Coming from a motorcycle racing background, I always forget that the front brake on a bike is set up on the left. (Unlike a motorcycle that is on the right.) Is there some reason for this?
On a motorcycle, both brakes are on the right. On the bike, you generally have brakes and shifters for each hand because you aren’t using your feet for anything but pedaling. On a motorcycle they can spread things out a bit, since you can use your feet to shift and brake along with your hands.
Both brakes on the right is not alway true. On my road race bikes I use a thumb rear brake on the left side.
What I mean to ask was why not have the front bike on the right side and the rear on the left side?
After 15 years of off road motorcycle racing, I have my mountain bikes set up front brake right side. Set it up the way you like. Not sure why the industry does it rear brake on the right.
Sheldon Brown touches on this:
http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#whichside
He sets his up with the front brake on the right.
Dude, you’ve got more CF on that thing than MY bike has.
“Both brakes on the right is not alway true.”
Yeah, I missed the fact that you’re racing rather than just riding. I think the point is that you don’t have feet to use on a bike, so they spread stuff out a little more. Right hand does rear brake and rear derailleur, left does front. Probably more convenience than anything.
I am left handed so I like the front brake on the left, but have never understood why right handed people would do it. It does vary by country some too - in Italy a lot of bikes are set up front on the right.