Anybody else *always* get things backwards?

[Dogmama]

...it will be done backwards. Shouldn't the law of averages let me get it right 50% of the time? Sheesh. Sometimes I just accept it and know that I will put it together...see that it's backwards....take it apart...put it together the other way....

Lise - I'm with you. That part of my brain never matured. I have problems with "this side up" stickers.

[salsabike]

I am also totally left brained. Great with words, love learning foreign languages (French, Japanese, Spanish), write well, read a lot. No problem remembering which is right and which is left, but positively cannot visualize stuff in my head. I can learn spatial stuff IF I can mediate verbally---i.e., write down the steps, or talk through them mentally. I had to write down the steps for putting my bike rack on the car, but once I had them memorized, no problem anymore.

I flunked high school geometry (passed on second try, possibly because my best friend Susie was no longer sharing my desk and we couldn't spend all our time talking about boys). Also flunked 8th grade home ec, because after putting the armhole facing on backwards for the THIRD time (on that ubiquitous and unwearable sewing project, the "shift" dress)---each time carefully and seriously analyzing how it should go on---I carefully folded up the unfinished shift and left it at the classroom door. Urg. There just aren't any outlets in my brain for visual-spatial plugs, so they knock around against the walls in there aimlessly and after a while retreat, slightly depressed and vaguely insulted, I think.

[Lise]

I have no idea which side of my brain I work out of. I love words, speak Spanish easily, and must have a visual in my head before I can do anything properly. Today, when riding, I caught a glimpse of my shadow, and my back didn't look straight. I thought, "I need to see someone riding with a good straight back, then I could imitate it." I recently read an article on good running form, but what really helped me was the picture of Deeva Kastor's elbows going far back with every stride. And the paragraph that pointed out why that helps. So. There you have it. Both sides of brain engaged!

[DirtDiva]

I'm a righty of the "see it, do it, get it" persuasion. The more pictures the better! I always read my magazines backwards too. I do like words, but I often feel as though the one I want just hasn't been invented yet.

[gringa loca]

I'm a lefty and I switched my brake cables too. I'm MUCH stronger with my left hand. My experienced biker friend told me that in Europe, that's how the bikes are cabled.

[MomOnBike]

I'm a righty but my left hand is stronger than my right. Years of playing string instruments (including bass) will do that to a girl.

I haven't switched my brakes, I just haven't seen the need.

I work with words, but boy, am I visual. I need a mental picture of where things are and what they look like to do anything. Telling me how to do something simply does not work. This can create problems...

[DirtDiva]

Back brakes are on the left and front on the right in countries that drive on the left. If I bought a bike somewhere else I'd have to get 'em changed over - would do my head in having them the opposite way around after all this time.

[DebW]

I'm a lefty and I switched my brake cables too. I'm MUCH stronger with my left hand. My experienced biker friend told me that in Europe, that's how the bikes are cabled.

It really makes more sense to put the front brake in the stronger hand. Not that I'm suggesting anyone change their brakes away from the way they are used to. But the front brake has the most stopping power and the rear brake just has to exert some drag. Braking with 2 hands is always best, but too much force on the rear brake locks the wheel.

[bikerbarb]

Well, that was my point. If people who are left handed exert too much pressure on the front brake with their left hand, they go over the handlebars. I know more than one to whom it has happened. For me, I did a lot of what's now called self contained touring 'back in the day' and most gear weight was in the back of the bike (I've read that it's recommended to be in the front now since body weight is in the back.) So I needed good rear wheel stopping power and I wanted my dominant hand strength. I never had a locking problem.