Right front back, left front front

[Vapin' Joe]

Calipers are designed for front brake on the left, it gives a smoother and more natural cable run.

 

[Profpointy]

the "traditional" uk set up is right-front, left-back. I believe this may even be the legal requirement - at point of sale at any rate - I can't state the legal position as fact though. I believe this set up to be based on the mistaken view that the back brake is somehow the main brake leaving your right hand to signal if necessary. This last point is of course silly as if you need to brake smartly downhill whilst readying for a right turn, then the choice is brake or signal - the back brake would be marginal in this scenario - I do this twice on my daily commute and hence "bloody cyclist never signals blah blah"

I'd be tempted to swap but the risk of muddle in a panic stop puts me off

 

[MontyVeda]

...

Calipers are designed for front brake on the left, it gives a smoother and more natural cable run.

it depends on the calliper. Mine are centre pull so it makes no difference which side the lever is on. I keep my front brake on the right because that's where it's been in my 40 years of cycling... and i aint gonna change it now.

 

[srw]

It's perfectly possible to get used to both setups. One of our tandems has rear brake on the right - I have absolutely no problem changing between that and all my other bikes, which are set up like most British bikes.

 

[Profpointy]

It's perfectly possible to get used to both setups. One of our tandems has rear brake on the right - I have absolutely no problem changing between that and all my other bikes, which are set up like most British bikes.

that's encouraging me to swap mine round, despite some reticence. Would at least allow me to signal right for two tricky junctions on my ride home.

But I'm also thinking about buying a motorcycle after a 20 year gap - so that's another reason not to.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I hired a bike years ago in Menorca that had the brakes connected arse about face.

I nearly face planted the road numerous times that day

Stupid foreigners!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

that's encouraging me to swap mine round, despite some reticence. Would at least allow me to signal right for two tricky junctions on my ride home.

But I'm also thinking about buying a motorcycle after a 20 year gap - so that's another reason not to.

I've ridden motorcycles while I've had bikes with a left front brake. No problem at all as the feel of both machines is so different there is no confusion.

 

[Profpointy]

I hired a bike years ago in Menorca that had the brakes connected arse about face.

I nearly face planted the road numerous times that day

Stupid foreigners!

The silly thing is we'd be better off on Johnny Foreigner's bike and him on ours

 

[Shut Up Legs]

...

it depends on the calliper. Mine are centre pull so it makes no difference which side the lever is on. I keep my front brake on the right because that's where it's been in my 40 years of cycling... and i aint gonna change it now.

Same here - I've used right-front, left-back for my whole life, and would have trouble getting used to the reverse setup. Right-front, left-back is also the standard in Australia, as far as I can tell.

 

[John the Canuck]

Calipers are designed for front brake on the left, it gives a smoother and more natural cable run.

not on my Peugeot - export to UK model with GB in the serial number

 

[sreten]

Calipers are designed for front brake on the left, it gives a smoother and more natural cable run.

Hi,

Calipers are available both ways, but most follow the US, the cable enters the front brake on the right.
However on my road bike the front cable enters on the left, with the brake lever mounted on the right.
It seems only longer reach calipers are now available in this reversed schema.

FWIW all V brakes enter from the right on the front, even if the levers are front right, rear left.

Sheldon Brown is a fan of the UK method, front right, for right handers. Being a lefty I should
ideally change both my bikes to front left, right rear, but don't do this if you ride motorbikes.

rgds, sreten.

 

[Keith Oates]

As an ex-motorcyclist front brake on the right is the way I also like on a bicycle but getting them the other way around is not a problem for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RWright]

As an ex-motorcyclist front brake on the right is the way I also like on a bicycle but getting them the other way around is not a problem for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My front brakes are on the left on my bicycle but I never really thought about it being opposite of the front brakes of motorcycles. I never knew bicycle front was on the right in the UK either.