Hello,
This may have already been covered but I was informed by one of my British suppliers that like right hand drive in cars ( driving on the left), right actuated front brakes and left actuated rear brakes are required by law under the governance of the British equivalent of the CPSC (USA Consumer Product Saftey Commission).
As a side note of very classic interest. In the USA the CPSC has gone to great lengths to require reflectors on every bike while deaths at night seem to go up every year. Some people assume it's because with reflectors consumers feel no need to use proper lighting but that's another thread. How many of you use bikes built after 1975 or so that do not have the required CSPC reflectors and stylish brackets mounted front, rear, wheels and pedals?
Thankfully the CPSC was able to eliminate the dangerous and very sharp edge to those old Super and N.Record front changers and add the handy bump that makes the search for just the right unbroken Campag crankset with the offset right arm so delightful.
Hilary, is it a law mate,
Gilbert "lefty or righty" Anderson Raleigh, NC USA
In a message dated 8/31/02 3:51:35 AM, ltbradley@msn.com writes:
<< It has been great to read all the responses to my query about the left/right brake issue. Something occured to me with regard to old photos. Actually to any photos. I have come across many examples over the years of photos of "left handed" clarinets. Most (not all) have been a result of the negative being reversed. It is of course possible to do this on the computer too. The most recent issue of "The Clarinet" journal showed an advertisement for a famous brand of French clarinet of a well known player with his instrument. The image had been reversed--as far as I know their are no "left-handed" modern instruments by this, or any, maker. With bicycles, a quick butchers at the position of the chainset should suffice to check if the image was reversed. Or, am I opening another tin of maggots? Have chainsets always been on the "stage right" side of the machine? Lawrence Bradley, Tacoma, WA (Driest August here since the mid 1970's) >>
Gilbert Anderson
The North Road Bicycle Company
your bicycle outfitter
519 W. North St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
USA
ph toll free in USA :800/321-5511
Local ph: 919/828-8999
E-Mail: cyclestore@aol.com