flow.

I think bikes have to be sold with the brakes on the standard sides but you are free to change them as you like.

A large number of cyclists are motorcyclists too and as such like the front brake on the right (even the foreigners).

[[XAP]Bob]

People seem to be scared of the front brake though - assuming they'll get as much effect from the back brake (which isn't true) without flipping over the handlebars (which they wouldn't if braced anyway)

[Mattie]

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28715&p=225235&hilit=+levers#p225235

Well that's a relief a few people agree with the whole turning right argument ! I have never met anybody, even when I was in the local club, who agreed and said they had done the same so always figured it was just me being weird (and wrong !)

Thanks !

[reohn2]

.........A large number of cyclists are motorcyclists too and as such like the front brake on the right (even the foreigners).

That would be because of the throttle being on the right which means the clutch has to be operated by the left hand,so the front brake can only be on the right.

[francovendee]

For many years brakes were only just sufficient (steel rims)to stop the bikes and most people being right handed meant that the stronger hand was used to operate the more effective brake. This seemed wrong and when my kids were small they had bikes with only a back brake, which was worse than useless when they tried operating it with the left hand, after swapping the brake lever over it was much better.
It only really becomes a problem when hiring bikes abroad as I can testify!!