Road Bikes - Disc or Not
Discussion
A lot of my friends have idiot opinions as well...
I've got bikes with both, and I just ride them, what brakes they have isn't anything I have to worry about, the single pivots on my old Vitus still stop me, and I don't go over the bars on my Kinesis whenever I brake. Buy the bike you want.
I've got bikes with both, and I just ride them, what brakes they have isn't anything I have to worry about, the single pivots on my old Vitus still stop me, and I don't go over the bars on my Kinesis whenever I brake. Buy the bike you want.
Brilliant things. Anybody who says otherwise hasn’t used them or has used a crappy set of mechanicals...
People always comment on the power, but actual outright power has never been a problem on non disc brakes.
The benefit of the Discs is the all weather ability and brake feel. I love having the ability to pull up from speed with a single finger on the lever...
People always comment on the power, but actual outright power has never been a problem on non disc brakes.
The benefit of the Discs is the all weather ability and brake feel. I love having the ability to pull up from speed with a single finger on the lever...
gazza285 said:
Buy the bike you want.
I did and i have ... Like i said, just wondered the opinion of PHAll my bikes have Hyd Discs ... Watching my mate go fleeing past me on a damp day and down an exit road (the lucky boy) as i easily stopped for a 90 left at the bottom of a steep hill on a hybrid carry a load more weight than him was a good enough reason for me!
I have hydraulic discs on my distance bike and I love them so much. The weight and aero penalty is negligible and more than offset by the extra braking confidence. In the wet they are even further ahead. The other advantage to discs is that you have a bit more clearance for wider tyres too.
I'd have hydraulic discs on any future bike, without hesitation.
I'd have hydraulic discs on any future bike, without hesitation.
On a new road bike? Hydraulic disc brakes are where the market is at.
Buying second hand? Rim brakes, you can get some really tasty bargains.
A well-set-up rim braked bike with decent pads will stop really well, wet or dry.
Ultimately it’s the contact patch of the tyre that is the limiting factor.
Buying second hand? Rim brakes, you can get some really tasty bargains.
A well-set-up rim braked bike with decent pads will stop really well, wet or dry.
Ultimately it’s the contact patch of the tyre that is the limiting factor.
I don't think disc brakes are more powerful than rim brakes - you can lock a wheel with rims after all.
As a club / semi-serious rider, not racing but tapping out 3 - 4K miles a year, the difference for me was control / feel at the lever (admittedly subjective) and performance in the wet. I've had a few hairy descents on rim brakes where I've only just been able to stop in time for junctions etc.
I upgraded to a hydraulic disc brake bike a few months ago. Put simply, the level of modulation / control / feel / whatever you want to call it means I feel like i can actually slow the bike down gradually, the brakes aren't just 'on' or 'off'.
I'd imagine that for the majority of the bike-riding population, discs offer the above benefits. Each to their own though.
I can see the argument for either everybody or nobody having them in a race situation, where the braking margin could be the difference between a crash or a narrow escape.
As a club / semi-serious rider, not racing but tapping out 3 - 4K miles a year, the difference for me was control / feel at the lever (admittedly subjective) and performance in the wet. I've had a few hairy descents on rim brakes where I've only just been able to stop in time for junctions etc.
I upgraded to a hydraulic disc brake bike a few months ago. Put simply, the level of modulation / control / feel / whatever you want to call it means I feel like i can actually slow the bike down gradually, the brakes aren't just 'on' or 'off'.
I'd imagine that for the majority of the bike-riding population, discs offer the above benefits. Each to their own though.
I can see the argument for either everybody or nobody having them in a race situation, where the braking margin could be the difference between a crash or a narrow escape.
Discs for me, but only if they're good hydraulics.
I don't think it's entirely necessary but I like them. I got hydraulic discs on my commuting single speed first, because I ride it in the rain, carrying luggage and people might step out in front of me. So far they've needed no maintenance at all, just cleaning.
I then changed to a road bike with discs because I wished I had my commuting bike's brakes on descents. That said, I always managed to keep control down steep hills with panniers on before with rim brakes. I've had cable disc brakes before too (trp spyres) and I didn't think they were worth the trouble, no more powerful than the tiagra rim brakes on my other bike at the time.
I also think the current ultegra discs are actually quite pretty, but each to their own.
I don't think it's entirely necessary but I like them. I got hydraulic discs on my commuting single speed first, because I ride it in the rain, carrying luggage and people might step out in front of me. So far they've needed no maintenance at all, just cleaning.
I then changed to a road bike with discs because I wished I had my commuting bike's brakes on descents. That said, I always managed to keep control down steep hills with panniers on before with rim brakes. I've had cable disc brakes before too (trp spyres) and I didn't think they were worth the trouble, no more powerful than the tiagra rim brakes on my other bike at the time.
I also think the current ultegra discs are actually quite pretty, but each to their own.
Brads67 said:
I`ve ridden them and actually have them on my cx.
Won`t ever have them on my road bikes though.
Uncouth for starters. Ugly bloody things.
I suggest you don't leave it too long before buying your last ever road bike then! Won`t ever have them on my road bikes though.
Uncouth for starters. Ugly bloody things.
People used to say that V-brakes were all you needed on a mountain bike. You'd struggle to find anything more expensive than a Halfords £99 special with anything other than disc brakes in the MTB world now, and I doubt road bikes will be all that far behind.
I have two road bikes and CX. The CX is disc and based on my experience of riding both, my next decent bike will be disc. Its just better in many ways.
I don't really understand why these people are getting hung up on Asthetics. I want better all round braking performance and discs offer that. Plain and simple.
Ride London in the wet with calipers brakes wasn't that fun, especially on the descents. I shudder to think what carbon wheels are like in the wet with normal caliper brakes. I know they have special pads, but they can't be on a par with discs.
My next road bike will be an aero disc frame. Might as well go the whole hog.
I don't really understand why these people are getting hung up on Asthetics. I want better all round braking performance and discs offer that. Plain and simple.
Ride London in the wet with calipers brakes wasn't that fun, especially on the descents. I shudder to think what carbon wheels are like in the wet with normal caliper brakes. I know they have special pads, but they can't be on a par with discs.
My next road bike will be an aero disc frame. Might as well go the whole hog.
bakerstreet said:
I shudder to think what carbon wheels are like in the wet with normal caliper brakes. I know they have special pads, but they can't be on a par with discs.
Mine are comical. They're fine for racing around crit circuits in a nice controlled environment but they are terrifying riding in urban traffic in the wet or trying to make progress down an alp. If my pockets were deeper I'd be looking to trade my Aeroad for the disc version.Discs every time. Perform better, look better, easier to maintain and won't trash my carbon rims.
I'm looking at getting a TT bike for triathlon. Holding off for the next season or so until they become standard fit on something like a Scott Plasma, Canyon Speedmax or Argon 18 E119.
I'd never go back to rim brakes given the choice
I'm looking at getting a TT bike for triathlon. Holding off for the next season or so until they become standard fit on something like a Scott Plasma, Canyon Speedmax or Argon 18 E119.
I'd never go back to rim brakes given the choice
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