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It's a massively divisive subject on which everyone seems to have a strong opinion. However, has anyone switched camps and if so, why?
Sort of related, but I always hankered after a disc braked CX bike; that is, until I replaced my frogs legs for CX9 vee brakes. I swear they are better than the discs on my MTB!
Nope.
Got hydro discs on my Defy. Won't be going back.
No. Have got both rim and discs. No doubt in my mind as to which I would rather use.
The right question to ask.
I've gone from not seeing the point, to seeing the point but won't be buying in.
My 'nice' bike is only sees rain a couple of times a year, and callipers do the job adequately in the dry. And if it does rain then I just plan ahead a bit, it's not exactly mentally taxing to remember to scrub off a bit of speed before a corner even if that means dragging them a bit.
My tourer/commuter/gravel/winter bike has canti's and has since the 80's when it was new, whilst not brilliant in the wet they're no worse than they were 30 years ago (better because they're now CX70's). I can see the reasons to spec disks on a new version, but it's not gotten worse, they still work.
If I had a cross bike it'd be disk brakes, when it's almost exclusively used in the wet/mud canti's are definitely wrong unless a pro with ninja mud bike handling skills and sticking with what you know.
Thanks molgrips, I've just been out for a potter on the road with the Mrs and we got caught in a bit of a shower. I must have changed my mind several times during that ride. Just wondered if anyone had evolved their choice based on experience or whether everyone has stood my their original assumptions.
While it was dry and we weren't really giving any beans, the brakes didn't require much use at all, despite it being busy. I even wondered if the lack of hard work might lead to glazing. At that point, I'm thinking calliper brakes would be fine. Once the downpour caught us, I was really happy to have that instant response of disc, without having to wait for one full revolution and the fine control they give.
It's been almost two decades since I last road a rim braked road bike in anger. Just wondering about the spec of a new road bike.
Nah, disc all the way for me.
Cheers, Steve
Got both. Rode the rim braked bike in the rain today. Would have preferred the disc. I'd buy discs again.
About 200 miles in and very happy so far.
Much better in the wet.
Depends which road bike.
I'd go rim brakes or hydraulic discs.
I wouldn't faff with mechanical again.
Had hydro discs (shimano RS685) last year
Got a new bike, with caliper brakes (6800 Ultegra). Just feels really quick, simple, very clean.
Even if the weather is poor, the caliper brakes with suitable winter pads and regularly cleaned rims seem fine for road riding?
Still got hydro discs, but just on the MTB
If I was building an all-year commuting road bike (where immediate stopping power is beneficial whilst in heavy traffic) , I'd get an alloy Defy disc and throw some shimano hydro STI and disc brakes on there.
Hydro discs on the road bikes have helped improve my descending confidence - no issues on a mtb chucking myself down anything but the road has me clenching sometimes
I'd switch back though I think if a frame I wanted came up
Had a demo a couple of weeks ago on a disc braked giant. Colour me distinctly unimpressed. Not significantly better than my D-A using ilinks and some decent/suitable pads. Di2 was nice though. Next bike will have that.
Was more impressed with the braking on the latest gen carbon rims, even in the poring rain. Last time i used them in anger it was some terrible corimas. Even in the dry you needed to keep your wits about you.
I'd still have discs on a training bike tho. Just to save on cleaning and rim swaps.
Love my discs, wouldn't go back. The added benefit is not wearing out rims!
My road riding is commuting in London, all year round, was doing 20miles a day for several years,
I hate riding rim brakes now, dangerous in busy traffic/ pedestrian areas, more so in the wet. Plus no more rims falling apart!
I was thankful for having discs when riding through winter. In the wet it was great having a reliable constant biting point. No waiting for the rim brake pads to clear the water off the rim before biting. Over spring/summer (in the dry) the calipers on my 'nicer' bike have been more than adequate. The dual pivot 105 brakes and Swiss stop pads are great.
Been on discs on my cx/road bike for about 3yrs. Road a road bike a few weeks back with rim brakes and found no wanting for more power even down some steep alpine decents. I'm sure you had more feel for what was happening too. Also cable discs need faffing with every so often to stop them rubbing.
Now I haven't ridden road hydros yet, so that could change things completely !
I almost exclusively use my disc braked CX bike for road riding duties now. Partly because of the shit roads round this area anyway, mostly because the disc brakes are just so much better than even the Dura Ace calipers on my regular road bike.
