Disc Brakes; Yay or Nay?
#78
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Maybe better "technically" but not necessarily better to have. The canti brakes on my LHT are more than adequate to stop my 210 lb. body, heavy bike and touring load, even in wet conditions. When I am out on the road for two weeks with not one bike shop even close to my route why would I want a braking system that I could more easily damage than my current system? If the bike happens to, say, fall over I am far more likely to bend a rotor than knock my cantis out of whack. For my application, I don't consider having disk brakes to be better since what I have is more than adequate and presents fewer potential issues.
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Are you kidding? I deliberately ride in the rain just about any time it's raining out! I ride almost every day year round and see plenty of rain, some of it anticipated and some not.
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I am happy staying right where I am. My DA 9000 brakes on my super fly custom ti road machine are more than sufficient. And I have never come close to flying off a cliff when touring fully loaded with my canti-equipped touring bike.
Not going for the latest is not synonymous with going backwards.
Not going for the latest is not synonymous with going backwards.
Now I don't ride that particular bike in the rain (if I can help it) and I expect the brakes wouldn't fare as well in wet conditions, but my goodness they really are great.
#85
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When I was looking for a new ride last year I wanted to try a disc brake bike. The first one was a mechanical disc set up. I was disappointed. All this talk about how great disc was and I honestly couldn't feel any difference from my 20 yr old bike. Next up was a Hydraulic disc. I was blown away and wont go back to mechanical or rim again.
Hydraulic Disc are the way to go. They are silky smooth and I have had to bleed them as much as I do on my car. I'm a large rider and their is definitely a difference in stopping power and ease.
I understand most of the skinny road guys don't need them, but i'm not one of them. Come around a blind corner on a MUP to see a kid ridding head on and you will be glad you have them.
Hydraulic Disc are the way to go. They are silky smooth and I have had to bleed them as much as I do on my car. I'm a large rider and their is definitely a difference in stopping power and ease.
I understand most of the skinny road guys don't need them, but i'm not one of them. Come around a blind corner on a MUP to see a kid ridding head on and you will be glad you have them.
#86
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Who said anything about flying around a corner? This is the difference between emergency braking and planned braking. When it counts I want the best available.
Last edited by Razorrock; 08-17-18 at 02:27 PM.
#87
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A lot less acrimonious than I would have expected. Considering how many times the material has been rehashed, I expected the ugliness to come out quickly. So far, everyone has been keeping things pretty decent, and not dissing everyone who disagrees.
Refreshing.
Refreshing.
#88
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Thanks for your post buddy. I should add I'm leaning towards the Cannondale Synapse Tiagra. Would it be fair to ask what this bike would sell for in your shop, or in a local shop most anywhere.?? If this isn't proper could you email me with that tidbit of information.?? I ask because when I search online at the local shops website's they all list the bike at retail or, suggested retail price. I would assume I could get the bike for less, 20 to 30 percent less. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm seeing $1249 with disc brakes.
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Different.
I have hydro discs, mech discs, and goo and less good rim brakes (though the less good are on a bike I just resurrected and are getting replaced) on bikes I currently ride. I have no problem stopping ion Any of them except the bike with old Mavic sidepulls ... and that stops quite well, just not as good as the 4600, 4500, 4700, 105, and Ultegra brakes I use on others. The Mech discs have huge stopping power .... but it is all wasted because the tires are the limiting factor.
You Like discs better, so you focus ont he aspects of disc brakes you find appealing. others focus on the drawbacks. I like having reliable brakes on my bikes, so i don't have to pick favorites among systems which all work about equally well.
But ... since you have made up your mid about Your preference, you feel a need to demand that everyone prefer what you prefer. And everyone who disagrees with Your preference is wrong.
Which is why this conversation usually dead-0ends here---someone want =s oto discuyss how he is right and everyone is wrong, instead of actually talking about brake systems.
