Why I hate rim brakes…
02-17-22, 10:46 AM
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Why I hate rim brakes…
…and look forward to the day when I can replace them with discs on all of my all-weather bikes.
In the dry weather, I’ve no problem with rim brakes for my rolling terrain, but man, when it’s wet out, the pads throw so much crud and grime all over the place, it really makes for a messy situation and more demanding cleanup.
In the dry weather, I’ve no problem with rim brakes for my rolling terrain, but man, when it’s wet out, the pads throw so much crud and grime all over the place, it really makes for a messy situation and more demanding cleanup.
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02-17-22, 11:05 AM
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Ann Arbor! Where they use the weather forecast to estimate how many snowflakes are likely to fall, then roll out the salt trucks to apply that many salt crystals. Maybe things have changed but I rode the winters of '75, '85 and '86 without access to a garden hose or feasible place indoors to wash my commuter. It lived in the hall on a plastic carpet runner. (Quarantined. 
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02-17-22, 11:17 AM
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...interesting fender mounting system.
...interesting fender mounting system.
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02-17-22, 11:30 AM
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The mud and grime is thrown up by the wheel isn't it? I suppose the rim brakes might make it difficult to put a fender on to control where it goes.
Or do you not stay upright all the time and somehow the pads are plowing through the muck? <grin>
Or do you not stay upright all the time and somehow the pads are plowing through the muck? <grin>
02-17-22, 11:45 AM
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I know of no way to keep grime off of one's bike, especially riding in any wet environment, other than leaving it unridden. I think the rim brake pads are maybe a small factor in the dispersal of the grime, whatever they are tossing is coming from the wheel/tire. I like both disc and modern rim brake set ups. With machined brake track, quality calipers and good pads, rim brake stopping is quite good, even when wet.
02-17-22, 12:03 PM
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They have their place. I'm glad to have more options these days.
MI winter riding just is not enjoyable for I, so I chase the window while on the trainer.
MI winter riding just is not enjoyable for I, so I chase the window while on the trainer.
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02-17-22, 12:21 PM
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Ann Arbor! Where they use the weather forecast to estimate how many snowflakes are likely to fall, then roll out the salt trucks to apply that many salt crystals. Maybe things have changed but I rode the winters of '75, '85 and '86 without access to a garden hose or feasible place indoors to wash my commuter. It lived in the hall on a plastic carpet runner. (Quarantined. )
)
02-17-22, 12:25 PM
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They’re Crud RoadRacer Mk3, and go on and off super quick and easy with DuoTec (aka 3M DualLock).
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02-17-22, 12:26 PM
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The black grime is definitely pad wear sludge.
02-17-22, 12:29 PM
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I know of no way to keep grime off of one's bike, especially riding in any wet environment, other than leaving it unridden. I think the rim brake pads are maybe a small factor in the dispersal of the grime, whatever they are tossing is coming from the wheel/tire. I like both disc and modern rim brake set ups. With machined brake track, quality calipers and good pads, rim brake stopping is quite good, even when wet.
02-17-22, 12:29 PM
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A 48 second video of washing a bike? I actually washed it because I figured nobody would record and post up a video that only contains that. Got me!
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02-17-22, 01:16 PM
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I love using my chemical sprayer to wash the bike. Surprised Park hasn't slapped their logo on one and marked it up to $80
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02-17-22, 02:00 PM
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Haha, it actually took me about 4 readings of my own post to know what you were talking about. That is funny. And yeah, MuckOff or some small brand needs to introduce a line of pump sprayers for 6x the cost of one at a hardware store.
02-17-22, 03:49 PM
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Is it ok to watch your bike in the shower?
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02-17-22, 03:54 PM
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Carbon is clean
Campy EC3, Zipp Showstopper, and Farsports have good braking even in the wet.
Campy EC3, Zipp Showstopper, and Farsports have good braking even in the wet.
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02-17-22, 05:00 PM
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02-17-22, 06:08 PM
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02-17-22, 09:30 PM
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In those conditions, your bike will be full of crap, regardless of brake selection.
Tim
Tim
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02-17-22, 09:37 PM
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As I said before, I have been disc brake utility/commuting for 16 years all year round, and I know very well that rim brakes are way dirtier, and generate their own, unique kind of crap. Bikes get dirty during MI winters, of course, but rim brake bikes get much nastier than disc brake bikes.
02-17-22, 09:37 PM
#21
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Disk brakes are not the end-all do-all either. I have both and like both. Do I need to be careful in wet conditions with rim brakes? Yes. Crap can get on disk brakes too and render them much less effective. There is nothing inherently wrong with rim brakes though. Much simpler design and less to go wrong versus better braking under most conditions but finicky to adjust and loud. And, if the disk gets bent, well, you're SOL unless you can bend the disk back enough to get you home.
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02-17-22, 09:42 PM
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Disk brakes are not the end-all do-all either. I have both and like both. Do I need to be careful in wet conditions with rim brakes? Yes. Crap can get on disk brakes too and render them much less effective. There is nothing inherently wrong with rim brakes though. Much simpler design and less to go wrong versus better braking under most conditions but finicky to adjust and loud. And, if the disk gets bent, well, you're SOL unless you can bend the disk back enough to get you home.
02-17-22, 09:53 PM
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This thread is not about any of that. It’s about rim brakes (on aluminum rims) making a lot of mess in wintry, wet weather
02-17-22, 10:12 PM
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Point well taken. Yes, rim brakes in winter, slushy and wet conditions, mixed with some salt, sand or cinders makes a darn dirty bike to clean. That's why we love cycling so much though. You know, when you're dog tired and it takes an hour to clean the bike versus wait and it takes two hours because that grime dried and turned to concrete on the bike.
I'm just talking crap here because I've been wfh for so damn long I've forgotten what it's like to ride to work in any conditions.
