DClog

Last Look Before First Race

The new Cannondale Cyclocross bike was ready yesterday, but after a few minutes of a trial run I had to take it back to the shop. They had built it with the left-hand brake lever controlling the front brakes, which is correct on all road and mountain bikes, but not on a 'cross bike.

Why cyclocross brakes are backward: When a rider dismounts in a cross race at high speeds, he stands on the left pedal with the right foot forward, left hand on the brakes, right hand on the top tube and hits the ground running. Naturally a bike can go faster than a runner so you must slow down the bike as you are dismounting, with your left hand being the only hand on the brakes, you don't want to be squeezing the front brakes... unless of course you want to do somersaults and cartwheels over the barriers, but they don't award extra points for acrobatics in cyclocross racing.

I brought the bike home again and decided to take a photo while it was still new, clean and unscathed.

Posted by dancoy at October 23, 2004 01:49 PM