Why is the front brake controlled by the left hand on a bicycle?

[boyRacer]

It makes no sense... i got it switched and everyone gave me this look...

 

[The Stigenator]

its the stupid americans who think they have to be different.

world wide its front brake on the right, rear brake on the left


I couldnt deal with it on mine so i had it switched to the worldwide format that i am used to. plus my motorcycle uses the front brake on the right..

 

[SunnyD]

If you're right handed it makes perfect sense. If you just "slam" on the front break, you'll flip. First brake you want to apply hard is rear. Since majority is right handed, right hand gets rear.

 

[MrBond]

Because in an emergency, right handed people are more apt to squeeze their right hand then their left. If you need to stop suddenly and squeeze the front break, you're going to go over the handlebars.

 

[QueHuong]

Originally posted by: MrBond
Because in an emergency, right handed people are more apt to squeeze their right hand then their left. If you need to stop suddenly and squeeze the front break, you're going to go over the handlebars.

So as a left-hander, I'm screwed?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: MrBond
Because in an emergency, right handed people are more apt to squeeze their right hand then their left. If you need to stop suddenly and squeeze the front break, you're going to go over the handlebars.

i did that cuz i had a coke in my right hand. didn't spill a drop

 

[boyRacer]

yeah... im used to having it on the right like motorcycles... i think the more skillful hand should be used to operate the most critical brake...

i couldnt deal with it either after having to sh*t my pants when i couldnt slow down enough because i was using the rear when i instinctively grabbed the right lever. doh.

 

[Ryan]

Yet another stupid thread killed with common sense.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: MindStorm

Originally posted by: MrBond
Because in an emergency, right handed people are more apt to squeeze their right hand then their left. If you need to stop suddenly and squeeze the front break, you're going to go over the handlebars.

So as a left-hander, I'm screwed?

Maybe, you just have to rewire the way you think in an emergency while on a bike. It seems like I'm always thinking I need to hit the rear brake, not the front when I slow down normally on a bike, but the time a car backed out in front of me (it was parked where it shouldn't have been and the driver was not watching for me), I don't remember thinking about it at all, it just happened.

I'd have definatly gone over the handlebars if I had slammed on the front brakes. I wasn't wearing my helmet either because I had forgotten it at home.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: bR
yeah... im used to having it on the right like motorcycles... i think the more skillful hand should be used to operate the most critical brake...

i couldnt deal with it either after having to sh*t my pants when i couldnt slow down enough because i was using the rear when i instinctively grabbed the right lever. doh.

You should usually apply both breaks, especially if you're trying to stop quickly. That gives you the most stopping power without going over the handle bars. I've never really thought it was a big deal, but I guess if you're used to it being the opposite way, it could be hard to adjust.

 

[The Stigenator]

actually the reason the brake should be on the right hand..

1. more # of right handed ppl
2. you stop faster if you brake with the right hand.
3. If you cant brake properly then you shouldnt be riding.. You can apply both brakes and not flip.
you can apply only the front and not flip. However I shoudltn be saying that.. i broke my jaw in 8th grade (1992) when i flipped over the handlebars when i hit the front brake, and yes the back brake was pressed at that time too.

I used to keep my brakes in instant grip mode.. just touch and it stopped, well that's what caused me to flip. HOwever i havent flipped ever since.

I havent flipped on my road racer or a standard bicycle. Its only teh mountain bikes that flip.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

The question is why they sell bikes to children with the right handle controlling the front. It's ridiculous. Once when I was a kid, my neighbor who was also a kid flew into a ditch because she instinctively grabbed the right lever and lose control. Every bike I have had has had the right handle control the rear.

 

[boyRacer]

Front brake should be enough according to this guy ... since at maximum braking the rear has minimal weight and probably wont slow you down enough. If anything since im right handed i would probably flip over since i'm not used to modulating with my left.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: bR
Front brake should be enough according to this guy ... since at maximum braking the rear has minimal weight and probably wont slow you down enough. If anything since im right handed i would probably flip over since i'm not used to modulating with my left.

Interesting.

 

[mugs]

Yeah, I guess that guy is right about stopping on dry pavement, but it can't hurt to use your rear brake while you're "feeling" for that point where you have the most stopping power with your front brake without going over the handlebars. I mostly ride on dirt trails, so for me it makes more sense to use both. I'm more likely to lose traction with the front brake than to go over the handlebars (although I have... many times ). I guess it's just natural to me now, I don't even think about how I'm braking, I just do it.

 

[Looney]

First off, i would never use the front brake in an emergency. It does have better stopping ability, but then you would fly over the handlebars. I would just brake the rear and turn the bike simultaneously. But then again, i grew up riding BMXes.

 

[boyRacer]

Yeah i guess its just down to how youre used to it... i just got a road bike again and the feeling is a bit awkward after riding motorcycles.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I'm switching sides on my bicycle this weekend. I always mess-up the first few times, as I've ridden motorcycles
to long. When I first did this bike over several years ago a friend of mine was puzzled why I didn't do it then.

 

[boyRacer]

yeah i was buying handlebar tape and i got weird looks when i told the guy what i wanted to do... maybe its because i got a cheapo bike compared to their $4000 Treks and Cannondale... :disgust:

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
its the stupid americans who think they have to be different.

world wide its front brake on the right, rear brake on the left


I couldnt deal with it on mine so i had it switched to the worldwide format that i am used to. plus my motorcycle uses the front brake on the right..

Same here.

 

[Balthazar]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
If you're right handed it makes perfect sense. If you just "slam" on the front break, you'll flip. First brake you want to apply hard is rear. Since majority is right handed, right hand gets rear.

Yeah and because us "stupid americans" just want to be different....

Dumb stupid common sense loving people....I swear, we disgust me....stupid improvements.

 

[JupiterJones]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
If you're right handed it makes perfect sense. If you just "slam" on the front break, you'll flip. First brake you want to apply hard is rear. Since majority is right handed, right hand gets rear.

Exactly right.

 

[Eli]

eh. I've always used both brakes at the same time,... never even really thought about it.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: JupiterJones

Originally posted by: SunnyD
If you're right handed it makes perfect sense. If you just "slam" on the front break, you'll flip. First brake you want to apply hard is rear. Since majority is right handed, right hand gets rear.

Exactly right.

Logic wins! Too bad those stupid Americans have to be different eh?

 

[vegetation]

Best to apply both brakes on a road bike. The skinny little back tire will just skid around at any decent speed. Train yourself to apply both all the time and it'll become second nature.