MoAlpha

It is also commonly said about professional racing gear that if it doesn't fall apart immediately after the finish, it was overbuilt.

rubiksoval

It's a carbon frame, not a "scratch and dent magnet".

rubiksoval

Let's get real. There is no frame upgrade over that bike that is even remotely justifiable from a performance standpoint. Zero.

You can justify it all you want, but at least be a bit self-aware.

rubiksoval

Again, there is no undue stress.

The speed is no different, the distance is far less (like I said, these are race bikes only).

This entire premise is wrong and false. Amateurs ride their bikes in training and in races and put WAY more wear and tear on their bikes. Looking at the pro gear, pro training, pro nutrition, etc., has zero bearance on what non pros should ride, do, or eat.

L134 

l’ll admit to searching for a question.

big john

I think a 220# recreational rider doing 1000s of miles on the same bike puts a lot more stress on parts than a 130# pro who can get new everything any time any day.

Pros usually don't race what they want, it's what the sponsors want.

Roadies have always been reluctant to change, going back to index shifting, compact cranks, compact frame design, and now disk brakes. It's common for people to blame the bike makers for new stuff as a conspiracy to make old stuff "obsolete". It's happening with mountain bikes, too, with wheel sizes.

Miles2go

One who says a group of people "always" are like whatever or do whatever, is almost always wrong. For instance, I adopted clipless pedals as soon as they were friggin available, same for index shifting, though it was switched into friction mode often, until they got better. I also bought a Kestrel 200EMS brand new, and anyone familiar with the history of full carbon frames, knows it wasn't exactly a latecomer. Don't worry about me though, perhaps my next road bike will have disc brakes, I just ordered a brand new Cervelo R5, with fully mechanical DA from my local shop. You guys weren't successful in convincing me otherwise.

noodle soup

Which Tucson bike shop is open at 8:30am?

kingston 

At the highest level you can have bikes with both kinds of brakes and use whatever bike is better for that day. That's why you see the pros riding rim brakes sometimes. If they only had one bike, I'm pretty sure it would have disks.

Miles2go

I'm in direct email communication with the majority of shop managers and/or staff here. I didn't need anyone to be open to finalize and convey my decision, or get return confirmation.

Dean V

You had your mind made up anyway!
How many, and what disc brake road bikes did you actually ride during your research into the matter?

OBoile

This is a useful thread.

bruce19

IMO disc brakes are simply better. Are rim brakes now so inferior that they should be avoided? No. They are fine. Whether the advantages of discs resonate to you is your decision. I'm a recreational rider and either type of braking system is fine for me.

rubiksoval

Is this a win or something for you?

Did anyone here care in any way which bike you got?

That's a big resounding "no". This is such a weird thread topic.

Maelochs

You wouldn't. We get it.
/thread.

Miles2go

Probably 5 or 6 if I cared to think about it. I've been working toward this new bike decision for more than a month. Is there a right number you were looking for, or is that a rhetorical question?

waters60

One case in support of disc brakes:
Some idiot passed me and immediately pulled a right turn, on a wet road. Rim brakes would have locked up in this situation; disc brakes did not.

Miles2go

Yeah, I'd bet my next race bike will have discs brakes, but as of today, that's been moved down the road for at least a few years, and I was somewhat on the fence.

Seattle Forrest

Luckily, you won't be able to share good wheels between your new R5 and your next race bike then! Well done.

Miles2go

Hope you're feeling great about landing a snarky comment, well done. The amount of gear I'm pulling over from my last race bike to the new one is zero and believe it not, I'll manage.

Seattle Forrest

I don't think you're allowed to start a thread like this and then complain that your readers are snarky. You've invited it.

WhyFi

I thought that all your wattzzz melted the previous frame in just one year?

Dave Mayer

Disc-brake equipped road bikes are indeed dominating the showroom floors. I observed it in person on a recent visit to my local Trek dealer.

Due to a recent monetary windfall, and in a race against time to snap up at least one elite-level rim-brake road frame before they're all gone, I determine to snap up a Trek Emonda SLR frame. Bonus: the 2019 frames are closing out at below $2,500. I can forgive the PITA proprietary BB and seatmast, the reward being a combined sub-1kg frame and fork.

So I make my once every 5 year visit to my local dealer committed to buy, but they cannot find any in stock, or in affiliated stores, or through the dealer (despite what their website says). So I am now looking for other ways to spend my money.

The good thing about road bikes with discs is that used elite-level road bikes from roughly 5 years ago are selling for deep discounts, presumably abandoned by gullible early-adopter types and sponsored riders. This will be my buying opportunity, as they are lighter, more aero, easier to maintain, and definitely less expensive than the current crop of top-end road bikes. Also: I can use my current large fleet of wheels, and I don't have to deal with PITA thru-axles.

big john

You knew what I meant. I guess I should have said "roadies in general have been reluctant to change". or "roadies are notoriously reluctant to change".
Good luck with the new bike.

Miles2go

Yeah, people in general are reluctant to change, or to concede their stance, admit they are wrong, that they are sorry, or pick up after their dogs, etc. etc. Just pointing out that you aren't speaking to someone who tends to put off adoption of advancements.