Originally Posted by
Bill Kapaun
I've always wondered about how easy it is to bend a disc when doing some other task such as patching/replacing a tire/tube. I can see the frustration level rising in some instances (such as a tight fitting tire or triple digit temps with the sweat running into your eyes) and forgetting about the relatively fragile disc.
Two of my five bikes have disc brakes, rotors are very difficult to bend. I run my bikes under some demanding conditions, like winter riding at temperatures well below 0F or 110 miles of gravel roads in the pouring rain. I find disc brakes generally more robust than rim brakes, but only for these very demanding conditions. Typical conditions, rim brakes are just fine.
The two disc brake bikes (Kona Dew Drop and Marin Nail Trail) are both commuter bikes and I will ride these bikes in all conditions. Having the brake surface further away from any road grim (road spray, ice, snow, etc) helps with stopping distance.
Disc brakes (as stated previously) good for wet conditions, muddy conditions, big descents...
Disc brakes offer very few advantages to a road bike. The only exception in my mind is the long descents. Think about how easy it is to lock up a set of 25x700c tires; the tire contact to the road is the limiting factor in stopping, not the brakes. My two 'pure' road bikes (Mondonico & Felt) have rim brakes and I can't see any good reason to change that.
Lastly, if you like the bike, buy the bike, but not
just because it has disc brakes.