How Euro are you?
Discussion
Not just Euro. I bought my first proper MTB in Alaska. It was a GT Tequester and did a number on myslef in the car park. Pulled the rear brake to turn round and head back to the shop and ended up on my arse, dazed and confused! Went back for a whinge that they had set the bike up wrong and they said it was like all the others. They had Kona as well and they were all back to front. I like mine set up the British way thanks, its bad enough hopping on my bikes that have Sram on one and Shimano on the other 
I was out riding in Spain recently doing some road on my (UK set up) bike and some off road on a (Euro set up) MTB. I didn't find it an issue, but the guy I was riding with reckoned that lots of Euro MTB riders prefer to switch their setups over to UK-style because it matches their motorbikes that way.
ISTR its all rooted in some legal requirement to that new bikes must have your back brake on the side which doesn't need to be held out when pulling across the road, in the same way that bikes have to leave the shop with reflectors etc.
ISTR its all rooted in some legal requirement to that new bikes must have your back brake on the side which doesn't need to be held out when pulling across the road, in the same way that bikes have to leave the shop with reflectors etc.
It was bloody Euro brakes that broke my elbow last year.
I was on a hired dutch bike going for a very gentle ride around the lanes of Belgium. There was a larger group of us and when the surface was broken everyone slowed down a little causing a concertina effect. I was at the back and went to pull the rear brack but of course pulled the front. The front end washed out and I went A over T resulting in a radial head fracture.
Of course it wasn't really the fault of the bike it was the rider getting complacent on a relaxed upright bike, but that's the excuse I use and give amunition with the banter with my Euro colleagues.
I was on a hired dutch bike going for a very gentle ride around the lanes of Belgium. There was a larger group of us and when the surface was broken everyone slowed down a little causing a concertina effect. I was at the back and went to pull the rear brack but of course pulled the front. The front end washed out and I went A over T resulting in a radial head fracture.
Of course it wasn't really the fault of the bike it was the rider getting complacent on a relaxed upright bike, but that's the excuse I use and give amunition with the banter with my Euro colleagues.
I remember getting on the wrong side of my boss once. He had a MTB that he'd won in a Mess Christmas Raffle out in Germany. He knew I was into bikes, and asked me to do the re-cabling of his brakes/gears. Now, I'm no expert, but agreed to do it to earn some 'brownie points'.It'd been stored outside for a while, and everything needed replacing, but in lieu of payment he'd given me a day off for a long weekend. I came back to work to find him in a right grumpy mood. "What's up boss?" says I. "You, you f
ker - you wired the brakes up wrong, and I nearly wiped myself out." Having not been aware of the difference between UK and continental set-ups, I'd just run the cables the same as my bike, and adjusted it so that the brakes had quite a 'bite' to them as my boss was a big lad (think Rugby front row, not fatty). I offered to swap them back to the Euro set-up, but when I explained that UK bikes are all normally set up this way around, he decided he'd 'get used to it'. His bike was an older hard tail, with low-to-mid-range forks and finishing kit, and from a brand I'm not familiar with (nor can I remember the name of right now) but it was impressively light weight for something that had probably been bought to fill a gap in a raffle prize list, rather than bought by a bike fan.
On my old race bike (which I'm currently rebuilding - see the 30yr old frame renovation thread) I always had it set up continental style.
The main reason for this was that back then we used downtube gear levers. To change gear, I had to take my right hand off the handlebar to shift the rear mech. Having the front brake on the left meant that I could still brake properly if I needed to - particularly helpful on a descent of you needed to slow down quickly mid-shift!
TBH, all my current bikes are UK, but I don't have a problem moving from one to the other.
The main reason for this was that back then we used downtube gear levers. To change gear, I had to take my right hand off the handlebar to shift the rear mech. Having the front brake on the left meant that I could still brake properly if I needed to - particularly helpful on a descent of you needed to slow down quickly mid-shift!
TBH, all my current bikes are UK, but I don't have a problem moving from one to the other.
I'm assuming that either Pro's can switch between the 2 without batting an eyelid, or that all teams conform to one or the other. Just thinking that for the odd occasions when quick bike swaps are needed etc.
I'm sure it's a bit like left foot braking for the first time, once you've headbutted the windscreen a few times, it becomes second nature
I'm sure it's a bit like left foot braking for the first time, once you've headbutted the windscreen a few times, it becomes second nature
This chaps definitely a bit of a 'Left front-braker':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn0FF1KwL4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn0FF1KwL4I
Edited by Roman on Wednesday 21st August 12:01
I hired a bike in Sedona, America and the guy insisted on swapping the brakes over to the British way for me... I'm glad he did as cycling at 6000ft or summat daft in the 35C midday heat was one of the most stupid things I've ever done and I felt horrific by the time I got back to the shop!
If you're into near death experiences... http://www.bike-bean.com/Sedona_Bike_%26_Bean_Sedo...
If you're into near death experiences... http://www.bike-bean.com/Sedona_Bike_%26_Bean_Sedo...
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