Skewer direction - Page 2

01-07-2007, 10:08 PM

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 20:00:17 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:

> I've heard it suggested that the front brake lever
> was moved to the left (typically weaker) hand, so
> people would be less inclined to use the front brake
> and flip 'emselves over the bar.
>
> I'd rather actuate my front brake with my right hand,
> so I can brake and signal a left turn at the same time.
> One of these days I gotta get around to switching my
> brake levers around.

Every bike I've bought here in Australia has had the right lever cabled to
operate the front brake. Maybe the idea is that it should be possible to
signal the sharper turn (left here, right in the US) while using the
more effective front brake.

Seems reasonable to me, anyway.

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01-07-2007, 10:41 PM

Michael Warner wrote:
> On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 20:00:17 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:
>
>> I've heard it suggested that the front brake lever
>> was moved to the left (typically weaker) hand, so
>> people would be less inclined to use the front brake
>> and flip 'emselves over the bar.
>>
>> I'd rather actuate my front brake with my right hand,
>> so I can brake and signal a left turn at the same time.
>> One of these days I gotta get around to switching my
>> brake levers around.
>
> Every bike I've bought here in Australia has had the right lever cabled to
> operate the front brake. Maybe the idea is that it should be possible to
> signal the sharper turn (left here, right in the US) while using the
> more effective front brake.
>
> Seems reasonable to me, anyway.
>

I've thought about that too. When setting up my bikes (in the US) I
still opt to put the front brake on the right side since I'm more likely
to have to stop when turning left (due to on coming traffic).

It'd be tough to convince me that one is safer than another. I just
prefer mine that way.
\\paul

01-08-2007, 06:09 AM

On Mon, 8 Jan 2007 17:38:37 +1030, Michael Warner <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 20:00:17 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:
>
>> I've heard it suggested that the front brake lever
>> was moved to the left (typically weaker) hand, so
>> people would be less inclined to use the front brake
>> and flip 'emselves over the bar.
>>
>> I'd rather actuate my front brake with my right hand,
>> so I can brake and signal a left turn at the same time.
>> One of these days I gotta get around to switching my
>> brake levers around.
>
>Every bike I've bought here in Australia has had the right lever cabled to
>operate the front brake. Maybe the idea is that it should be possible to
>signal the sharper turn (left here, right in the US) while using the
>more effective front brake.
>
>Seems reasonable to me, anyway.

The theory has been that braking with just the front is dangerous if there
should be a surprise. So the powers that be assume Americans should have the
front brake on the left and you all should have it on the right. Me I think it's
all about the cyclocross and the front goes on the right. Which completely
failed to keep me from grabbing it and crashing most absurdly when coasting up
to a barrier and having the guy in front of me klutz it. There I am coasting in,
standing on one pedal with both hands on the bars and far more front wheel
traction than was good for me.

Ron

01-08-2007, 10:22 AM

"Michael Warner" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 20:00:17 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:
>
> > I've heard it suggested that the front brake lever
> > was moved to the left (typically weaker) hand, so
> > people would be less inclined to use the front brake
> > and flip 'emselves over the bar.
> >
> > I'd rather actuate my front brake with my right hand,
> > so I can brake and signal a left turn at the same time.
> > One of these days I gotta get around to switching my
> > brake levers around.
>
> Every bike I've bought here in Australia has had the right lever cabled
to
> operate the front brake. Maybe the idea is that it should be possible to
> signal the sharper turn (left here, right in the US) while using the
> more effective front brake.
>
> Seems reasonable to me, anyway.
>

Rode motorcycle for years. Right side front was always a no brainer.

Signals, who cares.... I've always watched "them" a lot more than they've
ever watched me. ;-)

Chas.

01-09-2007, 03:21 PM

>>Every bike I've bought here in Australia has had the right lever cabled to
>>operate the front brake. Maybe the idea is that it should be possible to
>>signal the sharper turn (left here, right in the US) while using the
>>more effective front brake.
>>
>>Seems reasonable to me, anyway.
>
> The theory has been that braking with just the front is dangerous if there
> should be a surprise. So the powers that be assume Americans should have
> the
> front brake on the left and you all should have it on the right. Me I
> think it's
> all about the cyclocross and the front goes on the right. Which completely
> failed to keep me from grabbing it and crashing most absurdly when
> coasting up
> to a barrier and having the guy in front of me klutz it. There I am
> coasting in,
> standing on one pedal with both hands on the bars and far more front wheel
> traction than was good for me.
>
> Ron

Can you provide a citation for this "powers that be" stuff?

Pat

01-09-2007, 04:01 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Pat" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
>>>Every bike I've bought here in Australia has had the right lever cabled to
>>>operate the front brake. Maybe the idea is that it should be possible to
>>>signal the sharper turn (left here, right in the US) while using the
>>>more effective front brake.
>>>
>>>Seems reasonable to me, anyway.
>>
>> The theory has been that braking with just the front is dangerous if there
>> should be a surprise. So the powers that be assume Americans should have
>> the
>> front brake on the left and you all should have it on the right. Me I
>> think it's
>> all about the cyclocross and the front goes on the right. Which completely
>> failed to keep me from grabbing it and crashing most absurdly when
>> coasting up
>> to a barrier and having the guy in front of me klutz it. There I am
>> coasting in,
>> standing on one pedal with both hands on the bars and far more front wheel
>> traction than was good for me.
>>
>> Ron
>
> Can you provide a citation for this "powers that be" stuff?

I dunno if you can call it a "citation" or not, but
here's some input from a reputable source:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Just opinion on my part, but I wouldn't be surprised if
"powers that be" in this case refers to consumer safety
organizations/advocates.

cheers,
Tom

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01-09-2007, 10:08 PM

On 7 Jan 2007 08:04:29 -0800, "Malcolm Smith"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> may have said:

>The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
>the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?

I see more fronts with the lever on the right and rears with the lever
on the left. The lever on the front often lines up with the fork
better when it's on the right. On the back, the lever on the left
keeps it from cluttering up the area of the der.

It doesn't really matter, as long as the wheel is secure; use what
works for you.

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01-14-2007, 04:20 AM

Aesthetics

On the rear, there is less interference with the derailleur

As to the front - convention. Remember, these were NOT invented so you
could put your bike into your car more easily. A racer punctures and
needs a wheel changed in less than 10 seconds. If the mechs know where
to reach for the release lever without looking, that's a second.

Malcolm Smith wrote:
> The convention seems to be to insert the skewers of both wheels so that
> the lever is on the left and the nut on the right. Why?
>
> Malcolm
>