Originally Posted by
markhr
Why I will only use disc brakes:
no rim wear so no rim replacement every 6 months
consistent braking no matter what the weather and roads/trails are like
masses of power and great modulation
VERY simple to setup, adjust and use
no hassle changing/removing wheels (open skewer, remove wheel, replace wheel close skewer - no F. about with cables or brake release)
no rim contact so no worries with out of true wheels
no grabbing or pads wearing so fast you have to replace every 2-3 weeks (especially with wet, gritted roads or muddy trails)
MUCH easier than cantilevers to install, adjust and maintain
disc brakes only
I couldn't have said it better myself!
Besides, I doubt a road-specific disc brake would be that much heavier than the extra mass on the rims to allow for wear, the brake caliper itself and the brake pads. Also, more of the mass is moved to the hub, lowering rotational intertia, which should make acceleration a bit faster in the ideal case.
Better modulation on a road bike would probably mean more efficient braking, which could be used to go faster into a turn, saving time.