Up until this point, I was quite pleased to see people actually discussing the Options ... not trying to establish heirarchies of personal preference and mandate them for everyone.
That's all.
#91
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When disc brakes fail through heat build up from heavy braking, they fail to a mode of not working. With the exception of carbon rims, rim brakes don't fail from heavy braking. When heavily loaded, going down big hills you do have to think about what is happening with discs and heat. You don't with rim brakes. I still like my discs and I'm not taking them off my bike, but they are only on there because I scored them cheap as part of a package deal.
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Disc brakes are spinning saw blades, and have killed people. Then again, with rim brakes if you get one drop of water on the rims, you will be unable to stop and will careen into oncoming traffic. Disc brakes have way better modulation, whereas with rim brakes once you press the lever, your wheels will lock up and you will endo. Disc brakes take a degree in astrophysics in order to adjust or change the pads, whereas rim brakes can be adjusted by a trained monkey. Wheels with rim brakes are easier to swap, for the next time you race in the Tour de France, whereas if you have a disc wheel, there is exactly one wheel the pads will work with, and anything else will not fit.
I think that about cover the pros and cons. The choice is yours.
I think that about cover the pros and cons. The choice is yours.
#94
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With the exception of carbon rims, rim brakes don't fail from heavy braking. When heavily loaded, going down big hills you do have to think about what is happening with discs and heat. You don't with rim brakes. I still like my discs and I'm not taking them off my bike, but they are only on there because I scored them cheap as part of a package deal.
One more thing,
... Regarding safety and braking performance, there is no doubt to me that disc brakes are superior to rim brakes in any situation. ...
Michael Adomeit, Head engineer, Canyon Bikes
#95
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Stop quicker is subjective, as is better modulation. You are incorrect on number 3. All brakes are affected by moisture, it’s the reduction in the coefficient of friction. Discs may be less affected, but moisture affects all braking surfaces
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(The news paper bit was especially for you, Mr. Rydabent---i figure you and I are the only ones old enough to remember what a "newspaper" is.)
#98
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The shop I work in handles both Scott and Cannondale. Both are very good frames, however I prefer the Synapse as I like the fit. As for disc brakes, if you can't go for the much more expensive models, I don't recommend them as they are almost always a disappointment in performance and rarely out-perform a standard rim brake. My daughter has the Synapse Tiagra and sticks with me just fine and easily modulates speed on descents and can panic stop without trouble. In wet weather just give a few rotations to wipe off the rim with the pads and you will stop, not as quickly as a disc brake, but you will stop. Been riding them all my life and never had trouble stopping in time in wet weather, even when loaded with touring equipment.
One thing to add, how often does one ;purposely go out in the rain or get caught unwittingly in the rain? Get real, it is not very often, if ever.
One thing to add, how often does one ;purposely go out in the rain or get caught unwittingly in the rain? Get real, it is not very often, if ever.
#99
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When disc brakes fail through heat build up from heavy braking, they fail to a mode of not working. With the exception of carbon rims, rim brakes don't fail from heavy braking. When heavily loaded, going down big hills you do have to think about what is happening with discs and heat. You don't with rim brakes. I still like my discs and I'm not taking them off my bike, but they are only on there because I scored them cheap as part of a package deal.
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I can only think of 2 advantages of disc brakes:
- much better stopping in winter where ice/snow build up on rims can make rim brakes almost useless and road salt/grit on the roads wear out your rims in one season and...
- if you do a lot of downhill mountain biking
If you don't do the type of riding described above, then rim brakes is all you will ever need. A properly adjusted rim brakes with good quality pads will stop just as good as disc brakes.
- much better stopping in winter where ice/snow build up on rims can make rim brakes almost useless and road salt/grit on the roads wear out your rims in one season and...
- if you do a lot of downhill mountain biking
If you don't do the type of riding described above, then rim brakes is all you will ever need. A properly adjusted rim brakes with good quality pads will stop just as good as disc brakes.