Why would my bike shop do this?

[wannaduacentury]

I just picked up my bike from the shop where I dropped it off for a tune-up. I got there just in time before they closed. I took the bike onto the road and headed home. A couple of blocks later I noticed that the breaking was funny. I have ALWAYS (for the last 5 yrs) had my bike set up so that the right hand controls the front brake. I know that it isn't "supposed" to be like that (here in the U.S.) but I prefer the front brake and want it controlled by my (dominant) right hand. But presumably because it was "wrong" the shop switched it without telling me. Since they are closed now, and I have no tools at home, I will have to make it through my ride tomorrow morning with my brakes backwards. I am upset, because I don't think this is safe and think that the shop should have consulted with me first before making that change. I guess I am just venting, but I do think this is a safety issue that they should have thought about.

My old 3 speed was set up this way, just the way they put it together. Like you said, they have swapped so I actually swapped mine to match the other bikes which are left(front)-right(rear). I would take it back to the shop and politely make them change it, and to ask you before they make major changes to your equipment. They making a change actually could have casued an accident when you weren't aware of it in a panic stop. Jenn

[mtbdarby]

So just out of curiosity, did you have a chance to talk to the bike store about why they switched the brakes?

[msincredible]

I'd be annoyed if it were me.

I have one bike with the front brake on the right side. As I handed it to the mechanic at the LBS he asked me if I knew the brakes were reversed and if I wanted it kept that way.

[Tuckervill]

Yeah, I'm dying to know what their explanation is!

Karen

[mtbdarby]

Bump. How did this work out Chicagogal?

[chicagogal]

Sorry for not posting in a while. I just got back from vacation. I took the bike back to the shop and they put my brakes back to how they were. I asked them why they changed them, but I didn't get much of an answer. The guy who worked on my bike wasn't there, but the guy who was apologized on his behalf. I still don't know if I am going back there (there are a lot of bike shops in my area, I don't HAVE to use that one). However, the following day I was out for a ride, pulling away from a coffee shop that doubles as a cyclist hangout/rest stop on sat mornings and the guy from the shop had just arrived, recognized me (in helmet, sunglasses, etc) and said hi. I don't think I would have recognized him . . . and I like a place where I am not totally anonymous . . .