Disc brakes are now the default on road bikes and no one cares
#76
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I'd have to disagree on that one. As a shop I can tell you that without a doubt I can't remember a single situation where any regular rider/enthusiast ever actually came to me to adjust their brakes. All seemed comfortable with turning a barrel adjuster and opening them up if you had a problem.
Since the switch to disc I see every single one of those guys. "I'm sure its easy but I don't have the tools and I don't know the first thing about bleeding brakes. I don't want to mess with it". Its one of the things I mentioned I like about disc. It has absolutely put more money into my pocket.
Since the switch to disc I see every single one of those guys. "I'm sure its easy but I don't have the tools and I don't know the first thing about bleeding brakes. I don't want to mess with it". Its one of the things I mentioned I like about disc. It has absolutely put more money into my pocket.
(And while this definitely affects how much business shops get, I'm not making a point about whether people should take something to a shop versus DIY. Many shops are also capable of producing poor results with rim brakes, sometimes through low-quality materials and sometimes through poor adjustment.)
Last edited by HTupolev; 02-21-20 at 08:25 PM.
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I watch a lot of UCI bicycle racing because I have a subscription to Flobikes and a VPN. There are still riders on rim brakes. The early season might not be the best indication of who has adopted what. Last year, Sagan rode the TDU on a disc bike, but rode at least Paris Roubaix on rims. The fear that the top UCI riders had last year was about wheel changes from neutral support. They were worried about being in a situation where they needed a wheel an it not working.
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#79
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#82
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It sure is. The supposed faff of hydraulic vanishes with mechanical and so does the price hike. Id rather have TRP discs than rim brakes, even if hydros blows any competitor to kingdom come, performance wise.
The weight "issue" is way overblown. Even if you can do 2000 ft an hour, a one lbs disc penalty equates to less than one watt.
The weight "issue" is way overblown. Even if you can do 2000 ft an hour, a one lbs disc penalty equates to less than one watt.
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#83
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Ive had both and I prefer disc for every type of riding. Its the new standard so people are going to have to get over it. I know theres a little bit of a weight penalty, but Im .5-1 mph faster at all times on my new disc bike compared to my rim brake bike. I dont feel like anyone will notice a drop in speed due to disc, if they do theres probably more factors involved than just the disc brakes.
From talking to people on rides and listening to the debates on forums, it seems that most of the people that are against disc brake bikes are those that spent a lot of money on their bikes and they dont want to hear/think that they have an inferior bike. Yes rim brakes have worked for years and will continue to work for years, but there is in my opinion a better option.
From talking to people on rides and listening to the debates on forums, it seems that most of the people that are against disc brake bikes are those that spent a lot of money on their bikes and they dont want to hear/think that they have an inferior bike. Yes rim brakes have worked for years and will continue to work for years, but there is in my opinion a better option.
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#85
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I just watched a video this morning of the Scott Foil Premium Disc when it came out back in 2017-2018, and the Scott rep stated that the disc brake version was 40g heavier than the rim brake one. Of course, this is a 10k$+ bike, but it gives a good idea on how heavier it actually his.
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That's not a question IMO. Wires have been eliminated on modern drive-trains (DI2 / RED eTap, etc.). The industry did the same thing with our brakes.
#87
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The real reason non boutique bikes are getting heavier is the fact that they are made for fat ppl, not because they have disc brakes. Even a size 50 emonda sl is rated for 275 lbs total weight.
How do you imagine that affecting weight and riding characteristics .. ?
How do you imagine that affecting weight and riding characteristics .. ?
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I must be the only one here who dislikes switching disc brake wheels. For example, my gravel bike has wheels with all-around tires and another set with pavement tires. Switching wheels requires fiddling with the caliper adjustments.
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That can be bothersome, but it's pretty easily fixed. Figure out which of the rotors is further inwards and get some shims to move it out to match the other. Once you take care of this, wheel swaps should be easy peasy.
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I don't believe there is a direct correlation between bike weight and max body weight it can withstand. In any case, a person weighting close to 300lbs should not be on the market for a race bike IMO. It's just not meant for that, and the experience will most likely be horrible.
#91
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The original article doesn't mention how much of the field was also on disc brakes. At some point, when eg. 80% of the field, including the key riders for each team, is riding discs, and therefore all similarly equipped or handicapped (however you look at), of course the winner will be on disc brakes. Also, are there any similar articles which claims a victory was enabled by disc brakes -- eg "...the final separation at the finish line due to the last high speed descent where XYX's use of disc brakes seemed to allow him to pull away from the rest of the field."
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Disc brakes are now the default on road bikes and no one cares
Pure climbers are winning on disc brake bikes and no one cares, so has the argument been settled?
Last weekend, Nairo Quintana blazed up the notorious 10km climb to Chalet Reynard on Mont Ventoux, to win stage three of the Tour de la Provence and take the overall race lead.
After the stage, chatter across the cycling media was focused almost entirely on the return to form of a rider whose star has waned slightly in recent years. What didnt warrant a mention, however, was that Quintana rode a bike equipped with disc brakes.
Bike Radar
Pure climbers are winning on disc brake bikes and no one cares, so has the argument been settled?
Last weekend, Nairo Quintana blazed up the notorious 10km climb to Chalet Reynard on Mont Ventoux, to win stage three of the Tour de la Provence and take the overall race lead.
After the stage, chatter across the cycling media was focused almost entirely on the return to form of a rider whose star has waned slightly in recent years. What didnt warrant a mention, however, was that Quintana rode a bike equipped with disc brakes.
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Is this an issue if using the same brand and style of hubs? Switching wheels can be a pain with electronic shifting if not using the same brand hubs, so i use the brand and problem solved. Is it the same with rotor alignment?
#95
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The original article doesn't mention how much of the field was also on disc brakes. At some point, when eg. 80% of the field, including the key riders for each team, is riding discs, and therefore all similarly equipped or handicapped (however you look at), of course the winner will be on disc brakes. Also, are there any similar articles which claims a victory was enabled by disc brakes -- eg "...the final separation at the finish line due to the last high speed descent where XYX's use of disc brakes seemed to allow him to pull away from the rest of the field."
#96
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So far, I haven't even had to shim any of my CenterLock hubs, even from different manufacturers, but I know that this isn't always the case (one wheelset has a 6-bolt attachment, and it doesn't quite line up with my CL hubs).
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One solution might be to go down the road I'm going . . . . keep my old bike with my comfy rim brakes and let the new-fangled bikes with disc brakes sit on the merchant shelves. Will this "boycott" ever work, No, because so many folks just gotta have the latest and greatest bicycle cycle, and they're willing to put up with the maintenance complications. Call me a curmudgeon or whatever, but I enjoy riding my bikes the old fashioned way and I have no complaints.
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I remember watching a video where a mechanic or coach was saying that some riders liked the lighter setups because it then allowed them to add the weight back in specific areas, like deeper section wheels or a power meter.
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I haven't seen any alignment issues with the cassette when swapping wheels(disc or rim). I'm sure there are some hubs that aren't exactly identical, but the brakes wouldn't be the cause of the problem.
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