Why is everything different in the US?

[Deleted member 20519]

More specifically, why is their right brake lever controlling the rear brake and the left brake lever controller the front one?

 

[jdtate101]

Just tradition, the way it's always been done. No right or wrong about it, just differences. One could say the same thing about driving cars on the left or right.

 

[Sittingduck]

Because they're 'wronguns'

 

[ianrauk]

It's the same as bikes in mainland europe.
We over take on the right so need the rear brake whilst we use our right arm to indicate.

 

[HLaB]

Jaz, perhaps the question should be why are we so different in the UK; practically everywhere I've been has had their brakes set up that way.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

Jaz, perhaps the question should be why are we so different in the UK; practically everywhere I've been has had their brakes set up that way.

Really?

 

[ianrauk]

Really?

yup, even Japan which who also drive on the left

 

[HLaB]

The Irish are the same as the UK but I've been on a few Irish cycling holidays where the set up has been like that because they get more European/US/etc clientèle and its easier.

 

[marzjennings]

It may have something to do with the side of the street folks drive over here, I just know that I have to switch the brakes over when I buy or rent a bike.

The local bike shops are starting to offer brakes set up as either US normal or moto-style (front brake/right lever).

 

[derrick]

Hired bikes in croatia last week, front brake on the left, it did not click straight away bike was very twitchy on loose gravel.

 

[Boris Bajic]

We are eccentric in the UK.

We join world wars when the ref blows his whistle for kick-off.

We drive on the right (left) side of the road.

We have more than one Math.

Most of us are happy to eat enough for one, rather than one small household.

We are dreadfully snobbish about our colonial cousins, often referring to them as 'colonial cousins'.

We apply the front brake on bicycles and motorcycles with our right (correct) hand - apart from those of us who don't.

We are generally right about things.

 

[Fab Foodie]

We are eccentric in the UK.


We drive on the right (left) side of the road.

We are generally right about things.

At least we know why we drive on the side we do .... johhny foreigner has no idea.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

My front brakes are on the left. Calipers are designed to have them that way round, it gives a smoother cable run.

 

[Fab Foodie]

My front brakes are on the left. Calipers are designed to have them that way round, it gives a smoother cable run.

Well that explains a lot ....

 

[Drago]

I dunno about the brake levers, but we drive on the left to pish off the French. In olde times it was agreed soldiers should march on the right so lancers etc, who were for the most part righ-handed, couldn't bring their weapons to bear.

The Anericans dovthecsane with brake levers, purely to also annoy the French, like the did turning up for WWII two years late.