Bikes

[yassa]

Why are a pushbikes chain and crank always on the right hand side of the bike.... i?

[finnyfaddler]

Because you are more likely to 'prop' the bike up with your left leg, and mount from the left side, especially as that is the pavement side.

Less likely to get your trousers caught.

[yassa]

So why in France and every other country that drives on the right,, are the chains on the right,,, you would park it that way round.... Someone once said it's because you mount a horse from the left and they just left it that way.... But surly by now, someone would have done it the other way round for a gimmik or to make you buy parts for your bike only from them..?

[yassa]

Had a thought,,,,,, if the gearing and such were on the other side, everyting would be going anti clockwise, maybe threads could undo and then fall off,,, maybe,,, it's an idea. But then why not use anti clockwise threads and make people only by parts from them.

[buildersmate]

Also had a thought - based on Yassa's thought. Just a guess but ... it's because FEWER of the bike parts have to be made with reverse threads? The left pedal is always made with a reverse thread to stop any chance of it unscrewing off in use - if the gears etc. were on the other side, these would also have to be made with reverse threads? Hence more expensive to make? Just a guess.

[Bob A Job]

I think its down to the way you `mount` the bike, people are mostly right handed, therefore swing the right leg over and are less likely to get tangled up...?

[WoWo]

On motorcycles it's the other way round, the chain is on the left.

[kepla]

You've got to consider there are two chains on most bikes: 'primary' - from engine/clutch to gearbox and 'final' - from gearbox to wheel. Fo course, some bikes have a primary belt instead of a chain, and some have a shaft final drive instead of a chain. Of course, some bikes - like BMW - have the engine mounted with the engine lengthwise instead of sideways so the primary drive is direct - no chain or belt required ! Most bikes have their primary drive on the right - as a carry-over from when motorcycles developed from bicycles - so they put the final drive chain on the left as it is easier to lay-out the design that way.

[Hard@it]

It's all a question of what came first - the wheel obviously -then the driving cog was attached to the wheel. This was tapped with a female right hand screw, and the wheel was given a male screw to accept it, therefore the cog had to go on the right to suit. If it was put on the left it would be unscrewing itself..

[mouse53]

Actually, bicycles, from which pushbikes evovled, have left-handed threads on the left pedal and the crank nuts.

[yassa]

So why not go the whole hog and stick the chain on the other side and be original....