Is anyone using road disc brakes at road races?

[Patchelicious]

I will bet you that there will be MORE rim brake bikes used that disc brakes in this TdF.

I agree that there will be more rims than discs at this years TDF.

 

There is very good reasons for this. But the TDF is very different than the Engen2Engen.

 

There will be more discs than last year though 

[Spinnekop]

To be fair, improved braking in the wet is a pretty big adavantage!

HUGE advantage.  MAssive.

 

But I have yet to find a training bud of mine training in the wet.  

Unless you are a commuter.  

And they are too expensive for commuters.

[Mongoose!]

None of the above points are ADVANTAGES.  Only Dis'

Crap aero

Crap weight

Bikeshop maintenance.

 

Where are the "it is better"??

All the above points....negatives.

 

Longer descents?

Bhahahahahah.  In South Africa?  Hahahhahaha.

BHAHAHAHHA.

Seriously.  None of SA decents show any problems for rim brakes.  

If you watch the GCN vids posted you'll also see that the diffence is SECONS faster on a more long decent in Europe.

So again.....I put it to you.  Where is that CLEAR advantage?  

 

[SwissVan]

Posts like the above is why I get banned from the Hub from time to time. But that could be down to them being more sensitive than a millennial finding out Bootleggers doesn't have almond milk today.

 

There really just no polite way to reply to this rubbish. But I'll do my best.

 

Save 1kg? Absolute rubbish. Even a FULL set (levers, hoses, 4 pot calipers, rotors and mounts) on my trail MTB bike only weigh 800g if that. But on a road bike, you already have the levers due to being STI's, and I reckon a caliper and disc are probably within 50g of your rim brake caliper. So that rubbish is busted.

 

"*** those discs bring to the party". Hmmm, most people wont need to install as older frames are not compatible, and they come standard. But I have yet to see brake rub on disc brakes that you even took 1min to set up. Bubbles? Definitely not on proper bled setup. Aerodynamics? To miss your sub-3 argus by the 2secs? Heat? You do know even on 140mm discs it's still better than rim brakes on longer descents, right?

 

Pro tour mechanic? link us up man! Because I reckon this TdF is all about discs now.

 

And in your second to last paragraph, "Discs break (sic) better". That's what it's about. Lighter brake lever feel, better modulation, consistency in braking and best of all - pretty much maintenance free (in my maybe 20+ years of bicycle disc brakes).

 

And I'll say it again, my original point: there is no point buying a NEW bike that is not disc equipped. I'm sure you also poo poo'd microwaves or something when they first came out, but I'll bet in 5 years you'll also be riding on these crappy disc things and raving about how much better they are than little rubber blocks on wobbly wheels.

Blah Nice story blah

 

Disc brakes have been available for bicycles for many years.

Wonder why only now they are being installed on road racing bikes....?

 

It’s got nothing to do with technology either..... more to do with priorities

[Mongoose!]

To be fair, improved braking in the wet is a pretty big adavantage!

 

 

 

will be waiting for an ABS version to be released first 

[Spinnekop]

And in your second to last paragraph, "Discs break (sic) better".   That's what it's about.  Lighter brake lever feel, better modulation, consistency in braking and best of all - pretty much maintenance free (in my maybe 20+ years of bicycle disc brakes).

In my 24 years of riding rim brakes I have replaced less pads (in total) than the avg disc brake user does in a YEAR!  

 

Let's face it.  You get way less milage on the disc pads.  

 

The avg bike shop just LOVES this.  $$$$$$$$$$

 

Anyway.

We can go around and around the whole day

 

Like you say......it will be FORCED on the market.  On us.  Raplacing EVERY road frame EVER MADE and replacing EVERY brake lever ever made and replacing EVERY wheelset ever made.  Over time.  

Bike industry win.  Invent the wheel.  agian. 

 

Nothing we mere mortals can do about it and in 10 years we will have to tell our poor children around the campfire how we suffered on rim brakes back in the dark ages.

[gummibear]

In my 24 years of riding rim brakes I have replaced less pads (in total) than the avg disc brake user does in a YEAR!  

 

Let's face it.  You get way less milage on the disc pads.  

 

The avg bike shop just LOVES this.  $$$$$$$$$$

 

Anyway.

We can go around and around the whole day

 

Like you say......it will be FORCED on the market.  On us.  Raplacing EVERY road frame EVER MADE and replacing EVERY brake lever ever made and replacing EVERY wheelset ever made.  Over time.  

Bike industry win.  Invent the wheel.  agian. 

 

Nothing we mere mortals can do about it and in 10 years we will have to tell our poor children around the campfire how we suffered on rim brakes back in the dark ages.

Imagine buying a Baum now.....to disc or not to disc

[Andrew_Smith]

Must say, I am also on the fence on disc brakes for road bikes.

 

I totally see the point for it on MTBs and gravel bikes, for sure!

 

I am relevantly new to road biking (switched over from MTB'ing) and have done 5000km on my trusty TCR.

 

Of course, the braking on my MTB was better, but you just need to brake a bit earlier with the rim brake. And the road surfaces are way more smooth compared to the terrain of the trails for MTB'ing.

 

Yeah, in wet conditions it is a different story. BUT, with my aluminium braking surface, SwissTop brakes and 25C tyres I haven't had any problems at all. I just keep my distance and lower my speed when it is wet. 

 

Also, on my weekly commutes and weekend rides, I never said to myself: "Sho, I really need more stopping power." when descending. 

