Your next road bike: disc or caliper brake

[Cippo]

I would consider going disc brakes in the future if Campy launches theirs. Biggest factor would be using carbon rims then as I don't see the point of running carbon clinchers with rim brakes with all the disadvantages of overheating and poor braking in wet.

[carbon29er]

Nope

Not necessary

Unless I trained in the Pyrenees in the heart of winter

 

Caliper for the win

Confirmation of my post above.

 

I'd hate to use brakes without callipers.

[Spinnekop]

I don't cycle in the wet.  And if I do, the chances of me wanting disks is miniscule.  You'll slip on a white painted line easier with "better wet stopping power".

 

Also die CSA tannies are out to DQ every Jan-Rap-en-sy-maat in the bunches.  Even had issues in the "laid back" DC race.

 

I'll wait a couple of years before I invest so much.

[eddy]

I can lock up my rim brakes on a dry road running 28c tyres so I don't need more braking power.

 

Why then go disks?

 

Wet weather performance? I don't regularly ride my roadbike in the rain, so no.

 

Overheating? I don't regularly ride Alpine or Pyrenean descents, so no.

 

Modulation? My Campag rim brakes are perfect. I have never locked up unintentionally, so no.

 

Weight? What you may gain by losing a brake track you gain by heavier calipers, heavy disks, heavy hydraulic hoses vs light cables and a beefed up front fork that will also compromise on ride quality.

So no.

 

I see no reason to change other than marketing department pressure.

[LOOK695]

I can lock up my rim brakes on a dry road running 28c tyres so I don't need more braking power.

Why then go disks?

Wet weather performance? I don't regularly ride my roadbike in the rain, so no.

Overheating? I don't regularly ride Alpine or Pyrenean descents, so no.

Modulation? My Campag rim brakes are perfect. I have never locked up unintentionally, so no.

Weight? What you may gain by losing a brake track you gain by heavier calipers, heavy disks, heavy hydraulic hoses vs light cables and a beefed up front fork that will also compromise on ride quality.

So no.

I see no reason to change other than marketing department pressure.

I like your reasoning???? Another thought, how easy can a disc bend for example by accidentally knocking it against a bike rack, towbar or in a crash? I don't know as I don't have enough experience with discs. I like the simplicity of calipers though.....

[awesme]

I'm going to respond to this part...

 

Consider it is being used on MTB, and the 10x more rough conditions that go with that.

 

G

I like your reasoning Another thought, how easy can a disc bend for example by accidentally knocking it against a bike rack, towbar or in a crash? I don't know as I don't have enough experience with discs. I like the simplicity of calipers though.....

[Spinnekop]

I'm going to respond to this part...

 

Consider it is being used on MTB, and the 10x more rough conditions that go with that.

 

G

Consider how many gets replaced on the MTB......

Currently I have NO replaced disks on my road bike. 

[awesme]

2 mountain bikes, both used at a location like Thaba/Blue routes, for last 3/4 year, still running original disc, and haven't straightened it once.

 

Same applies to my wives bike and 2 other bikes I maintain for friends.

 

Anything/everything gets damage in a hard enough accident. expensive rims also brake in accidents, likewise can discs, if you out alone same result, a phone home, if you're a pro, you have  support vehicle with a new wheel or a new wheel with attached disc,

old style calibers can also be caught in spokes or handle bars of fellow crashers, new style hydraulic calibers, never heard of any being damaged either.

 

bottom line, is murphy says you going to walk home, then it does not matter what you have, you walking

 

G

 

Consider how many gets replaced on the MTB......

Currently I have NO replaced disks on my road bike. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

I have both and I am buying a new Roubaix Disc as we speak.

 

I am also a big fan of discs, but to be brutally honest they are not really necessary for 99% of the road riding that we partake in.

 

Discs have a huge advantage in the wet or in conditions thta are very steep and cornering requires hard braking. There is no question that in those circumstance they would be a great advantage. And in an emergency, they can stop you much quicker than a rim brake, especially when the road is wet. No one in his right mind would argue this last point.

 

But next time you go road riding (like i do in the cradle) consciously observe how often you use the brakes, and how hard you pull them (if you do),  and how many times you are in a hard braking area, slowing down for a corner or the like. Chances are it's not very often. Like 99% of the time is spent in trying to go faster.

 

So the advantages offered by them are not actually going to enhance your speed on the bike per se unless you live in the Dolomites or Pyrenees and regularly do TdF type descent. IN the wet.

 

Disc based carbon wheels will allow a reduction in spun mass so they will be stronger and lighter than their rim brake cousins. See that Aussie guys videos if you want a full explanation, and of all the details of the carbon layup.

 

So the answer is more to do with marketing and when the flood gates break you will have as much market for your rim brakes as you do for a 26er in the current MTB world. The disc brakes bikes will become more desirable and it will be harder to get rim brake rims etc, until all are disc.

