cloud5

Im looking at buying a new bike, a Giant in order to support my LBS. Im look at the TCR Advanced disc 1 KOM but im a little leery of their hybrid brakes, especially the unsightly conversion faceplate that mounts to the front of the stem. Has anyone tried Giants conduct hybrid system? Is it a waste of money? Is the conversion system as ugly as it seems in pictures?

Conduct brakes: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/global/showcase/conduct

nomadmax 

That's a new one to me, but kind of interesting.

Ogsarg

Master cylinder area has a big impact on brake feel. I can see this would allow that aspect to be optimized without the limits of what can fit into the brifter assembly. But then again, it might just be there way to provide lower cost levers. If you're looking at Giant, I'd go ride a bike with them and see how they compare to other systems. If you like how they work, the looks may not matter so much.

There may also be an advantage to maintenance but I don't have any experience there. Just thinking that bleeding/changing fluid would be easier with the MC right there.

sdmc530

This is really kind of neat because you can retro fit a mechanical bike with hydro brakes with this design. The cable from the lever activates the hydo to activate the brake? Seems way over complex for a factory bike but for a retro fit it would seem easier?? Unless I am not getting the system here I guess. As @Ogsarg stated it would be super easy to work on this system with one reservoir as opposed to one on each side for each brake. I think its super ugly too lol.

I would be leary myself I guess....seems like an engineered solution to a problem that didn't exist yet, but a different approach so I think that is neat....but ugly!

znomit

Yes it is pretty ugly looking in person. I too assume it's just for lower cost levers, because why else complicate things?

Campag4life

I personally wouldn't opt for it, but Giant put a fair amount of effort into developing it for cross compatibility between mechanical shifters and hydraulic brakes.

OP...if ordering a new bike, why not simply get one with hydraulic shifters to match your hydraulic brakes?

Giant is a good selection in bikes btw...they are excellent. TCR is a great race bike. If you aren't quite that fit or can ride that aggressive, the Defy is very good....a strong riding buddy of mine just transitioned from TCR to Defy...and he still rides in a pretty aggressive position but not as slammed.

CliffordK

It looks to me like they should integrate a cell phone or bike computer mount into that stem.

Why not go internal to the stem, behind the bars?

I could see an effort to do retro support for cable brakes, but on a new bike, I'm not sure why they don't just use one of a plethora of new integrated hydraulic brake levers, and eliminate the cables.

For quite some time,there has been a TRP HY/RD brake system that was cable actuated hydraulic, but put the hydraulic system at the brake calipers. Using hydraulic to simply improve pad float/adjustment.

Of course, short-run straight cables could be a benefit in some situations.

Sy Reene

Is an out-front garmin mount compatible with this setup?

nomadmax 

Aren't there cable operated hydraulic brakes already out there with the fluid in the calipers?

CliffordK

Yes, the TRP HY/RD.

But, in this case, the short cable run should be of some benefit, although I'm not sure about the added complexity of the system, as one has cables, cable housings, reservoirs, hoses, etc.

With the TRP HY/RD, everything is integrated. No hoses and fewer potential failure points.

Also, no expensive proprietary stems. What happens when one wishes to upgrade the stem, or simply "flip" the stem to change handlebar position?

TakingMyTime

I cannot comment as to their effectiveness. I have no personal experience using them and for that matter I've never actually seen them in person.

But... not only do I think the design is unnecessary, I personally think they detract from the overall beauty of the bike. For that alone, I would not buy one.

Bob Ross

I saw a number of Giant bikes equipped with those hybrid conversion brake systems when I stopped at an LBS out in the middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania just before the UnPAved ride last year.

In short: Yes, they are as ugly as you surmise.

Caliper

You are right about failure points, but hydraulic tubing design is pretty established science. Most cars have 5+ threaded connections between the master cylinder and each caliper so I think it'll be fine if they don't cut too many corners. Hydraulic hoses to have one benefit over cables though - routing and bends don't matter. So you could tuck the hoses very tight and not add friction like cables would.

The adapter here is only the faceplate, so as long as they made the bolt pattern symmetrical the stem could be flipped and reattached with the faceplate still upright.


That said, I still like the look of caliper brakes much better on my road bike...

nomadmax 

cloud5

Im going to talk to my LBS to see if they are willing to swap out the conduct brakes for hydraulic levers. I don't want to go much above the $2500 price tag on the TCR Disc 1. Im also going to check out the Defy I've heard great things about it. I just do not understand why giant spent all the research and design money on such a terribly looking design especially that Shimano now makes 105 hydraulic shifters. The Conduct brakes just seems like a bad idea.

cloud5

I dont know, this is one of my other questions with this setup, the mount would have to stick out pretty far to clear the brake adapte faceplate on the front of the stem.

cloud5

jguit

Giant told me that you couldn't just swap it out for new 105 brifters, you would have to change all the calipers too. They are really ugly and they don't feel as good as straight hydro. I ended up buying a 2017 in 2018 just to avoid them, and I didn't bite on a discounted boxing day tcr cuz I just can get past the looks.

cloud5

This is really unfortunate, I think this would be a deal breaker for me. I would love to buy loca,l but if this is the case I think a Canyon ultimate disc is my next go to, full hydro disc with 105 for $2300 to me seems better than the $2500 TCR with Ultegra components with the Conduct brakes that look like something I built in my garage out of spare parts.

Beach Bob

My understanding from my LBS is that Giant didn't like the Shimano 105 hydro brifters which is why they developed this setup, and they were standard on 105 equipped bikes last year. I didn't realize that they were now selling it as a separate thing for upgrading to hydraulic brakes. By and large, the opinion around here was that it looked fugly, but actually provided decent performance.

redlude97

i saw a number of them at cross races last year and had a few friends running them. Seemed to perform just fine. I'd probably rather have that system that than HY/RDs which i quite liked when I was running them. Could never get the front and rear feeling the same with the extra cable run even with compressionless housing

TimothyH

My question as well.


-Tim-

goatalope

The TCRs (and other Giant bikes with Conduct) come with a proprietary attachment that can accommodate a Garmin mount.

goatalope

The Conduct system is pretty ugly. That said, I've ridden one and the feel was good. Felt almost as good as full hydro. Better than Spyres.

I assume they specced it because full hydro systems are much more expensive that standard levers. Giant can keep the complete bike price down. Now that hydro 105 (R7000) is readily available, I bet they'll fade it out. Can you wait a year to purchase?

Campag4life

In bold...insightful post. Reason is both I believe. Kind of a motorcycle practice...except no common master cylinder and motorcycles have no brake cables....master cylinder on motorcycles located separately at right front lever...push rod and in back at foot pedal.

This post made me think of relocating my foot controls on a '09 Triumph Bonneville I owned and relocating the rear master cylinder...a bike I modded (café racer) pretty extensively a few years ago.

I would never own Giant's set up on a roadbike but then again, I wouldn't choose disc brakes...or only as a last resort if riding only if environment demanded it.