Open letter by Vents regarding disc brakes **Graphic photos**

[Barend de Arend]

Not true at all. Disc brakes gained popularity due to the ability to modulate braking force more effectively, and thus the ability to utilise anti-lock braking systems.

 

I'd just like to point out that ABS doesn't require disc brakes.

 

Braking efficiency, particularly on a light weight vehicle such as a bicycle, is not determined by outright braking force available - all brake types have the ability to lock wheels... Discs are superior with regards to the ability to modulate braking force and to be consistent in all conditions. 

 

I'd like to point out that "modulate" and "feedback" mean different things to different people, and that it should be easy to prove in an un-biased and repeatable way that disc brakes are more consistent.

 

Note that the first generation of disc brakes in cars had problems too: handbrakes were prone to get loose when the discs cooled.  So it's no surprise that the first generation of disc brakes on road bikes also have issues.

 

(note: I like my mtb disc brakes.)

[carbon29er]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVHx_wA_f7A

 

Patent application in for a disc brake cover.

 

Looking at this I think most pros would rather risk a cut or a burn from a rotor. Aesthetically very unappealing.

[SwissVan]

Watching super cycling the other day saw one of the leading vets / master riders running around one of the water points with a nice sliced open arm injury apparently from his own disc. Think it was @ sani2c

 

Just thought I would mention it for those who say discs have been on MTBs for ages and don't cause injuries.....????

[Skott5]

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tred-Bicycles-prototype-disc-brake-rotor-shield1-600x450.jpg

[raptor-22]

Watching super cycling the other day saw one of the leading vets / master riders running around one of the water points with a nice sliced open arm injury apparently from his own disc. Think it was @ sani2c

 

Just thought I would mention it for those who say discs have been on MTBs for ages and don't cause injuries.....

 

 

Funny you should mention that, I received an email from a pal on another chat group last night. Said switch to SS8 and watch "The Pioneer" stage race in New Zealand. By the time I switched over they were interviewing a guy who had sliced his forearm open while fiddling with something around the rear of another competitors bikes He had reached over the disc while it was spinning and lightly grazed his forearm over it. He needed 30odd stitches but the pansy opted for just bandage instead.

 

seems disc brake cutting accidents are more prevalent than the UCI would like to admit. Pressure from the manufactures must be overwhelming at this point. Everyone wants to reduce the number of individual products they want to market. Disc brakes just makes the lives of the component manufacturrers easier/cheaper at the expense of user safety

[GrahamS2]

I'd just like to point out that ABS doesn't require disc brakes.

 

 

I'd like to point out that "modulate" and "feedback" mean different things to different people, and that it should be easy to prove in an un-biased and repeatable way that disc brakes are more consistent.

 

Note that the first generation of disc brakes in cars had problems too: handbrakes were prone to get loose when the discs cooled.  So it's no surprise that the first generation of disc brakes on road bikes also have issues.

 

(note: I like my mtb disc brakes.)

You're quite right, ABS doesn't require disc brakes in order to function. What I meant was that the move to disc brakes allowed for the mainstream use of ABS. In theory ABS would work with any braking system, although not very consistently..

[raptor-22]

ABS came into the market a long time after disc brakes became the norm. The introduction of ABS has nothing to do with disc brakes.

In fact the Mercedes W196 already had a form of ABS fitted to its drum brakes before WW2. This was a technology intended to improve the consistency of the drum brakes through cadence braking allowing the brakes to cool momentarily.

[SwissVan]

Funny you should mention that, I received an email from a pal on another chat group last night. Said switch to SS8 and watch "The Pioneer" stage race in New Zealand. By the time I switched over they were interviewing a guy who had sliced his forearm open while fiddling with something around the rear of another competitors bikes He had reached over the disc while it was spinning and lightly grazed his forearm over it. He needed 30odd stitches but the pansy opted for just bandage instead.

 

seems disc brake cutting accidents are more prevalent than the UCI would like to admit. Pressure from the manufactures must be overwhelming at this point. Everyone wants to reduce the number of individual products they want to market. Disc brakes just makes the lives of the component manufacturrers easier/cheaper at the expense of user safety

That's the race i saw it, not sani2c. My mistake.

Been catching up on super cycling and saw both races on the same day.

[Headshot]

A rounded disc profile would reduce the chance of a cut surely? I wonder what the stats are on injuries sustained by  pedals, brake levers, handle bars and of course chainrings?

[Barend de Arend]

A rounded disc profile would reduce the chance of a cut surely? I wonder what the stats are on injuries sustained by  pedals, brake levers, handle bars and of course chainrings?

 

a) they're required for a bike race

b) they're also regulated for safety: eg. see spinaci bars, spinergy wheels, bar plugs

[Spoke101]

A rounded disc profile would reduce the chance of a cut surely? I wonder what the stats are on injuries sustained by  pedals, brake levers, handle bars and of course chainrings?

 

In my limited childhood years pedals and chainrings have left my shins and calf's looking like I used to dangle my legs in a shark tank for fun.

 

No injuries from any of the other items. But way out front in the lead for causing injuries is the ground. Damn that stuff can be hard.

[raptor-22]

In my limited childhood years pedals and chainrings have left my shins and calf's looking like I used to dangle my legs in a shark tank for fun.

 

No injuries from any of the other items. But way out front in the lead for causing injuries is the ground. Damn that stuff can be hard.

 

 

generally when I have had an accident the ground has been the biggest contributor.

however bike parts that have caused harm:

 

Handlebars penetrating leg (no bar end plugs were present...)

the stem has rendered me limp dicked for a few minutes

Paddle shift levers have hurt knees

Tyre burns

Pedals sometimes leave marks if you not clipped in properly

 

 

never had any injuries due to chainrings or brake levers although I can imagine the scenarios where these could be lethal. the ryder is that they also necessary to operate the bicycle.

[Spoke101]

generally when I have had an accident the ground has been the biggest contributor.

however bike parts that have caused harm:

 

Handlebars penetrating leg (no bar end plugs were present...)

the stem has rendered me limp dicked for a few minutes

Paddle shift levers have hurt knees

Tyre burns

Pedals sometimes leave marks if you not clipped in properly

 

 

never had any injuries due to chainrings or brake levers although I can imagine the scenarios where these could be lethal. the ryder is that they also necessary to operate the bicycle.

I only mentioned the ones that necessitate a trip to the ER.

 

In the end it all depends on your definition of "safe".

 

I just hope to never see the day the Pro's all jump on to there Watt bikes and have a VR race.

[Ramrod]

Anyone read anything else on the matter like where the UCI are at with their investigations?   Tried searching the web but that only turned up old results.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Yes it seems like it has died down a lot - pros are happy and discs are no longer in the peloton. I don't think they will be re-introduced for some time IMHO.

 

Complete and utter farce. The real reasons behind the "issues with discs" are far from what actually transpired...

 

 

[Spinnekop]

All indications are that it will be re-introduced in June.