Thanks all for the comments, in various directions.
Here are a couple of articles that have some more information on disk brakes for road bikes. The articles have been much discussed, so perhaps you’ve all seen at least one of them:
http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/02/14/...ill-they-work/
http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/02/23/...-about-wheels/
As I say, my preferences are pretty fixed here.
One thing I will predict is that hydraulic disks will not be popular among consumer road bikes, even if there are some riders who are going to want them. I don't think bleeding brakes on road bikes is going to catch on.
Even recognizing that some of you think there are significant advantages to the disks, cable or hydraulic, it does seem to me that at least part of what is going on now is an attempt by manufacturers to strong-arm roadies into buying new equipment. It is no coincidence, I would say, that the push for road disks is coming just as carbon fiber is maturing. Carbon fiber has been the primary technological selling point in new road bikes over the past decade. But CF is now about as refined as a frame material as it is going to be. It seems manufacturers suspect there are only diminishing margins available with existing designs and materials.
The fact that so much of the discussion in those articles focuses on UCI approval for disks seems to support this view. UCI can’t stop manufacturers from selling disk bikes, after all, so if the technology offers significant advantages manufacturers should be able to sell them in quantity, UCI approval or no.
Anyway, we’ll see. I’ll be interested to see whether disks catch on on the road. It does seem as if the manufacturers are going to give people the option to buy the equipment they want for a while.
BigBen and NashComm—I’m glad you’re happy with the bike. I hope to get good years of service out of it. So far, so good.
I replaced the stock tires with 28mm Gatorskins and I put a 36h wheel on the rear. I’ve put a black aluminum kickstand on, too. I’ve got a set of longboard SKS fenders, but I’m considering some quick release instead. I like the quickness of the bike and it would be nice to use it without fenders often. I’ve got an older HID light for the deep dark but I make do with a 4-aa Cateye light in town. Generic Bontrager blinkie for the rear.
BigBen, I’ve got a set of the DuraAce bar-ends, too. As I say, I might put one of them one on the front one of these days.
Catonec, yeah, it’s a good deal for six bills.
Good value in bikes is definitely available these days. It’s great.