Your next road bike: disc or caliper brake

[bikebloke]

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

 

Serves you right for caring what anyone else thinks when it comes to buying a bike for you

 

just get what you want  

[SwissVan]

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

Hmmm....did you just compare mountain biking to road riding?

I remember when disc brakes and dual suspension arrived on mtb's... we had the same debates then even though there were no internet bike forums in those days.

 

I fear tho your point might indeed come true

[awesme]

Technological progress always win.

 

again, back to my seat belt example... in the end. all cars have front and rear, just  couple of years ago, it was still only in the front.

 

if using disc brakes make it easier/cheaper for wheel manufacturers to build stronger wheels for cheaper then the discussion is a moot point, They will charge the same for new wheels, use disc brakes and make more profit, it becomes the fork design and fame designers problem to now incorporate a brake mount with associated stresses,

 

G

 

Hmmm....did you just compare mountain biking to road riding?
I remember when disc brakes and dual suspension arrived on mtb's... we had the same debates then even though there were no internet bike forums in those days.

I fear tho your point might indeed come true

[Sepia]

Loaded bike on a tour?  I think there are merits there.

[LOOK695]

Serves you right for caring what anyone else thinks when it comes to buying a bike for you

 

just get what you want  

Haha. That is the thing, I want both, the discs for their strengths and the calipers for their simple design

[DJR]

I'll consider discs on a road bike. Will I pretend that I need it? Nope!

[SwissVan]

Technological progress always win.

 

again, back to my seat belt example... in the end. all cars have front and rear, just  couple of years ago, it was still only in the front.

 

if using disc brakes make it easier/cheaper for wheel manufacturers to build stronger wheels for cheaper then the discussion is a moot point, They will charge the same for new wheels, use disc brakes and make more profit, it becomes the fork design and fame designers problem to now incorporate a brake mount with associated stresses,

 

G

Disc brakes for bicycles have been commercially available for 10 + years

There's a reason why it's taken so long to filter down to road bikes and I don't think it's anything to do with technology or progress...... more to do with necessity?

[ZakAttak]

Hmmm....did you just compare mountain biking to road riding?

I remember when disc brakes and dual suspension arrived on mtb's... we had the same debates then even though there were no internet bike forums in those days.

 

I fear tho your point might indeed come true

Comparing the 2 wasn't intentional... and I'm not saying is anywhere near the same.... ????

[awesme]

going to counter this,

 

more to do with the fact that UCI haven't made up their mind, if they decide disc is in tomorrow, the following day bike manufacturer would stop making the old style caliber, and this entire conversation would not have happened.

 

G

 

Disc brakes for bicycles have been commercially available for 10 + years
There's a reason why it's taken so long to filter down to road bikes and I don't think it's anything to do with technology or progress...... more to do with necessity?

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Say what you want, but disk  road bikes won't ever be able to look as cool as this:

Excuse the saddle bag...

[SwissVan]

going to counter this,

 

more to do with the fact that UCI haven't made up their mind, if they decide disc is in tomorrow, the following day bike manufacturer would stop making the old style caliber, and this entire conversation would not have happened.

 

G

But why would they suddenly change is the question?

To make cycling safer or to create another market to generate sales for the next 5 years?

 

It's already happening sadly...for example if I want o replace my old spaz roubaix with the latest version, if I'm not mistaken it's only available with discs and some ridiculous handle bar suspension thing...... bah humbug

[awesme]

Remember the bike manufacturers is only anything they're doing for one reason, business/profit, if there is a new technology that they can push, to generate sales they will.

 

And if the UCI made a rule change then they have a seed to generate the need/demand/justification. By stopping old style brakes they immediately create a market for a entire new bike range.

 

I know, synical!!!

 

G

 

But why would they suddenly change is the question?

To make cycling safer or to create another market to generate sales for the next 5 years?

 

It's already happening sadly...for example if I want o replace my old spaz roubaix with the latest version, if I'm not mistaken it's only available with discs and some ridiculous handle bar suspension thing...... bah humbug

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Unfortunately, our world is dictated in a large way by what the "Pro's" do.

Why did 26er's almost completely die out? Because Pro's are faster on  29er's. Period.

I'll bet that if all the Pro's rode a 26er's for one season, manufacturers would be putting in a lot of effort to begin production again...

 

I'm not saying it's going to be the same on the road side, because rim brakes ARE lighter, and they ARE more aero; but manufacturers manufacture what the Pro's ride, and then use trickle down technology to make it affordable for us normal beings...

Because that's what works.

 

Unfortunately the industry isn't driven by passion, but rather by greed-which still results in awesome bikes-but you get my point.

 

The main advantages of disks come into play when it's wet, and then there's some notable performance gains-in the dry they're neck in neck-also, Cervelo claim better aerodynamics with disks, but most manufacturers would do that with new technology.

 

Still, rim brakes are great, and most people would still be riding them for many more years to come...

 

I do however think that as far as road bikes are concerned: disks are the future...

[DJR]

On second thoughts, stuff progress! Let's go back to these! So what if they are heavy and don't stop so well, at least they will look like a million dollars when you fly over the edge and into the next life!

 

[Kalahari Vegmot]

On second thoughts, stuff progress! Let's go back to these! So what if they are heavy and don't stop so well, at least they will look like a million dollars when you fly over the edge and into the next life!

I'm afraid that's going to be the more expensive option of the two...

[carbon29er]

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

Still wind your windows down manually in your car? And pull the choke out to start the thing, do you?