My response is: it depends. Cyclocross (and other rough stuff) bikes invariably cabled from right lever to front brake. Recently, I have set up most of my bikes that way but use the alternate (left lever to front brake) when the sidepulls have the cable anchorage on the right hand side for a cleaner cable run.
As a result, I always make a point to look down before starting off a ride just to see which way it is routed to avoid one of Colin's pirouette maneuvers should I grab a handful of brake without thinking. Doubt that I would keep the bike upright as he managed to do.
Yes, my riding friends think I'm crazy. Nolo contendere.
Charlie Young Honey Brook, PA USA
On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:52:42 -0800, Colin Laing <colin_laing@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>>From Colin Laing
>
> Now that the bar-wrap saga is almost laid to rest, may I submit "brake
> levers" for discussion...In England, since most of us rode fixed wheel in
> the winter and even early season time-trials, the one and only brake
lever
> was on the right hand side. Various ideas of this were that we rode on
the
> left-hand side of the road, the right hand was generally the stronger of
> the two and mainly, if a young chick had joined the group, it was easier
> to push her along into a head-wind.
> When racing on the Continent, the mechanic would oblige my request to
> switch the cables around but with some mirth.
> On emigrating to the States in 1974, I thought it best to "go with the
> flow" and did my brakes American and Continental style...all went well
> until 2 years ago on the "Sunday Bash" whilst in Britain....I switched
> bikes with a young chap who wanted to try a Campagnolo Record equipped
> bike ...with about 5 miles to go and in pouring rain, we went down a 1 in
> 4 (called Scarth Nick),,,and I tapped the wrong side lever going into a
> bend...The bike did a complete 180 ..I managed luckily to stay
> upright,,,but even luckier, the other guys thought I did the manouver on
> purpose and marvelled at my performance..
>
> So, which is the correct side? COLIN LAING ( awaiting Obama's stimulus
> check)