My brakes are the wrong way round!

[TorqueDirty]

Hey folks,

Not much of a cyclist - have a mountain bike here in Scotland for the odd day out - but I have recently been provided with a sport / city bike for my work in Belgium (I fly out there every week and don't want the hassle of a company car in Belgium).

So all good (apart from a very uncomfortable saddle!) but I just noticed that my front brake is on the left and the back brake on the right. I had a bit of an unexpected moment when stopping in the wet yesterday which made me investigate. It had not even occured to me that they might be the other way round so I had not checked when I got the bike last week. I guess it makes some sense given that they ride on the other side of the road there but it does not feel right - especially as I'm a biker so used to the front on the right.

Anyway, is this an easy swap or am I stuck with it? The idea of having to do an emergency stop and lobbing myself over the handle bars does not fill me with joy!

Go easy with me - like I say I'm used to bikes with engines so no expert on the pedal powered versions.

If it helps this is the bike I got:-

https://website.rijwielenjacobs.be/product/kalkhof...

Cheers
TD

[WindyCommon]

That's the norm in continental Europe and many other countries!

For everyday riding the simplest/safest option is just to get used to braking gently/progressively with both hands simultaneously.

You'll soon get used to it in any case, so I wouldn't bother switching them over.

[SS2.]

Linky

[TorqueDirty]

Thanks, will see how I get on.

I nearly decided to do a quick locked back wheel C turn yesterday when I got back to my flat to see how the bike responded, but remembered just in time that the brakes were back to front.

One of my better recent risk management decisions!

[lukefreeman]

That's the proper way round.

[colin_p]

lukefreeman said:

That's the proper way round.

How are you supposed to hold your joust and safely cycle at the same time? Or doesn't Jonny Foreigner do cycle jousting?

[Scootersp]

TorqueDirty said:

Thanks, will see how I get on.

I nearly decided to do a quick locked back wheel C turn yesterday when I got back to my flat to see how the bike responded, but remembered just in time that the brakes were back to front.

One of my better recent risk management decisions!

I had a long push bike lay off, then after a knee injury bought cycling back into the equation (a good low impact recovery exercise) I built myself a mountain bike during my recovery and set it up the same as my stored road bike (which was the euro way round), first time out in years and I went for a skid, grabbed some brake and thought this isn't doing it, so really grabbed it and flew over the bars onto my back. I was very lucky, just bloodied elbows and knees, so you did well! or er better than me!

[Bobley]

I'd undo the hoses at the levers and swap them over. Worst that can happen is they'll need bleeding but I've got away with it in the past. Just be quick and dont let anything drip out.

[leyorkie]

Bobley said:

I'd undo the hoses at the levers and swap them over. Worst that can happen is they'll need bleeding but I've got away with it in the past. Just be quick and dont let anything drip out.

I did this with no problems. Just remember not to let any fluid out or air in.
You can’t reset instinct, you will one day grab the wrong lever.

[Herman Toothrot]

I’d not bother if you are an infrequent rider anyway. I grew up to 19 years old with brakes UK style then imported a downhill bike from USA and that had right hand rear so learned to ride that way round, so had all my bikes like that until I was 40 when after riding a motorbike daily for 6 years though meh maybe put my push bikes back to British right hand front so at least I’m consistent, ridden the last year right hand front. There are pros and cons to both ways, is see them as this :-

Right hands usually dominant and on a road bike with low grip levels it’s probably best to have your dominant hand on the main brake. Also works well for hand signals on road.

Mountain bike as a XC type novice rider I’d say right hand rear better as you can drag the rear but not lock up for better low speed control and to stop the bike running away with you without danger of washing out. Use front gently with left.

Mountain biker hitting things flat out Down hill racer style back to right hand front as going from no brakes, keeep them open, to last minute heavy braking you want that front control again. If you look at pro downhill racers many go UK style even if grew up in countries that didn’t, they don’t think of it as UK style though they call it Moto style, I.e. motor cross racing front brake is right hand.

[The_Jackal]

Just swap them over, its easy enough.
If you dont want to mess with hoses just undo the clamps, slide them off the ends and swap them over. It doesnt matter if the reservoir is upside down.

[Matt_N]

Ride cross hands, instinct will mean that you brake with the correct hand for the lever.

Note this will be very difficult!

[lukefreeman]

colin_p said:

lukefreeman said:

That's the proper way round.

How are you supposed to hold your joust and safely cycle at the same time? Or doesn't Jonny Foreigner do cycle jousting?

Nay, you can only remove hand to drink Espresso

[TorqueDirty]

Matt_N said:

Ride cross hands, instinct will mean that you brake with the correct hand for the lever.

Note this will be very difficult!

I like your thinking! I might also give riding backwards a go too. What could possibly go wrong?

TD