Building a road bike: Still worth it to go rim over disc?
07-23-23, 02:12 PM
#326
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I realize that we Mtn bikers have sullied the gentleman's sport of cycling. However, it isn't mtn biking but simply animalistic genes that have made us this way. I'm shopping for a wireless dropper post now and looking for tires that plump up to 34mm. This is like those unwashed uncultured snowboarder types who ruined skiing for everyone.
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07-23-23, 02:37 PM
#327
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07-23-23, 02:38 PM
#328
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Oh, thank goodness.
07-24-23, 07:39 AM
#329
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I realize that we Mtn bikers have sullied the gentleman's sport of cycling. However, it isn't mtn biking but simply animalistic genes that have made us this way. I'm shopping for a wireless dropper post now and looking for tires that plump up to 34mm. This is like those unwashed uncultured snowboarder types who ruined skiing for everyone.
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07-24-23, 08:34 AM
#330
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and those hooligans still roam the slopes and sully the place. What is funny is that there are just a few huge mounds of snow remaining at Copper Mountain, CO. We were there on Sat watching the Triple Bypass ride. The hooligan snowboarders were still walking up 15-20 yards and boarding down at 80 degrees, in full gear. It was quite hot even in shorts. The skiers have taken up yoga by now.
07-24-23, 11:58 AM
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On my road bike, I often find myself wishing it had slightly flared drops like my gravel bike.
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07-24-23, 12:22 PM
#332
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Me too! I think the carbon Ritchey Streem has a slight flare (maybe 4 degrees) but it is too little to matter. Another 2-3 degrees would be ideal. On the gravel bike, I think it is 12 degrees which I really like. I had to change rear pads on my road bike last weekend, I still had enough left but with a few big rides coming up, I changed the rear. It feels really good now. I was doing 45+ MPH on some straights with sharp downhill turns and the modulation was sublime. That way, the vehicles could not catch up and pass me on that narrow highway pass til it really straightened out lower down. Rim brakes are dead to me...that bike goes back on the trainer.
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07-24-23, 01:03 PM
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Me too! I think the carbon Ritchey Streem has a slight flare (maybe 4 degrees) but it is too little to matter. Another 2-3 degrees would be ideal. On the gravel bike, I think it is 12 degrees which I really like. I had to change rear pads on my road bike last weekend, I still had enough left but with a few big rides coming up, I changed the rear. It feels really good now. I was doing 45+ MPH on some straights with sharp downhill turns and the modulation was sublime. That way, the vehicles could not catch up and pass me on that narrow highway pass til it really straightened out lower down. Rim brakes are dead to me...that bike goes back on the trainer.
My road bike has Campy rim brakes, which are notoriously mediocre stoppers. I was reminded of this about a week ago when a minivan turned left in front of me and I couldn't slow rapidly enough to stop before colliding with it. Thankfully, I was able to slow and turn enough to significantly reduce the impact, and no serious damage was done to my bike or body.
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Last edited by Eric F; 07-24-23 at 01:25 PM.
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07-24-23, 01:26 PM
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What don't you like about the flare? What bars do you have? There are some flares that are too extreme for my taste - both function and appearance.
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07-24-23, 03:51 PM
#337
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My gravel bike bars (Whisky Spano) have a 12deg flare. That seems pretty good. I'd go a bit narrower for my road bike, though. My issue is that I can bring myself to ditch the current CF integrated bar/stem that is on my road bike.
My road bike has Campy rim brakes, which are notoriously mediocre stoppers. I was reminded of this about a week ago when a minivan turned left in front of me and I couldn't slow rapidly enough to stop before colliding with it. Thankfully, I was able to slow and turn enough to significantly reduce the impact, and no serious damage was done to my bike or body.
My road bike has Campy rim brakes, which are notoriously mediocre stoppers. I was reminded of this about a week ago when a minivan turned left in front of me and I couldn't slow rapidly enough to stop before colliding with it. Thankfully, I was able to slow and turn enough to significantly reduce the impact, and no serious damage was done to my bike or body.
07-24-23, 03:59 PM
#338
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Campagnolo is built for winners. If you're stopping, you're not winning.
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07-24-23, 04:02 PM
#339
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I'm kind of the opposite. Despite having been a roadie for a long time, now when I'm in the drops, it feels like my hands are too close together.
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07-24-23, 05:33 PM
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I'm aware of that. I've been a Shimano guy forever, but this bike (I bought used) came built with full Campy Record, and I haven't felt the urge to spoil the package. Until this recent incident, I've been okay with the brake performance.
Campagnolo is built for winners. If you're stopping, you're not winning.
Campagnolo is built for winners. If you're stopping, you're not winning.
Mavic SSC dual pivot calipers. | Bicycle garage, Cool bicycles, Bicycle components (yahoo.com)
Last edited by big john; 07-24-23 at 05:36 PM.
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07-24-23, 07:16 PM
#341
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My 2021 build was a rim brake Cannondale built up with SRAM Force. Just to have something different from my Ultegra and disc equipped Lynskey.
My (just completed!) 2023 build is a Ragley Trig gravel frame built up as a flat bar commuter. But built her up with 105, disc brakes, and GravelKings, so strip off the rack and throw on a longer stem and she’ll be ready for some fun in the dirt!
To the OP: carbon wheels (and wider selection of tire sizes) are the best reason to go disc. My Cannondale will forever be restricted to 25mm or smaller 28mm tires, larger ones rub against the SRAM Force calipers. She’s still fast, and she’s still fun, but there are trade offs. Getting her as aero as the Lynskey (which is a brick by modern standards) would require deep dish wheels… very heavy alloy, or the not-super-desireable carbon wheel and rim brake combo. Even if the frame were as compliant as the Lynskey, she’ll never be as comfortable given her 25mm tire limitation - the Lynskey runs a 32mm effective tire in the front, and I can go 20PSI lower.
My vote for a long term primary bike would be to go disc. But like genejockey said - nothing stopping you from building another!
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