Since only one side of a brake caliper is given a finished appearance, it makes sense to "present" that side to view, important when trying to move inventory!
The conventional mounting also allows for simpler adjustment of the pivot tension, and a bit less-obstructed access to the barrel adjuster.
To the contrary arguement, many frames and all side-pull calipers are off-handed to each other, i.e. the side that the cable emerges from (L. or R.) may only match up when the chosen caliper is reversed. ("backwards" calipers include most models from Weinmann/Dia-Compe, as well as 1980-ish Shimano side-pulls)
Ever try to mount a center-pull caliper backwards? I'd love to design a frame around that!
David Snyder (whose '67 Paramount needs the rear NR caliper "reversed") Auburn, CA usa
> At 00.40...it's time for my Thought Of The Day !
>
> I have watched the Tour De France most years since 1952...and have seen
> most
> of the GREAT RIDERS of the successive decades - Bobet, Coppi, Van Looy,
> Anquetil, Darrigade, Merckx, Poulidor, Gimomdi,Simpson, Thevenet,
> Hinault,
> Fignon, Indurain, Kelly, Roche, Lemond to name but a few..So here comes
> the
> Thought For The Day..are you ready for it...?
>
> Why did none of these GREAT RIDERS..or their Team managers..or their
> Mechanics..think of fitting the rear brakes of their bikes in front of the
> brake bridge.? .Perhaps the answer is, logically, that none of them were
> carrying panniers and racks and therefore did not anticipate any problems
> adjusting their brake blocks...Or could there, just possibly, be another
> valid explanation?
>
> Norris Lockley
> Settle UK