 

But do you need disc brakes on a road bike? Currently the answer is a Firm no. Is it nice to have them. Firm yes. Does it have advantages. That is relative to where you're going to ride and race.

[awesme]

so we agree disc brakes brake better, like in an emergency.

 

It's sort of like a seat belt, got no value except it can safe your life in an emergency at no cost other than having it and using it...

 

enough reason for right there...

 

G

 

 

I have both and I am buying a new Roubaix Disc as we speak.

 

I am also a big fan of discs, but to be brutally honest they are not really necessary for 99% of the road riding that we partake in.

 

Discs have a huge advantage in the wet or in conditions thta are very steep and cornering requires hard braking. There is no question that in those circumstance they would be a great advantage. And in an emergency, they can stop you much quicker than a rim brake, especially when the road is wet. No one in his right mind would argue this last point.

 

But next time you go road riding (like i do in the cradle) consciously observe how often you use the brakes, and how hard you pull them (if you do),  and how many times you are in a hard braking area, slowing down for a corner or the like. Chances are it's not very often. Like 99% of the time is spent in trying to go faster.

 

So the advantages offered by them are not actually going to enhance your speed on the bike per se unless you live in the Dolomites or Pyrenees and regularly do TdF type descent. IN the wet.

 

Disc based carbon wheels will allow a reduction in spun mass so they will be stronger and lighter than their rim brake cousins. See that Aussie guys videos if you want a full explanation, and of all the details of the carbon layup.

 

So the answer is more to do with marketing and when the flood gates break you will have as much market for your rim brakes as you do for a 26er in the current MTB world. The disc brakes bikes will become more desirable and it will be harder to get rim brake rims etc, until all are disc.

 

But do you need disc brakes on a road bike? Currently the answer is a Firm no. Is it nice to have them. Firm yes. Does it have advantages. That is relative to where you're going to ride and race.

[SwissVan]

Nope

Not necessary

Unless I trained in the Pyrenees in the heart of winter

Caliper for the win

  

I can lock up my rim brakes on a dry road running 28c tyres so I don't need more braking power.

Why then go disks?

Wet weather performance? I don't regularly ride my roadbike in the rain, so no.

Overheating? I don't regularly ride Alpine or Pyrenean descents, so no.

Modulation? My Campag rim brakes are perfect. I have never locked up unintentionally, so no.

Weight? What you may gain by losing a brake track you gain by heavier calipers, heavy disks, heavy hydraulic hoses vs light cables and a beefed up front fork that will also compromise on ride quality.

So no.

I see no reason to change other than marketing department pressure.

Agree 100%, as far as normal road cycling or racing it's just the next marketing gimmick.

 

There is imo a small market for disc equipped bikes for the guys who live on top of a 20 km long descent on mud island but for the rest of us it's just a gimmick.... rather spend the money on some yellow and green polka dot socks......

 

I hope this does not take off.... it will be a sad day if rim brakes become obsolete and we have no choice....

[ZakAttak]

I would change, as with everything in the cycling industry, caliper road frames will eventually be phased out....

 

Look at mountain bike marketing, it's difficult to find a caliper type decent mountain bike frame unless it's secondhand

[SwissVan]

2 mountain bikes, both used at a location like Thaba/Blue routes, for last 3/4 year, still running original disc, and haven't straightened it once.

 

Same applies to my wives bike and 2 other bikes I maintain for friends.

 

Anything/everything gets damage in a hard enough accident. expensive rims also brake in accidents, likewise can discs, if you out alone same result, a phone home, if you're a pro, you have  support vehicle with a new wheel or a new wheel with attached disc,

old style calibers can also be caught in spokes or handle bars of fellow crashers, new style hydraulic calibers, never heard of any being damaged either.

 

bottom line, is murphy says you going to walk home, then it does not matter what you have, you walking

 

G

2005 specialized roubaix with ultegra rim brakes and DT Swiss aluminum rims

Parts replaced in all this time:

1 x Rear brake cable and housing

1 x front and rear brake pads

 

No dragging brake pads and no fiddling with calipers, no hydraulic oil, no bleeding brakes, no worries about contaminating disc pads, no issues if you accidentally pull the brake when your wheel is out....

 

Rim brakes = No hassles just ride your bike

[scotty]

Basic manual for me, more technology more cr@p that can go wrong. 

[HdB]

Should be quite some time before Campy's lesser groupsets get the option of discs, so purely out of budgetary constraints I won't be switching anytime soon.

 

Plus with decent pads, rim brakes stop more than well enough (at least on alu rims, can't speak for carbon), even in less ideal conditions.

When it is really bucketing down in a race, I'll be avoiding big bunches regardless of which brakes I  have on.

[LOOK695]

I thought by starting this topic it would make it easier to decide but with all the good solid arguments, it is making me even more confused ????????. Well, at least there is still lots of time before I have to make the final decision ????????