Why would my bike shop do this?

[mtbdarby]

I'll give you that you should go into the shop with a clear mind and let them explain, but personally I'd be furious.

We're talking about your ability to stop which could cause a fatal accident! I had the bike shop change over all my bikes to have the front brake on the right hand and they didn't want to but they did it after my explaining why. It's more natural to me, it was after an accident and I didn't have full strength in my left arm, etc. If they felt it was a safety issue they should have spoken to you before changing it. This shows complete disregard for your safety and disrespect (in my opinion). I ride with my son attached with a tag-a-long and that puts multiple people at risk. I shudder to think...

I'd like to hear their reasoning. And I'm sure I'd give them a respectable piece of my mind.....

[OakLeaf]

+1 on it likely being a mistake.

"Tune-up" can mean a lot of things in a lot of shops, but an annual service likely means replacing the cables and housings, and if they did that, then it's also likely that they pulled out all the old cables and housings, didn't pay attention to the backwards routing, and then installed the new ones the "normal" way without even realizing they'd made a change.

I think if it were me I'd have mentioned it when I brought the bike in, to make sure they were aware of it.

That said - I replaced my levers way back in I think February, and because the LBS offered me a great price including installation, I went ahead and let them do it. Should've done it myself, because they didn't put the levers back where they were. And they did such a pretty job of taping the ergo bars, whereas I'm such a klutz about it, that I haven't wanted to move the levers back, so I've been riding for the last 2700 miles with levers in an uncomfortable position.

[spokewench]

I have always run my brakes like a motorcycle, i.e. backwards for most cyclists. The reason for this was that my husband was a motorcyclist and he changed all his bikes over cause that was what he was used to; so when I started riding he did this for me too. I'm used to it. Whenever I take my bike into the shop, I always give them a heads up that I want my brakes backwards - and they will be in trouble if they change it. I also have to warn people before they ride one of my bikes that it is backwards and to watch how they pull the brakes. It is not so much a big deal on the road bike since I more often than not brake both brakes at a time, unless I am pedaling against the brake in a peloton.

On the mountain bike, I do have to be cognizant of which brake I am using for certain situations. So, if someone were to change my brakes, I would be in big trouble! I don't want to be hitting front brake going down a drop off or something! Yikes!

It is no safer one way or another, it is just what you get used to.

spoke

[OakLeaf]

I have always run my brakes like a motorcycle, i.e. backwards for most cyclists. The reason for this was that my husband was a motorcyclist and he changed all his bikes over cause that was what he was used to; so when I started riding he did this for me too. I'm used to it. Whenever I take my bike into the shop, I always give them a heads up that I want my brakes backwards - and they will be in trouble if they change it. I also have to warn people before they ride one of my bikes that it is backwards and to watch how they pull the brakes. It is not so much a big deal on the road bike since I more often than not brake both brakes at a time, unless I am pedaling against the brake in a peloton.
...
spoke

That's funny.

Coming back to the bici from the moto, I found it very effective to leave the bici brakes stock. Because on the moto, the first thing I reach for to slow myself gradually is to feather the clutch only - which translates to the left hand feathering the front brake on the bici. A little bit harder means feathering both levers. And hard braking means pulling them both hard, still emphasizing the left over the right, since pulling the clutch is the equivalent of "stop pedaling when you want to stop!"

As I ride more, I've been able to refine my bici braking technique, but as a returner, I had no trouble.