Originally Posted by khutch

I don't know, I think his points are clear enough:

First off,discs are illegal for the TdF - Obviously TdF riders would instantly add 1 pound to their bikes if only they were allowed.

Second,he's racing,not commuting. He's on a closed course, - Obviously the laws of physics are suspended for racers on closed courses.

Third,he has team support. He has multiple bikes - Obviously if he gets into trouble on a tight, high speed descent his support team can stop time and swap a new bike underneath him before he flies to his death off a cliff.

If his pads wear,he gets new ones. If his rim is a little out of true,it's trued or replaced. - Obviously only professional racers have the skill or money to maintain their bicycles.

I just don't understand how you can be so dense, Talldog.

I've never ridden a bike that I thought had inadequate brakes and I have never ridden a bike with disc brakes (other than on test rides around the shop parking lot). If my tires have enough grip to stop me, my rim brakes have enough grip to stop me. I have nothing either for or against disc brakes. If a bike I otherwise liked had disc brakes I would buy it without hesitation and I certainly would not pass on a bike I liked because it had rim brakes. I don't think you really need discs unless you routinely ride under extremely muddy conditions. Rim brakes can handle anything else and with common sense on the rider's part they handle that well enough if that is something you face only rarely. First and foremost buy the bike you like best, the brakes are secondary and if necessary can decide between two otherwise equal choices.

Ken