Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
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Planned obsolescence
I have both rim brake bikes and disc brake bikes. I have both mechanical shifters and electronic shifting. Beginning soon, Shimano will only offer 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace with disc brakes and electronic shifting.
The development of road and gravel bikes with disc brakes and excellent quality tires bigger than 28mm is a great option. These bikes are comfortable & safer with no loss in performance, in many cases. Disc brakes are a clear advancement over cantilever brakes found on older cyclocross bikes, for example.
I'm not convinced that disc brakes is worth the extra complexity on bikes with tires smaller than 30mm wide. Being forced to use electronic shifting is expensive, but at least early generations of electronic shifting didn't require disc brakes, so updating older rim brake bikes was still an option.
Welcome to a showroom full of very expensive bikes.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 06-30-22 at 12:49 PM.