greatgoogamooga

I'm gonna try moustache bars on my fixie and have an old set of Suntour Superbe brake levers that should be perfect for them. Up until now, I've always had the brake lever on the left side, because that's how it came when I bought it and I never really thought about it. Logically, I'm thinking I should put the lever on the right side when I switch bars, because it frees my left hand for signalling (yes, some of us actually do that.)

Any logical reason for either side that you can offer? I'm only doing a front brake, no rear.

Goog

seau grateau

Honestly the best way to signal is use both hands. Point left for left. Point right for right. The whole left hand only thing is a leftover (pun intended) from the days when cars didn't have turn signals. But put it on whatever side you like.

Bat56

True about using both hands, but drivers in the US know what the right turn w the left hand looks like so I like the lever on the right for one handed signaling. Problem is that most canti brakes have the attachment point on the right and the angle can be screwy. Maybe not a big deal w stache bars.

LesterOfPuppets

Most cantis are center pull.

Vee brakes are all on the right, AFAIK.

Calipers come in both left and right, right being more common these days. I'm dying to ditch the left pull caliper on my Free Spirit for a right pull one.

Astrozombie

On the right because that's where motorcycles have them, consistency FTW?

Bat56

I typed canti. Meant caliper.

For v brakes, the Paul Moto and Avid Ultimate are reversible. And cost close to $100 per wheel.

Sixty Fiver

Really ?

I find that pointing right with my right and left with my left is much clearer to drivers who have forgotten all about their driver training and think right hand signal with the left hand is you waving.

LesterOfPuppets

Hahaha, I used to get a lot of waves back when right turning.

striknein

I like the lever on the right. Consider that most of the time you're riding on the right-hand side of the road; your left hand will be more visible to traffic behind you, especially if you're not directly in front of the driver. Also makes it easier to push off cars if you start getting crowded in a lane.

jdgesus 

can't turn, dont want to

seau grateau

Or you could just do both.

Bat56

People forget lots of stuff. I emphasized the US to say that it's still a legal option in most states and how most people were taught and tested. As distinguished from pretty much everywhere else on the planet and universe where right means right and waving means waving.

frantik

no way i would count on people knowing what a right turn signal with my left hand looks like. i point to where i'm going

and what was that brake on the seatpost called?

Bat56

What right turn do you take where you are "counting on" someone understanding your hand signal?

hairnet

Two brakes and both my arms are free to signal. That or I default to front brake/right hand lever

Counting on people understanding that he is signaling and not waving at them. Not much to it

frantik

There's a right turn right by my house that i often signal to let drivers know I'll be turning. It's a narrow road and cars are anxious to pass. They chill out when they know i'm turning soon.

If I were to change lanes from the left lane to the right lane, i also would signal with my right arm. This happens to me more on a pedicab than on a bike; when i'm pedicabbing I use the bikes electronic signals and also arm signals when I want drivers to be sure of my intentions.

hairnet

I have a similar one that later includes an uncontrolled merging right lane. Sticking my right arm out is the only to get to people behind me and on the right(mergers) to slow the **** down

ianjk

Mustache + both hoods + right side hooked up to front and left side left "empty". Going to be awkward when you lose a comfy position on just one side.

hairnet

Mhm

Scrodzilla

That doesn't mean people retain it (or even give a crap). Cars are supposed to drive the speed limit and stop at stop signs too, which is also taught and tested.

Bat56

Obviously there was more to it, as he gave two examples.

Bat56

If that's the argument then the same drivers are going to ignore your right arm signal.

Im not advocating a left arm right turn signal. I use left and right, point where I am going. I don't care what other people do.

That said, there is logic to using the left arm, which is that cars behind you and very close to you cannot see your right arm. This is applicable in the merging and turning situations mentioned above. You body blocks your arm.

Scrodzilla

Exactly. Most times when I signal, people don't care because they're not paying attention anyway.

FWIW - I tend to use both sides. Which side I use for making a right turn depends on the situation and how visible I am at that given moment. If someone doesn't see me, my argument is "You really mean to tell me you didn't see the big guy with long dreadlocks riding a sparkly pink bike???"

Bat56

True dat. People don't see bikes and drive right over them. So it doesn't really matter what arm was used.

seau grateau

You guys are such nihilists.