Touring - Giant Touring Bike With Disc Brakes???

Giant is coming out with a new touring bike that has disc brakes. What do you think about this? Pro's and con's???


http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?lYear=2003&bikesection=8830&range=138&model=10658

I think it looks very cool. I have a feeling that in the future we'll see more and more road bikes with disc brakes. Although many argue about the added weight, it makes sense for touring. I can see the advantages of disc brakes for a heavy, loaded bicycle going down steep mountain roads on a tour.
I have taken my road bike down a steep, mountain road from a ski resort outside of town. Although I stayed off the brakes most of the way down, I did start to notice some brake fade after going downhill for 15 miles.
The spoke holder seems like more a gimmick to me. I have only broken 2 spokes and they were on a 15 year old bike that needed the wheel trued.

Yes it is a nice looking bike. I thought it seemed to be a good idea. As far as the spoke holder I agree. I know Fuji has had one on their touring bike for a while.

There's a lot to like, and I think discs on a tourer/commuter are potentially a real benefit; these are supposed to be all-weather bikes, after all.

And the long chainstays and cro-mo fork are winners.

But I'm not real enthusiastic about the integrated headset, and the gearing is simply unusable for loaded touring. What are they thinking?

My Novara has spoke holders, and for real unsupported loaded touring a spare spoke or two can be a lifesaver. But on this bike I think it's an affectation, given the number of other components that are unlikely to be field-serviceable (like the headset).

And is that a third set of bottle cage mounts on the underside of the downtube?

If not for the integrated headset, this would be a killer frame to build a real touring bike with.

RichC

Orbit bikes - who make some of the top touring bikes for the UK have had a disc braked version for several years

http://www.orbit-cycles.co.uk/romany1.shtml

<Igor voice>Yes Master! More AVID discs more! more! MORE!</voice> But seriously I'm a big fan of AVID's discs and I'm happy to see them popping up on road bikes.

Disk brakes will cure the problem of sidewall wear, so rims should last longer. You could also use a lighter rim with a thinner wall.
How do the forks cope with the extra stress of disk brakes? Do you need beefier forks; do these give a harsher ride than standard touring forks ?

I think it's a great idea, I would like to have V-brakes and disc brakes on the bike so you can alternate brake systems on steep down hills. I have increased rim temperature in the past enough to over pressure the tire and blow the bead off the rim. I see a value to having both sets, I live where the hills are steep, and when riding a loaded bike it's difficult to keep your speed down on steep hills when the roads are poor and broken up. I think that the weight of the additional braking system would not be enough to matter on a loaded touring bike.

The braking power of the discs would be more than enough to haul down a tourer. If it isn't - increase rotor size.

Sorry I know I'm a bit of a traditionalist but both of my bikes have disc brakes. the rotor is the rim :).

Might catch on, but I wouldn't want to have discs on my tourer until you can get spares in every little bike shop.

Anyway, what about mudguards (fenders)

What about them? I'm sure anybody who's been around bikes long enough could find a work around be it fabricate an adapter or what have you.

Originally posted by Raiyn
What about them? I'm sure anybody who's been around bikes long enough could find a work around be it fabricate an adapter or what have you.

Agreed, but a touring bike, which by definition should be usable in all weather, should have eyes and fittings for mudguards as standard with no adaptation needed. The mudguards should be fitted as standard.

I understand the Cannondale T2000 and T800 are sold in the states with no guards. Here most shops wouldn't sell a tourer without so fit them before sale.

Chewa, lets face it, on this windswept island on the edge of the Atlantic with a monthly summer rainfall higher than many states get in a year, even many MTN bikes come with mudguards (fenders) as standard. We need them, those that live in the southern USA can live without them.

Disc brakes are the only way to go if your fully loaded.They are also better in adverse weather conditions. I have disc brakes on my mtb and they work very well, so i would like to have them on a tourer.
as far as integrated headsets I have had no problems with the one on my Giant f/s mtb , so I doubt it would be a problem on a road bike.

Pat

Originally posted by serpico317
Disc brakes are the only way to go if your fully loaded.

That's a pretty strong statement, don't you think? It's not as if no-one ever went fully loaded before disc brakes!

Originally posted by Brains
Chewa, lets face it, on this windswept island on the edge of the Atlantic with a monthly summer rainfall higher than many states get in a year, even many MTN bikes come with mudguards (fenders) as standard. We need them, those that live in the southern USA can live without them.

:) but a tourer doesn't look right without them!

Originally posted by Erick L
That's a pretty strong statement, don't you think? It's not as if no-one ever went fully loaded before disc brakes! True but if you'd tried a decent set of discs you'd understand his point perfectly. Especially if the test was in the rain. Oh and chewa there are plenty of ways to mount fenders or mudguards to a bike with discs just look at MTB fenders some even mount to the down-tube. It may lack a bit of elegance, but if it gets the job done - carry on.

But if touring bikes came with fenders then bike shops couldn't charge us extra for them :=) That's the same reason so many MTB brands don't include bar ends.

I just bought the Giant 03 ocr touring bike. I like it. There are only a few bikes to really pick from. The disc brakes were a selling point for sure. I would not go back to rim brakes. I have Magura hydrolic on my mountain bike and like them. I have also heard good things about the cable avids so I went for it. They have a different feel than hydrolic brakes. You have to put more pressure on the levers for the cable activated brakes but they still work great. One minor problem is that they get in the way when installing fenders and racks but with a little tweeking(whats new) they go on fine. Going from mtb on road to Giant on road makes all the difference. Giant is faster, more comfortable and faster. Get the rockshox suspension seatpost from pricepoint for $44. The frame is solid and unforgiving on the butt.

I have one question about this bike. Would anyone suggest me using this bicycle for commuting, besides touring? Right now, I use my OCR 3 for commuting.

I don't own the Touring as of yet, but do plan to purchase it this summer.

Looks gimmicky to me.
A real touring bike would have 36 spoke wheels at least in the rear, wider tires, 25C is too narrow, the gearing isn't low enough and it only comes in four sizes!
Plus that silly spoke holder.
About the only decent thing is the disc brakes.

since the trek 520 comes with deore lx hubs, in the future would one be able to upgrade to disc brakes?

no. you need mounts on the frame. BTW, this is an old thread...