Originally Posted by
Joe Minton
Hydraulic disc brakes will win the day if for no other reason than they do not require the attention of an enthusiast/mechanic like myself to keep them working at peak efficiency.
I believe you vastly overestimate the intelligence of the general bike-riding public, who believe that you should never touch the front brake at all for fear of "going over the bars." To the point where manufacturers build in spring-loaded "modulators." Now give the newb rider a 200mm hyd front brake and watch what happens in a panic situation where they "grab a handful of brake"...
Not to mention the same kind of bozos who wait for metal on metal in their car before having even an inkling that maybe, just maybe they should get their brakes serviced. And the DIY mechanic who puts Shimano brake fluid in his Avid brakes. Or runs Avid brakes to begin with...
1) They are not more trouble free. In fact, considering recalls and various quality issues, they can be very troublesome. Cables and housing stump some; hydraulics are another category removed from simple mechanics.
2) Predictable can be good or bad...
3) Brakes are still limited by tire traction and on skinny tires on a road bike, and more power can sometimes not be a good thing.
Some hydraulic brakes require more attention to keep them working at peak efficiency; some don't.