aplcr0331

Damn...didn't know we were presenting a thesis in front of the dissertation research committee. Better tighten up my spelling and grammar for my judgmental peers. Whoah.

Jesus.

aplcr0331

Yep, for sure...good point and well taken.

PeteHski

What's the big fear? They are just breaks (sic) on a bike. You might even prefer them.

70sSanO

I don’t think you ever need to fear that you can’t find rim brakes going forward.

Now high end rims for those brakes might be a different issue.

John

smd4

Of course for some of us it’s about aesthetics! Who wants to be seen on an ugly, dirty, scratched up bike! For some of us, the mechanics of the machine are important too. Others—and I’ve seen more than enough bikes on this forum to know— don’t give a flying f how dirty the bike gets.

Then, others feel like they’re “stuck” with the bike they currently own and can’t wait to trade up to the latest-greatest.

I hope you get your disc brake bike; I’m in love with my rim brake bike. And the way it looks—and rides.

CrimsonEclipse

Why not convert your beloved bikes to disk brakes?

Chuck M 

Take the wheel!

Polaris OBark

I'm glad this topic is finally, for the first time, getting the attention it deserves.

thehammerdog

because.not cost efficient plus old. I do love them but like a 1990 mustang gt...very cool but newer just better.
​​sad to say it..

wolfchild

As long as your brakes stop, that's all that matters...makes no difference if it's rim brakes or disc brakes

Paul Barnard

This brakes my heart.

tomato coupe

Rim vs. disc, or brake vs. break?

Polaris OBark

Yes.

koala logs

Having no fear it might rain on a big climb or the wheels exploding on long steep descents in 100F heat is the biggest advantage of discs.

If you watch UK hill climb championship where it rains often, the racers walk their bikes down from the top, they don't ride it. Many of them use rim brakes to save weight, but can't ride the bike down on it in wet conditions.

Polaris OBark

This guy got his finger cut off at the tender age of 4 by a disk break belonging to some brifter passing through Lompico:

rosefarts

You need to have a fleet.

A couple newer bikes that get the majority of the riding. In my case a gravel bike and a mountain bike. Both are new enough to have all the fixins, including disc brakes. These may get sold, or upgrades, or wrapped around a tree. They are super fun but don’t have soul.

Then a handful of bikes that age like fine wine. A few road bikes that are getting classicer every year. One (early aughts and 10sp Campy) I wouldn’t hesitate to ride up Pikes Peak or do the Triple Bypass on or whatever. It’s very capable but at under 500 miles a year, I don’t really expect it to ever wear out. The older bikes get even fewer miles.

Especially now, since I have been home 2 days since September, I only bring the bikes I’ll be riding with me.

ofajen

Ok, I’m good now. I finally forced myself to read through all the Park Tool guides on disc brake installation and maintenance and it’s not that big of a deal. So, now I don’t care about brake type when I need to build or buy a different bike.

Otto

LarrySellerz

That they straight up won't work after a decent amount of use? I ride two bikes with low end disc brakes regularly and its a complete nightmare. After paying to get it serviced the brakes are almost useless in a week or two, have spent hours trying to fix them myself. Cheap rim brakes are junk but they are much much better than cheap disc brakes. If I had to buy a new bike I would never buy disc brakes because of my bad experiences.

Also even when set up "correctly" they are prone to rubbing on the pads. Its the nature of the beast with disc brakes

Koyote

****** bikes have ****** brakes. That's a shocker.

LarrySellerz

400$ hybrids from a bike shop are very decent bikes, they aren't dicks sporting goods bikes, the brakes should work for thousands of miles.

koala logs

The best brakes I ever had was a classic Deore caliper rim brake on a classic steel road bike with chrome rims. It had stronger braking than cheap mechanical disc. But when it rains, the cheap disc still performed better.

I had bad experiences with cheap discs as well but eventually, I figured out how to setup correctly. I miss my classic chrome wheel bike but discs seems the way forward. It's more reliable on long and sometimes steep mountain descents, it doesn't wear out the rims, and among other advantages

rosefarts

With the billion different standards, I’m more confident that I can get pads for my bikes from the 80’s in 30 years than I am my new bikes in 10 years.

GamblerGORD53

Last year I watched a YT video guy put disc brakes on his unrestored 1936 Dodge. LOL.

Camilo

I have four nice "road-ish" bikes. Three have rim brakes and the newest one, technically a gravel bike, has discs. I HAVE NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT DISC BRAKES, THEY'RE GREAT. And I understand why the indurstry is moving that way - it's the only type of road bike that's selling. There's just not a market for rim brake road bikes any more.

But for simplicity and braking that really couldn't be better for the riding I do, I would be perfectly happy if all my future road bikes came with rim brakes. Rim brakes work very well for me. I know how to maintain and adjust hydraulic discs, but regardless of what anyone says, rim brakes are easier, especially when traveling and not in my home "shop".

My three rim brake bikes are getting pretty old. I have couple (steel and titanium) from the 80s and 90s. My carbon fiber Felt with 10 speed shifting is pushing 12 years old now, but is my favorite and I consider it to be my most precious bike in that I don't think I'll be able to get a similar bike it in the future. The other two (titanium and steel) will be easy enough to replace with used good quality steel and titanium, it's "only" a matter of looking and affording... and I won't have any concerns - or certainly custom rim brake framesets in ti or steel will probably always be an option.

Although I love carbon fiber bikes, I would be hesitant to buy a used one, especially as time goes by, the used, rim-brake carbon fiber framesets will be pretty old and well used.

Anyway, I don't think parts will be a problem in my lifetime which is probably about 20-25 more years. But getting a new mass market carbon fiber frameset will. Might be the reason I just switch to steel or titanium all-in. But I do love carbon fiber frames!

Eds0123

Irrational Fear of the unknown?

and then again Change from soft cushy comfy familiar to something new unfamiliar always hard.