Originally Posted by positron

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.