SkepticalOne

And with that, another innocuous thread devolves into the caliper vs. disc debate.

merlinextraligh

I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing.


Newbie posts which Disc brake bike should I get, largely because discs are the new thing being marketed.


However, if you're going to give meaningful input on the question of which bike, you need to understand how they want to use the bike and what they hope to get out of it.


And current state of the art, discs may well not be the answer for many people in many applications. So a discussion of discs vs calipers is going to be imbedded in most questions as to which bike to buy.

fietsbob

you want a frame limiting the tire width?


or a 'Cross bike' which will accept wider tires so you can also go play with the other kids ,

on gravel roads.. .. (2nd wheelset with your sewups?)

joejack951

I think you must have missed this post:

Doesn't sound like marketing has anything to do with why he wants disc brake on this new bike. It also sounds like discs are the answer for him in his application. Probably not worth your effort to try and dissuade him at this point.

merlinextraligh

Doesn't address the question I raised in the first place, "What are you trying to accomplish by upgrading." If its lighter faster, then its not the direction to go.

joejack951

A disc brake cross bike with low end components is going to be heavier and less aero than a disc brake road bike with higher end components in most all cases. That's my assumption of the goals/direction here based on what has been posted. And the OP also made it sound like discs are non-negotiable so there's that. Perhaps he can clarify his request further.

Seattle Forrest

When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Canuk1w1

It'd better not be - I enjoy riding centuries and will attempt the Hair Shirt this year so we're kinda in the same boat. Initially I was following the marketing hype and looking at just "endurance" geometry because most of my serious riding is 100km plus.
I opted for the "race" over "endurance" geometry for two reasons:
1) The shop owner got me thinking - UCI riders are on these bikes for centuries (in stage races, give or take) and while they have an army of masseurs and physios, they really can't afford to be too beat up after each stage.
2) My final "testing" day i rode 4 different bikes for 10km time trial style each and it was on the cold side (around 4C, 36F?). The LBS had the Evo ready for me to go when i finished the 4th test, "to be sure about it." Off i went and i felt more comfortable on that bike cold and getting tired than any of the others.
I'm thinking if I find the riding position too aggressive i can always boost the stack height a bit or tilt the handlebars - won't change the Evo into a Synapse-type handling.
FWIW, the Roubaix and Giant Defy both handled well too, almost as well as the Cannondales. I found the Synapse and especially the GT Grade were a bit too ponderous (not as responsive i'd like). Just my opinion, YMMV.

San Pedro

The Advanced Pro Disc is over $4000, but yeah, it would be all set with the wheels.

Kahrpistols

I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a newbie as I've been enthusiastically cycling for a few years and keep on top of the new tech/developments.

I want disc brakes for three main reasons. I don't have to fear the wet, as I used to on my rim brakes; I don't need to buy new wheels - ever - unless they break due to a pothole or some other unforeseen misfortune; and the modulation has been proven to be better, assuming you compare apples to apples and not oranges.

Also, I've even heard it said that you can attack descents a bit crazier and therefore go faster with discs than you can with rim brakes, negating the weight penalty.

Kahrpistols

You're quite right. Part of the reason why I want to upgrade is so that I can have my cross bike for the dirty days and my nice road bike for the sunny days as I commute rain or shine. Even though I have the stem slammed and flipped on my cross, I think the geometry of the bike lends itself to a bit less aero and more stable position than an equivalent road bike, which would make me more aero even with the exact same components.

I'm also thinking to get into gran fondos / racing and although it may be just a vanity thing, showing up to one of those with a cross bike just feels wrong to me.

derf36

I was in much the same search recently and put money down on the Giant Defy AP 1. Ultegra, through axels, and carbon wheels. It ticks most or all of your boxes and is right around that 3K mark. Toss a bit more at it and you can get the same bike with DI2.

shoemakerpom

My brother just bought this and it rides like a dream and is extremely comfortable (Sagan rode it on the cobles)
Synapse Carbon Disc Ultegra Cannondale Bicycles

joejack951

Comparing my cross/commuter bike to my latest road bike build, the bottom bracket is nearly 30mm higher (less drop measuring from the axle centerline) on the former and the wheelbase is 40mm longer. So yes, less aero and more stable for my two bikes though I can't say how common that will be across the board.

One thing to note is that many of the disc brake road bikes on the market are more geared toward 'adventure' or 'gravel' and might have more in common with a cross bike than you'd prefer. The frame I'm building (Hongfu FM-079-F) is a regular road bike frame but equipped for disc brakes. 28mm tires barely fit according to the frame drawing I have and the geometry is more 'race' than the bike 'race' bike it's replacing (my cracked LOOK KG386i) especially because I am going down a size.

Check the geometry charts or better yet, ride the bike first if you can. The Synapse posted above is roughly in between my cross and new road frames, FWIW.