 

I also notice that not a lot of riders, in my area, rides disc road bikes. I probably see one rider on a disc road bike if I am lucky. Road disc bikes are also very expensive, and the selection in the classified section is very slim.

 

So yeah, I am very happy with my rim brake setup. 

[Patchelicious]

In my 24 years of riding rim brakes I have replaced less pads (in total) than the avg disc brake user does in a YEAR!  

 

Let's face it.  You get way less milage on the disc pads.  

 

The avg bike shop just LOVES this.  $$$$$$$$$$

 

Anyway.

We can go around and around the whole day

 

Like you say......it will be FORCED on the market.  On us.  Raplacing EVERY road frame EVER MADE and replacing EVERY brake lever ever made and replacing EVERY wheelset ever made.  Over time.  

Bike industry win.  Invent the wheel.  agian. 

 

Nothing we mere mortals can do about it and in 10 years we will have to tell our poor children around the campfire how we suffered on rim brakes back in the dark ages.

Its us mere mortals that want it, and are driving the economics behind it.

 

Like you say, its not something that can really be stopped, so dont hate on them too much, else I might have to point and giggle at (as pansies do) you when I see you on a disc bike one day

[Spinnekop]

Imagine buying a Baum now.....to disc or not to disc

Oef........

A Baum with frisbees on.  What an ugly sight.

 

But if you want Engen2Engen street cred or be a Bootlegger Almond milk drinker, you'll have to get the frisbee MTB option.

Remember to train in the wet so that you can tell your vegan friends about your better modulation.

 

[Spinnekop]

Its us mere mortals that want it, and are driving the economics behind it.

 

Like you say, its not something that can really be stopped, so dont hate on them too much, else I might have to point and giggle at (as pansies do) you when I see you on a disc bike one day

That has actually crossed my mind.

 

One day someone will point and laugh and ask....."was it not you that talked so much crap about the frisbee generation and now look at you.....?    

[Simon123]

None of the above points are ADVANTAGES.  Only Dis'

Crap aero

Crap weight

Bikeshop maintenance.

 

Where are the "it is better"??

All the above points....negatives.

 

Longer descents?

Bhahahahahah.  In South Africa?  Hahahhahaha.

BHAHAHAHHA.

Seriously.  None of SA decents show any problems for rim brakes.  

If you watch the GCN vids posted you'll also see that the diffence is SECONS faster on a more long decent in Europe.

So again.....I put it to you.  Where is that CLEAR advantage?  

 

You know that famous Meme about arguing on the internet?  I feel like I'm living it now even replying to the above.

 

The ADVANTAGES are lighter lever action, better brake modulation, hugely better pad life, consistent braking and pretty much ZERO disadvantages.

 

Aero I reckon is pretty much non-existent argument, so you can climb off your horse on that one.  Weight is neglible, and the maintenance?  You've obviously NEVER owned disc brakes?  

 

But I get it, you dont have them, and hate them.  But at least stop sprouting rubbish.  After 30 years of rim brake road bikes, riding a disc road bike is great - especially on descents like Ou Kaapseweg etc.  Later and more consistent braking is just so much better than rim brakes and this advantage outstrips any points you may make, it's like you are harping on about drum brakes on a car, sure they work, but wait until you have better.

[Zatopek]

And this is what grinds me to NO END and pissed me off.

 

We.  The consumer.  DON'T have a choice.

 

2020 (or at least within the next five years) you won't have an option to buy a normal frame from manufacturers.

Your wheels, your spare wheels and your groupset will HAVE to be replaced if you want to buy a new frame.  

And if you crash and HAVE to buy a new frame?  Then you'll need to save up for new groupset and wheels.

 

No choice.

That is my gripe.

 

But whatever.

This whole point will become mute over time.

 

I think what saddens me is that I have not had it thick in life and I have built up this amazing bike over many many years meticulously deciding what to use and what not.

And if I go for a new frame, I will have to do everything over again and I don't have that much time in life left anymore.

 

I understand the emotions  / argument here, it played a role in my selection of my new bike. One (secondary) argument was to be compatible with what is coming for as long as possible. (I stretched my previous road bike's lifetime to over 15 years) But it was used to justify a DI2 ready frame, rather than the disks.

 

So 

 

Edit, dont know where 'so' came from

[Christie]

Im pretty sure there will be manufacturers who will still have non-disk frames. A strategy for consumers would be to stop buying frames from manufacturers that do not offer non-disk frames. Imo the industry will switch over once disk gruppos out-sell caliper gruppos. Campag will be a good company to monitor for such a swing - they dont sell a lot via OEMs.

(I agree with arguments above that disadvantages outweigh advantages)

[Zatopek]

I had a disc BMC for a few days while my bike was in for repairs and it was an eye opening experience.

 

The bike was fitted with 28mm tyres and 140mm brake discs.

 

First day was ok as the route was flat but eish....the second day was crazy.Had a long 4km descent with a few hairpin bends and on 2 occasions the brakes got hot and the power faded and i almost crappped myself.Not sure of the type of resin on the pads but they  also wore down very fast.

 

3rd day it was raining and there is just to much braking power for the thin tyres.Tyres locked up a few times and is not funny when you not expecting it.

 

Theres a reason why motorbikes have ABS and i hope the next move for road bikes is ABS with the discs     

 

I'll stick to my rim brakes for now thanks 

Honest questions Gummi:

The fading and to much stopping power arguments can be used for MTB disks as well (or not)? - do you prefer them there or not?

[shaper]

Waiting patiently for the going cheap, just want to get rid of rim bike parts and wheels 

 

Seems I might need to stock up, if the manufacturers go discs only !!