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

[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!

[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