If/when I get a new road bike, it will be a hydraulic disc one.
5 bikes, 4 with hydraulics, one with no brakes 🙂 . 2 MTB's, carbon road, gravel and track. I found the road hydraulics a game changer..
I don't really understand why it's so divisive.
Whether you think it's a "game changer" or couldn't care less I do think depends very much on you as a rider, the type of riding you do, and where and when you ride. If I commuted in all weathers in traffic on poor roads I could see that I might be interested. As it is I mostly ride on decent quiet roads I know well so at the moment couldn't care less about discs for the road bike.
LOVE my shimano hydro discs on my escapade, OK it's not quite a road bike, but I've not bothered to put pedals back on the road bike since I got the escapade. One finger braking from the hoods is brilliant
I like the performance of my discs but am currently facing a six week wait for a warranty replacement caliper.
I am not that pleased about the situation. I still enjoyed my ride on a bike with rim brakes it's still a bike.
I am in pretty much total agreement with TINAS, I see the value of them, I am in favour of their use at all levels of cycling, but I won't be going out of my way to acquire a disc braked road bike, and I think there's probably more important things to Base your choice on when buying a road bike...
I don't really understand why it's so divisive.
Tradition, blah blah, aero, blah blah, weight, blah blah, fast wheel changes, blah blah, bidon, blah blah, neoroadies, blah blah.
One of the few places I can think of where people foolishly cling on to older, worse technology for no real reason.
Anyone who wants a balanced view on this should ask somewhere other than a MTB forum ,at an event today there was 50+ bikes parked up, no discs, not one.
^^^ used the term game changer as my local roads are hilly country C and B class ones, often wet (west of Scotland) and in damp weather often festooned with cow shit and other delicacies. Rim brakes are great when these roads are dry and dirt free, otherwise the discs make the whole experience safer, quite and more fun 🙂
The OP should have put in a caveat that to answer the question you should at least have ridden a disc road bike for a decent amount of time.
at an event today there was 50+ bikes parked up, no discs, not one.
Well, if you put it like that...
Oh, and at the Dauphiné earlier, there was [sic] about 150 bikes being ridden, no discs, not one.
That's it. Discs are rubbish.
I've got both, and see the point in both.
I didn't say discs are rubbish, that sort of polarised statement is why you are a web troll or just thick, I'm not sure which and don't really care,
I'm sure they have a there place andI'm also sure there are places they shouldn't be.
On my nice bike and for road racing I see no point in discs at all, but for winter riding, CX or mtb then yes to hydraulic discs. Cable discs are sh*t and to be avoided in my experience, worst of both systems.
soon as there's a sensibly priced aftermarket bolt-through road disc fork (preferably that complies with a fairly established standard), I'm in
(it'll be cable, btw - I'm not changing anything else on the bike ... and BB7s are excellent on my cross/winter bike)
used the term game changer as my local roads are hilly country C and B class ones, often wet (west of Scotland) and in damp weather often festooned with cow shit and other delicacies. Rim brakes are great when these roads are dry and dirt free, otherwise the discs make the whole experience safer, quite and more fun
So yes, in that scenario, for your riding, a game changer. If you did the same riding I do I doubt you'd be that bothered about discs.
Tradition, blah blah, aero, blah blah, weight, blah blah, fast wheel changes, blah blah, bidon, blah blah, neoroadies, blah blah.
Really? I don't see much reluctance from most roadies to embrace new technology when it's beneficial to them.
I really want some.
Don't feel the need, haven't changed my opinion. Very light carbon tubs may have a case. Standard Ultegra and Dura Ace calipers grabbing alloy rims provides all the power and modulation I need, wet or dry. I'm not heavy and seldom brake from the hoods.
I've changed my mind several times - mostly just before and just after I've adjusted the (generally shite) Tekro Lyra cable discs. Great when they are properly adjusted, bloody dangerous when the cables stretch and the pads wear down.
Haven't tried hydro's on a road bike yet but would swap over to them on the Jake if it wasn't so expensive (considering it's just my commuter bike)
Having said that, the rim brakes on my Sunday best bike are absolutely fine - plenty powerful enough and zero maintenance. Then again, I don't ride that bike in the rain....
