Eddie Loves You

Looking to get some info from those with ride time on TRP Spyres/Spykes and similarly priced hydro disc brakes. I'm building up a chinese carbon cyclocross frame as a light commuter and definitely want dual-piston disc brakes. Since I'm buying all components from the start I can choose to go either mechanical or hydraulic without having to consider existing components. An XT setup would be just slightly more than a Spyre or Spyke set...do the benefits outweigh the increased maintenance complexity?

Commute to work is fairly hilly, constant wet conditions (Portland OR), I'm 190 and carry a good 30+ lbs with me.

jimc101

What type of brake lever you are using will determine brakes, in this case, flat bar = either, drops and the XT's won't work.

For Hydraulic vs mechanical, Hydraulics are generally easier to live with, auto adjust, and apart from pad replacement, shouldn't need maintenance.

If your working on a budget, would be looking at Deore or SLX as both offer almost the same performance as XT, but at a much reduced cost.

dsbrantjr

If you want "dual-piston" brakes you will need hydraulics, since mechanical brakes do not use pistons.

jimc101

That's why the OP asked about TRP Spyres, as these are the only mechanical calipers which do use a design which replicate hydraulic dual pistons, and pushed both pads as the same time.

fietsbob

Cable brakes the pad wear adjuster is You, hydraulics do it with the mech for you (So don't touch the lever while the wheel is out,!
put 'the Keeper' in while the wheel is removed)


IRD tried a double banger cable cable caliper , buzz of marketing is better this time with TRP .. and TRP also sells the HyRd.. a cable pulls the hydraulic mech at the wheel

there are a few cable to hydraulic converters with a dual master right under the stem too, hoses from there to wheels .

single piston mechanicals work fine too , the inside pad stays very close to the disc , by your adjustment for pad Setup and as they wear the pads



XT like most full hydraulics are for MTB bars so you must be setting up a Hybrid.

Drop bars & brifters you either use a Mechanical road pull or the cable to hydraulic conversion sets.

Eddie Loves You

Thanks for the reply. Flat bar, and I'll be buying levers (come with Shimano but no rotors, TRP supplies rotors but not levers).

After I posted this I looked around the forums and saw that the Deore's are highly regarded, might be all I need. Besides weight, what would I be missing with the Deore compared to SLX or XT? I know there is some adjustability differences and the Deores don't have ceramic pistons (is that right, and what's the benefit there?). Do they also have the one-way bleed and use mineral oil?

Eddie Loves You

Thanks. Currently running BB5s, would love to not have to keep adjusting. Also, pad wear is off (possibly a result of rotor flex and poor maintenance). Yeah, I'll be running flat bars.

fietsbob

Magura in Germany also Makes very good Hydraulic Disc Brakes and their Hydraulic Rim Brakes are super Too..

I Have BB7s Now with a KoolStop set of pads, speedial levers , front hub a Centerlock spline, with an adapter to use Avid 6 bolt discs.

Tandem forum had Spyre discussions , Commuting a HyRd thread; both products went thru release for sale, recall, and re designs, then re release.



California born, & raised.. Bakersfield, & hilly ? has to be way outside of town.. (Can't blame you for getting away from town for rides)

gsa103

Deore doesn't have free-stroke adjust (lever pull before pad contact). I believe the ceramic pistons are more durable, because they are less prone to sticking or leaking at the seals. Usually the UK sites have SLX or XT very cheap, so the cost is reasonable.

well biked

Any Shimano mtb hydraulic will be worlds better than any mechanical disc brake, including Spyres. We have great luck in our shop with M396 series brakes (single piston) hydraulics, all the way through the highest end stuff. Certainly Deore level would be a very good bang-for-the-buck choice, and would get you into a dual piston brake. XT gets into more high performance features, such as free stroke adjust, cooling fins on the pads, etc. Kinda cool, but breaks the point of diminishing returns, cost-wise, IMO. And that even goes for mountain bike racing, IMO. SLX is another really great hydraulic brake from Shimano IME.

Eddie Loves You

Very informative, thanks. I think I'll go Deore with the regular rotors, which should be enough for my commuting, non-DH needs.

gsa103

Just as a heads up, the cheap Shimano rotors are only for use with resin pads. Given your application, you'd probably want the resin pads anyway, so that shouldn't be a big constraint.

Eddie Loves You

Thanks for that. I ride year-round in a lot of rain and muck, will resin pads wear significantly quicker?

fietsbob

Metal sintered pads wear the discs faster. pads are cheaper to replace when they wear most ..

Rain is not abundant in California of late. .. so I wouldn't worry too much on that.

Eddie Loves You

Outdated profile info, I'm actually in Portland, OR.

fietsbob

You can fix that

Sang about it, But, Buck Owens Moved away too Didnt He?

Eddie Loves You

Anyone in their right mind would!