Originally Posted by
AlanK
I whole-heartedly subscribe to the 'keep it simple,
smart' philosophy because generally the simpler something is the more reliable and easy to maintain/repair it is (it's usually less-expensive as well). While I can see an argument for
mechanical disc brakes b/c they function better in wet weather and are easier on rims, hydraulic discs seem totally unnecessary to me. Straight mechanical discs work very well, why make them so much more complicated by incorporating hydraulics just so you can have better 'modulation'
?
hydraulic systems are simple and robust. This is why they have been used for decades in cars, motorcycles, heavy machinery, manufacturing, tractors, mining, earthmovers, cranes, planes.....
Its only the cyclists that are afraid of such a well-tested technology! Have you ever had hydraulic disks? in addition to the fact that you only ever have to touch them once every two years for about 15 mins of maintenance, they are stronger, never have to be adjusted, and have two or four piston braking, meaning the pads on both sides move. This is a better design than mechanical disks, where only one side moves and deflects the disk into the other pad... The ONLY downside is the lack of road levers for hydraulics.
but i digress.