I find it a bit odd that it's such a divisive issue, everyone I ride road with who don't give two hoots about it just ride callipers, I doubt some of them even know that a road bike comes with disks others are more purist in their views whilst some of them would buy either or depending on what was on offer at the time.
This is a Mountain bike forum and as every MTB comes with disks it's only natural that some would sway their persuasion towards disks, there are some riders who have probably only ever ridden disks on a MTB so contemplating old fashioned tat on a very expensive plastic road bike just doesn't fit. A bit like my son who will gladly wear shit football boots made from plastic, apparently Leather boots are old fashioned if they are even available at all. They still work but don't look quite as good? A bit like rim brakes?
I'm happy to have rim brakes and can't see what all the none sense is about to be honest, I could really do with something that makes me faster on the ups not something that's going to slow me down better descending.
Personally I think the 2nd gen stuff should be better, something a bit more Road orientated as opposed to Off road tech cobbled onto a road bike.
Giant Defy Advanced here. LOVE the bike but the discs just don't seem to have the same power as previous rims. Ideas?
Giant defy advanced as well here. Purchases because I wanted a defy, and they just all happen to come with discs now. The mechanical discs seem perfectly fine but there's nothing about them that would make me choose them over good caliper. I suspect hydro might be a different beast but they are still pricey enough to put me off.
Personally I think the 2nd gen stuff should be better, something a bit more Road orientated as opposed to Off road tech cobbled onto a road bike.
I've heard this before. What exactly do you think is wrong with road discs that needs to be waited for? I don't feel the SRAM setup I have is some sort of half-way house, it feels like it's been built for a road bike and rides well. Not tried Shimano but I bet they're the same.
Giant Defy Advanced here. LOVE the bike but the discs just don't seem to have the same power as previous rims. Ideas?
Buy a new bike??
I don't think there is much argument over whether a disc brake is more effective (not as much at the mercy of weather changes, better consistent modulation in all wethers etc,.) but the point is whether you actually need them.
I would guess that people brake more on MTBs than road on a given ride and they are more likely to have mud, grit etc,. on their rims too so the case in MTB was always stronger.
Me personally, I rode brakeless track bike for many years as my only bike so I am not some one who needs to brake a lot (rural riding only - no lights, crossing, roundabouts etc,.) so couldn't care either way...
I converted my ss cx bike to 1x10. It now doubles as wet weather/winter roadie and it's running hylex hydraulic discs.
I jump between that and a couple of rim braked road bikes(both running dura ace) and braking is equally excellent ..
Guess it doesn't answer your question I'm in and out 😆
the hydro discs on the Advanced Pro are a big improvement on the mechanicals on the Advanced.
Well worth converting if keeping the bike
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Both roadies, commuter and best, have been hydro disc for 4 and 2 years respectively now. I wouldn't go back to rims. Not even close.
Recently ordered a disc brake bike to replace my 11year old carbon just before a bike trip abroad. Riding the well set up new hire bike I started to question my decision to go disc, the rim brakes were so good compared to my old worn set up.
However on one ride we were caught I an absolute downpour which lasted 3-4 hours , result - no brakes. For my needs discs every time.
Sort of related, but I always hankered after a disc braked CX bike; that is, until I replaced my frogs legs for CX9 vee brakes. I swear they are better than the discs on my MTB
I tried loads of brakes on my cx commuter, frog legs, avid ultimate, cx9 and they were all shit in the wet. I bought a new commuter in February with hydro discs and on the first ride it was pissing down, being able to stop when I wanted to was a revelation.
On my best road bike I'm not bothered as I generally only ride it in the dry but even then braking time is slower than discs.
Cx/road bike has shimano hydro discs. They are awesome.
It's a massively divisive subject on which everyone seems to have a strong opinion.
No it's not, and no we don't!
I've got both. I'm happy with either. If I get a new best road bike I'd prefer discs, but if the deal is better for rim brakes then I'll go with that.
Esher how much are they? The only things I'd change are the brakes and the OEM wheels (I'm on the DA3)
I've Sram hrd on my bike, brilliant for my commute to work (25km ew), brilliant for the club run/sportive at the weekend. Stuff where I'm out in all weathers and want a set of brakes that work without any faff.
Few riders in the road club don't want them in races (I'm banned from trying the novice/a4 races around here) because it should be an all or nothing proposition (they appreciate that discs generally brake better in the wet and want everyone with the same braking), which I think is fair enough in a worst case (ie a disc braked bike stopping way quicker than the non disc bikes behind it can) but they can see the advantage of being able to brake later into a corner so why wouldn't you want it?
