Please explain why road bikes don't have disc brakes
06-06-17, 06:03 PM
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Please explain why road bikes don't have disc brakes
Why is it that road bikes have V brakes, and mtn have disc? Why not put disc on road bikes? I thought disc were better. I know the set of BB5 calipers on my bike weigh more than a set of V brake levers, but does squeezing the rim make up for the few grams saved over a disc? Someone must make a light weight magnesium alloy or carbon caliper that would negate that weight advantage. Or maybe I'm totally missing the relationship of brakes to bikes.
The reason I ask is because after looking at lots of alloy and carbon road frames on alibaba/aliexpress, noticed that no road bikes had IS or PM caliper mounts on the chain/seat stay. All were setup for V brake.
The reason I ask is because after looking at lots of alloy and carbon road frames on alibaba/aliexpress, noticed that no road bikes had IS or PM caliper mounts on the chain/seat stay. All were setup for V brake.
Last edited by Mark42; 06-06-17 at 06:11 PM. Reason: Add afterthought.
06-06-17, 06:09 PM
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V-brakes on lower end MTB's and hybrids.
Caliper/rim brakes on road bikes, mostly
Disc brakes on most gravel/cross/adventure, hybrids, and some road bikes
Sorry, what exactly are you asking?
Caliper/rim brakes on road bikes, mostly
Disc brakes on most gravel/cross/adventure, hybrids, and some road bikes
Sorry, what exactly are you asking?
06-06-17, 06:09 PM
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The reality is that caliper and/or cantilever brakes have worked well for a century or more, and while they're npt perfect, neither are disc brakes.
Each has advantages and drawbacks, and the balance is different for road and off road applications.
So, given the proven history and discounting your erroneous assumption that disc brakes are somehow "better", a more interesting question might be, why rework road bikes to make disc brakes work on them?
Each has advantages and drawbacks, and the balance is different for road and off road applications.
So, given the proven history and discounting your erroneous assumption that disc brakes are somehow "better", a more interesting question might be, why rework road bikes to make disc brakes work on them?
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06-06-17, 06:11 PM
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Although.... disc brakes on road bikes are everywhere. I am not convinced they are superior to the old rim brakes. I think (My Humble Opinion).... stopping power on my bikes are more dependent the tires than the brakes.
06-06-17, 06:14 PM
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Because disc brakes are heavier, uglier, less aero, more expensive, more mechanically complicated, and don't stop your bike any faster than calipers in most conditions.
06-06-17, 06:15 PM
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Short-pull V-brakes also on some CX bikes for a while before they mostly went disc.
06-06-17, 06:19 PM
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Why is it that road bikes have V brakes, and mtn have disc? Why not put disc on road bikes? I thought disc were better. I know the set of BB5 calipers on my bike weigh more than a set of V brake levers, but does squeezing the rim make up for the few grams saved over a disc? Someone must make a light weight magnesium alloy or carbon caliper that would negate that weight advantage. Or maybe I'm totally missing the relationship of brakes to bikes.
The reason I ask is because after looking at lots of alloy and carbon road frames on alibaba/aliexpress, noticed that no road bikes had IS or PM caliper mounts on the chain/seat stay. All were setup for V brake.
The reason I ask is because after looking at lots of alloy and carbon road frames on alibaba/aliexpress, noticed that no road bikes had IS or PM caliper mounts on the chain/seat stay. All were setup for V brake.
Here are 22 road disc options:
https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/...-vanguard-disc
06-06-17, 06:35 PM
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"Plese explain why road bikes don't have disc brakes"
They do.
Next thread.
They do.
Next thread.
06-06-17, 06:41 PM
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I actually don't mind the look of disc brakes. I'll take my cx bike with road brakes when it's wet. They do stop better in the wet.
06-06-17, 06:46 PM
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v brakes on my cx - WHIR WHIR WHIR
calipers on my road - whoosh whoosh whoosh
discs on my MTN - squeek, squeek, squeek
calipers on my road - whoosh whoosh whoosh
discs on my MTN - squeek, squeek, squeek
06-06-17, 06:59 PM
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check back in a few years after The Tour allows disc brakes and then somebody wins with them. Then you will be an idiot not to have disc brakes on a road bike.
06-06-17, 07:07 PM
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06-06-17, 07:38 PM
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They do. Two of mine have discs and both are hydro. One is Dura Ace while the other is SRAM Rival. The DA is smoother and quieter and both stop and modulate better than my rim brake bikes (also two).
06-06-17, 07:54 PM
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06-06-17, 08:35 PM
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Thanks to all for the short course on brakes/bikes. And a few laughs to boot. I learn something new every day.
06-06-17, 08:51 PM
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06-06-17, 08:54 PM
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I had to do a double take on the date of the first post in this thread.
Searching Alibaba/Aliexpress for bikes, Really?
Searching Alibaba/Aliexpress for bikes, Really?
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06-06-17, 09:24 PM
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Road bikes generally don't have v brakes. Most have caliper brakes. To be more specific, most modern road bikes use dual-pivot sidepull calipers.
As for why... For one thing, caliper brakes are simple, easy to install/adjust/maintain, effective, lightweight, and cheap. Secondly, UCI, the governing body that oversees road racing, has only recently started allowing disc brakes in limited trial applications. (And there's been some pushback from CPA, the pro cyclists' union, regarding safety concerns of discs in the event of a crash.) Since consumer road bikes often parrot race bikes, adoption of discs has been slow.
There are pros and cons. Sheldon Brown's site does a pretty decent job of discussing them:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/disc-brakes.html
As for why... For one thing, caliper brakes are simple, easy to install/adjust/maintain, effective, lightweight, and cheap. Secondly, UCI, the governing body that oversees road racing, has only recently started allowing disc brakes in limited trial applications. (And there's been some pushback from CPA, the pro cyclists' union, regarding safety concerns of discs in the event of a crash.) Since consumer road bikes often parrot race bikes, adoption of discs has been slow.
There are pros and cons. Sheldon Brown's site does a pretty decent job of discussing them:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/disc-brakes.html
06-06-17, 09:30 PM
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06-06-17, 09:34 PM
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06-06-17, 09:37 PM
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06-06-17, 09:41 PM
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