MattyMurdah

I recently purchased a Fuji Cross bike to commute with and do a bit of gravel riding. It has mechanical Shimano 105 shifters paired to TRP Spyre disc brakes and although the braking hasn't felt like a huge improvement over my race bike's rim brakes, I've never felt like I needed a ton more stopping power.

My question is: for entry-level cross racing, how important is it to have Hydro disc brakes? I will probably attempt my first cyclocross season this year and want to start preparing to upgrade if it might mean a significant improvement in performance or enjoyment. (I get a team discount if I purchase a bike in November)

FWIW, I live in San Francisco so most of the local cross races are fairly dry. Thanks for any input!

ThermionicScott 

This is the "recreational gravel/cross" subforum. For actual racing, you might get better feedback here: https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocross-racing/

Abe_Froman

I raced last year with cantis, and they were just fine in dry weather. I’m sure me h discs would be a big upgrade when it’s wet. I don’t think i’d worry too much about mech vs hydro is you’ve already got one...both I’m sure will stop the bike.

Marcus_Ti

The only reason to think about mech vs hydro...is that mech doesn't automatically advance pads for wear. So potentially, you'd have to advance the pads during a race...but that is it. Both systems, properly set up, can throw you over the handlebars.

HTupolev

They work pretty similar as long as you use good compressionless brake housing with the mech. The main problems with mech are if the brakes are low quality or someone uses spongey housing. Hydro feels maybe a bit stiffer and stronger if comparing two good setups, but not a huge deal.

Hydros do self-tighten as the pads wear out, since the amount the pads back out when you release the lever depends on how far they had pressed in against the rotor. *Usually* this isn't a big deal within a given event, though. Maybe make sure there's a barrel adjuster accessible from the handlebars on the mech brake housing if you're unsure...

Yeah. With well-adjusted cantis with good pads, shouldn't make much real difference in the dry. Discs do offer better modulation when mucky, since they're better at sweeping their braking surface.

caloso

For dry NorCal races? Not at all.

RJM

My cross bike has mechanical disc...work fine. My last one had cantis which also worked fine. The cantis did clog up with mud a little when the course got sticky.

dabac

Necessary - not at all.
Races are still being won on bikes equipped with either brake system.
The day only disc bikes win races it’ll be b/c all riders capable of winning are on disc bikes. Presumably more by sponsorship deals, upgradeitis or sheer availability rather than any huge performance advantage.
How NICE and/or BENEFICIAL discs are vary from rider to rider.
And ever from ride to ride.
While I rode for decades with rim brakes with nothing more than some mild grumbling during wet rides and when a rim wore out, I sure appreciate that discs require less hand effort to give the same amount of braking.
Not having to wait a full turn of the wheel or two before getting good braking in the wet is also nice, particularly in tight situations.

vinuneuro

Until the newest gen of Shimano which shrunk the hydro shifters, Katie Compton was using mechanical disc brakes. She won multiple championships on mechanical disc; only started using hydro from 2017. That being said I'm a huge fan of hydraulic.

I have read of people having issues with mechanical in wet gravel races because the cable housing gets clogged with mud.

fietsbob

Decades of races won on bikes with cantilever brakes.. Cross is a lot about running and getting on and off the bike fast.


The solution was a guy with a hose and a 2nd bike, swapped at the pits.. Mud is Heavy, so a cleaned bike lowers your lap times.

Rise and Repeat..





...

MattyMurdah

Awesome, thanks for the context guys! Good to know there's no real need to upgrade soon.

caloso

I did my first season of CX on a Trek 660 with the narrowest knobbies I could find jammed under the caliper brakes. (It was fine for September races. Not so great in November. But I had a blast anyway.)

I'd show you a picture but Photobucket is holding it hostage.

fietsbob

Seems DNF is part of Photo bucket's charm , a post so private that wont be visible by anyone.