Whats with Americans with their brakes the WRONG way around?!

Steve_B

My friend who insists that right lever/front brake is "correct" (who, BTW, never rode motorcycles) says it's the "Italian way". My anecdotal evidence says that he is correct. Since Italy is part of Europe, you've made a bit of a generality there that doesn't hold up.

I personally have all my bikes left lever/left brake. I'm used to it, have no problems and I see no reason to change. I get into this discussion with that same friend about our cyclocross bikes. Supposedly, I have mine set up "wrong" for 'cross. (Reinterated by Simon Burney) He says that I should have it left lever/rear brake because it's easier to modulate your speed when approaching a barrier (or other obstacle) in a left-sided dismount. Supposedly, otherwise you would risk locking up the front wheel and going over the bars. The problem with that is that first of all, cantilever brakes for 'cross aren't powerful enough to stop you that well anyway. (Our joke about poor braking power is, "What do you need brakes for anyway? They only slow you down." ) Second of all, if you are doing a dismount well, you're weight is pretty far back on the bike. You're not going to tip forward. I have no problems with my "wrong" setup.