Doesn't this beg the question of why most "racing brakes" (read side-pulls) have the cable connection on the left as you look at the front of each brake. That's to say you would get a better cable line from the right lever to the front brake if the connection point were on the right as you face the front brake. Left or right on the rear brake is basically irrelevant.
Steve "Gios" Sitz Franklin, NC
Stephen Sitz, Associate Broker
stephen@preferred-realtor.com
Preferred Properties of Franklin, Inc.
91 Georgia Road
Franklin, NC 28734
Office 828-349-4663
Fax 828-349-4087
> In a message dated 8/26/02 7:27:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> cbeyer2@volvocars.com writes:
>
> << Chris Qvale told me he sets up his bikes with the right lever operating
the
> front brake, because 90+% of people are right-handed, and therefore their
> right hand is stronger. He opined that he thought it would reduce the
> tendency of right-handers to lock up the rear brake. >>
>
> My understanding of the origin/adoption as standard, of the "front brake
on
> the left" had to do with racing team mechanics. Any mechanic who had to
> service the gears of a squadron of bikes, would be mighty tempted to put
the
> rear brake (to stop the rear wheel while on the work stand) in easy reach
on
> the right side of the bike. That would be far more convenient that
reaching
> through the bars to the other side. The convention of the left hand front
> brake may have predated multi-geared racing bikes, I don't know what the
> Randonneurs did in the old days, but my guess is whatever they wanted as
> there was no reason for standardization. Once the road racing crowd
stopped
> being luddites about gearing, I'm sure the team mechanics wanted
> standardization, and since they assembled the bikes...If anyone has a
better
> story, let's hear it!
>
> My personal tendency has been to put the front brake on the rider's
dominant
> side unless they have a different preference. Like Jim, I'm also a
> motorcyclist (right handed) and it's far more natural to pull harder with
> your dominant hand on the brake that has to do the most work and has the
best
> traction.
> Stevan Thomas
> Alameda, CA