Can't imagine going back to rim brakes as my last bike had alfine hydro disc (old xt copy) on the front for 5-6 years and did >23k km on an open pro rim that look immaculate when I sold it on, the rarely used (comparatively) open pro rear with deore V's looked far from immaculate on the rim track.
My first mtb had rim brakes, I still ride it occasionally and its my loaner bike. I thought disc brake where for posers until the autumn rain and leaves came and I had more than one occasion where the brakes had zero stopping power on descents.
If I buy a road/cx bike it will have discs
Nope. Rorschach got it righ imo. Depends ..
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Technical considerations aren't all of it, ride what you like.
Wonder if this would change a few minds - aesthetically at least?
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Wrong thread, you need 'argh my eye!'
Nope. I generally only ride my best bike (which has calipers) in the dry so I don't ride around missing the discs on my other bike but my previous winter bike was calipers and I certainly don't miss riding it in the wet.
I was both feet first in favour. I had them on CX, Winter Road and Road bikes.
They make a lot of sense on the first 2. As more of a thoroughbred road bike however, I recently went back to rim brakes. Somehow seems purer, I don't ride that bike much in the wet (and the bike I would use then has discs), and certainly lighter.
Unlike off road, I think that there will be room for both on the road for a while yet.
[i]Wonder if this would change a few minds - aesthetically at least?[/i]
What does the rear look like? (For the luddites, like)
(Those answering the thread title - please note the conversation is [b]3 months old![/b])
Built my first disc road/CX bike in 2002 with a custom titanium frame - it was effectively a ti Kaffenback with bigger clearances and discs and rode it for a number of years. Great as an adventure / winter trainer but too heavy for serious road / CX use in comparison to my 17lb race bike - plus I have a rack of rim-brake CX tubular wheels. Eventually sold it and not replaced it as I have the other CX / road bikes anyway. Thinking about getting another frame built - but with 40mm+ clearance, dirt drops, wider carbon rims - carbon rims and tubeless tyres made disc brakes far more appealling - more as an adventure / fast bike-packing rig than road / CX
DezB - MemberWhat does the rear look like? (For the luddites, like)
This - it's a not-particularly-attractive concept, but the intergrated caliper Idea I thought was neat, woud be curious to see it on a more traditional looking bike with subtle colouring. Maintenance I'd be less keen on, mind.
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I don't think honorablegeorge's pic would change my mind. I kind of like it, although I wouldn't buy it until it'd been out a few years and shown to be reliable or become an industry standard so you could get a variety of brakes for it.
I'm still in the "discs are fine for commuting, rim brakes are for going fast" camp - at least until someone comes up with a disc braked road bike that's lighter and more aero than it's rim braked brethren.
Oh and I really like the look of the rear brake. Very neat. (edit - wouldn't go for it though as it wouldn't fit my kiddie trailer.)
[quote=honourablegeorge ]Wonder if this would change a few minds - aesthetically at least?
That looks good, is it a real product?
Commuting/touring bike yes - had discs for 11 years.
Summer light road bike no - additional weight, costs, RIDICULOUS new hub standards - **** off - sticking with 09 CR1 and stans alpha wheelset (£300 between the, 1kg ad 1.6kg respectively).
obviously everyone who is in the yes camp will change their mind when their limbs are amputated in a crash, as that will definitely happen*
*it is true cos that what roadies on forums say. There is probably a youtube video to back that up as well.
*it is true cos that what roadies on forums say. There is probably a youtube video to back that up as well.
I find comments in those forums amusing because they are the same points that were raised for MTBs 15-20 years ago. Personally now that they have fully hydraulic brakes I'd be tempted although I may hang off until the go bolt through on the front fork.
I'm still in the "discs are fine for commuting, rim brakes are for going fast" camp - at least until someone comes up with a disc braked road bike that's lighter and more aero than it's rim braked brethren.
Lighter...
At least as aero with no wight penalty apparently...
Still don't need them on my road bikes. Good on the town bike though for stopping when towing a trailer with two kids!
At least as aero with no weight penalty apparently...
At what cost?
dblpst
Reading the article it actually sounds like they deliberately made the rim brake version a bit crap so there wouldn't be any advantage over the disc brake one!