Here's one for you - why are chains on the right?
Discussion
I guess this possibly applies to some motorbikes too.
I was idly wondering why all bicycles have the chain and drive-gear on the right hand side.
After a Google round, I am none the wiser. There are many theories from 'keeping the component away from the kerb' and 'the threads on the pedals and bottom bracket' to 'this is just the agreed convention.'
I'm not suggesting this is a problem of course - any standardisation is generally good. However, I wonder if any of you serious bicycle anoraks had a more definitive answer than I have managed to find on Google?!
Be interested to hear ideas and opinions!
I was idly wondering why all bicycles have the chain and drive-gear on the right hand side.
After a Google round, I am none the wiser. There are many theories from 'keeping the component away from the kerb' and 'the threads on the pedals and bottom bracket' to 'this is just the agreed convention.'
I'm not suggesting this is a problem of course - any standardisation is generally good. However, I wonder if any of you serious bicycle anoraks had a more definitive answer than I have managed to find on Google?!
Be interested to hear ideas and opinions!
Edited by Ray Luxury-Yacht on Thursday 18th September 21:32
Most people are right handed so the right hand side is often preferred, so that's how it started and that's how it's stayed [citation needed]
it's probably worth mentioning however that a lot of BMX bikes are left hand drive to make it easier to do grinds and stalls and whatnot on the right hand side of the bike without smashing the chain and sprockets
it's probably worth mentioning however that a lot of BMX bikes are left hand drive to make it easier to do grinds and stalls and whatnot on the right hand side of the bike without smashing the chain and sprockets
Dammit said:
That'd be an Italian BB (not a joke, this is actually true).
surprisingly it is actually the british BB threading that has standard thread on the LHS and opposite thread on the RHS, so does indeed unscrew in the same direction as you pedal.The Italians are much more sensible(!) and have standard threads on both sides (I think; Italian threads are a road thing and therefore not my area of expertise)
deadtom said:
Dammit said:
That'd be an Italian BB (not a joke, this is actually true).
surprisingly it is actually the british BB threading that has standard thread on the LHS and opposite thread on the RHS, so does indeed unscrew in the same direction as you pedal.The Italians are much more sensible(!) and have standard threads on both sides (I think; Italian threads are a road thing and therefore not my area of expertise)
Wrong way round- if it's Italian then it's slowly backing itself out - have a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_(mechanica...
Edited by Dammit on Friday 19th September 10:02
Edited by Dammit on Friday 19th September 10:04
Watchman said:
deadtom said:
Dammit said:
That'd be an Italian BB (not a joke, this is actually true).
surprisingly it is actually the british BB threading that has standard thread on the LHS and opposite thread on the RHS, so does indeed unscrew in the same direction as you pedal.The Italians are much more sensible(!) and have standard threads on both sides (I think; Italian threads are a road thing and therefore not my area of expertise)
D1bram said:
funny enough, most motorbikes have them on the left. (I had to think about that despite owning a number of bikes over the years!)
Didn't old British bikes have them on the left? Chain drive BMWs still do.I thought British bikes were initially developed from pedal bikes so continued to have the chain on the right. Then Japanese manufacturers started from scratch and picked the other side.
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