tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post5357781444761671994..comments2024-01-05T11:00:30.673-06:00Comments on DFW Point-to-Point: Alternate Bicycle Braking UniverseSteve Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-25211572387837612292009-09-29T00:10:54.558-05:002009-09-29T00:10:54.558-05:00Checking out eBay, the authority on such things, i...Checking out eBay, the authority on such things, it appears that some are RH brake - and some are LH brake. Today, I kept thinking how my "normal" setup was all wrong. Perhaps the solution is to switch to a car where you just mash the single pedal down and it stops - at least in theory...Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-15269363123697216312009-09-28T20:58:31.191-05:002009-09-28T20:58:31.191-05:00I've never stopped to look at how other fixed ...I've never stopped to look at how other fixed gear bikes are set up... that's just how I did mine.RANTWICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394479078513545568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-72635517588369079162009-09-28T17:51:53.890-05:002009-09-28T17:51:53.890-05:00I have to admit Rantwick makes a good point. If &q...I have to admit Rantwick makes a good point. If "normal" is great, why do fixies have RH brakes?Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-62294159213442567552009-09-28T11:56:29.611-05:002009-09-28T11:56:29.611-05:00My fixie has only a front brake, and I operate it ...My fixie has only a front brake, and I operate it with my right hand. This single brake setup helps me to avoid jamming on the front brake of my winter bike with disc brakes, which is set up "normally". I have no difficulty with transitioning between the two. It makes sense to me, since on snow and ice I can't really afford to brake much on the front anyway.RANTWICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394479078513545568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-74816745125589677952009-09-28T08:34:35.397-05:002009-09-28T08:34:35.397-05:00Interesting! I'd never thought of that before...Interesting! I'd never thought of that before. Bikes are the same with shifters - always on the right side if there's only one. My husband put his shifter on the left side after wondering the same thing about keeping his dominant hand on the bars.Dottiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984050970208363927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-9997886296263295012009-09-27T22:14:07.017-05:002009-09-27T22:14:07.017-05:00I think it is a great idea to make the switch.And ...I think it is a great idea to make the switch.And I agree if you are going to do it, you should make the change to all the bikes you ride.Back in my motorcycling days I had bikes that were left side shift. And a few that were right side shift. It was impossible for me to keep it straight 100% of the time. Fortunately it never caused me to crash. But I had a few moments when it could have gotten me into serious trouble.Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12986498277947032639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2523357558654725888.post-16818002499427711162009-09-27T14:52:59.901-05:002009-09-27T14:52:59.901-05:00My left hand on the rear brake tended to give me j...<i>My left hand on the rear brake tended to give me jerky braking while signaling because the lower traction rear tire would lock up easily, leading me to swerve left. The condition was exacerbated by Buddy's strong V brakes.</i><br /><br />That's actually a good part of the reasoning why the brakes are set up as they are (with the non-signal hand hooked up to the rear brake). If you over-apply brakes to only the front tire and it locks up, you're more likely to go down. If the back tire locks up, it skids but the bike is more likely to remain stable. At least that's the theory.<br /><br />In my case, my bikes are not consistent. Three of my bikes have the American standard (right hand to rear brake) setup while the other, my Raleigh DL-1, is set up in the English fashion.Doohickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com