Catapulting Disc Brakes
10-01-20, 10:29 AM
#126
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Quite honestly, it has never occurred to me to count the number of fingers I have on the brakes, but to the best of my recollection, it varies between one and four. I never realized it was something to even think about. Seriously, as long as you don't grab a fistful of brake and then *squeeze*, I don't see how road discs could catapult you. There's no honed over the years superhuman amount of fine motor control required... or else I couldn't do it, heh.
They simply work well. For what it's worth, I don't personally know anyone who switched back, although I do live in a rather hilly area with occasional steep descents which does make them attractive.
They simply work well. For what it's worth, I don't personally know anyone who switched back, although I do live in a rather hilly area with occasional steep descents which does make them attractive.
10-01-20, 10:36 AM
#127
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There's nothing that makes it really "better" for modulation.
Last edited by njkayaker; 10-01-20 at 10:42 AM.
10-01-20, 10:42 AM
#128
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It's more important to count the number of fingers you wave with. You might offend someone if you get that wrong.
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10-01-20, 10:44 AM
#129
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One use (not mentioned previously) to be able to move your weight back "reflexively" is that, by letting you use less force on the brakes, means your hands get less tired (useful for long downhills).
10-01-20, 10:44 AM
#130
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I was just in a shop looking at road bikes, and after we get through all the must haves (which ensure I am not stepping down), I told the guy I was not willing to buy another rim brake bike, discs only. He got really wide eyed and said, "I think they're too powerful for road bikes"...at which point I pushed my podium hat up and showed him my forehead that looks like hamburger because I used a car door to stop on Friday when my rim brakes wouldn't work in the rain. All jokes aside...I use as many fingers as I need, and I brake using both ends at the same time, with a strong bias to the front.
10-01-20, 10:54 AM
#131
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The thing you're missing about disc brakes is that the braking action is much smoother and more consistent. The extremely high mechanical advantage of hydraulics makes the braking application less prone to surface contamination, and because the disc is steel, it doesn't get pitted. Also, because the disc is separate from the rim it's significantly less prone to damage from curbs and other things that will slightly warp a rim.
All of that means that there's no sudden change in braking force as the wheel rotates. What throws people over the bars is when the brakes suddenly grab. Variation in braking force is a bad thing, always, and rim brakes are much more prone to that variation.
Also, sizing of the brake disc is a good way to change the braking forces. With a standard 160mm disc, it takes a very firm grip to go OTB.
All of that means that there's no sudden change in braking force as the wheel rotates. What throws people over the bars is when the brakes suddenly grab. Variation in braking force is a bad thing, always, and rim brakes are much more prone to that variation.
Also, sizing of the brake disc is a good way to change the braking forces. With a standard 160mm disc, it takes a very firm grip to go OTB.
10-01-20, 11:14 AM
#132
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You see, this is why I made fun of your ridiculously unsupportable statement that there's no reason to, because it's clearly nonsense.
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10-01-20, 12:38 PM
#133
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When on the hoods, I ride with one finger on the brakes (well, two, if you count both hands). If photos can be believed, lots of other folks use only one finger as well.
A single finger provides finer input, which allows for better modulation. It also means a better grip on the bar.
A single finger provides finer input, which allows for better modulation. It also means a better grip on the bar.
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10-01-20, 12:41 PM
#134
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10-01-20, 01:05 PM
#135
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So, there might be no practical difference regarding "finer".
Maybe, on the more grip thing.
And, there's a difference between being on the hoods (where most people ride) and on the drops.
Last edited by njkayaker; 10-01-20 at 01:21 PM.
10-01-20, 01:11 PM
#136
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10-01-20, 01:30 PM
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The important thing here is 'based on my experience'...which is most definitely not everyone's experience. My experience says it's time for you to give up this battle.
See what I did there?
10-01-20, 01:39 PM
#138
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I have not had the bar slip out of my hands on a descent. I have had my fingers get crampy from pulling the levers - and yes, I do have good brakes. I also weigh 96kg*, so I need more braking force than most.
Based on our previous interactions, I gather you ride gravel descents a lot, which could be why grip on the bar is of more concern to you than it is to me, since I exclusively ride paved roads. Your opinion, your preferences, and your experience are perfectly valid. But, you know, not universal.
*(96kg just sounds better than 211 lbs, doesn't it?)
Based on our previous interactions, I gather you ride gravel descents a lot, which could be why grip on the bar is of more concern to you than it is to me, since I exclusively ride paved roads. Your opinion, your preferences, and your experience are perfectly valid. But, you know, not universal.
*(96kg just sounds better than 211 lbs, doesn't it?)
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10-01-20, 01:40 PM
#139
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(As an aside, I think I know one person who won't buy those "Live Long And Prosper" winter gloves that pair the first two and last two fingers)
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10-01-20, 01:50 PM
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10-01-20, 02:10 PM
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The thumb is a 'digit', but not normally called or referred to as a 'finger'. And that's not just my experience.
10-01-20, 03:35 PM
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Yes, bar grip is a concern on many roads(thanks to CA's infrastructure issues), but more so off-road, whether ona gravel bike of MTB.
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10-01-20, 03:44 PM
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I don't think one finger is really any "finer" (which is the thing I was talking about).
==================
I suspect many people use one finger in the drops.
People spend more time on the hoods and two fingers is common there.
Last edited by njkayaker; 10-01-20 at 03:51 PM.
10-01-20, 03:58 PM
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10-01-20, 04:02 PM
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10-01-20, 04:08 PM
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Depends on how much braking force I expect to need. If there are hairpins separated by a lot of drop, I use 2.
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10-01-20, 04:09 PM
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The "finer control" theoretically afforded by one-finger braking is arguably illusory; all of us can brake as gently with two or three fingers as with one finger. Also, relying constantly on one-finger braking means that the rider might be at a disadvantage when a panic stop situation presents itself.
I do a lot of one-finger braking myself, but I'm uncomfortably aware that I generally hesitate briefly before switching to using two fingers for panic stops. And that moment of hesitation happens, of course, exactly when hesitating is that last thing I should be doing.
I do a lot of one-finger braking myself, but I'm uncomfortably aware that I generally hesitate briefly before switching to using two fingers for panic stops. And that moment of hesitation happens, of course, exactly when hesitating is that last thing I should be doing.
10-01-20, 04:09 PM
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No doubt, some people use two fingers. (I'm not recommending one or the other.)
10-01-20, 04:11 PM
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EDIT: (It was a lighthearted comment, which I had hoped would have been obvious)
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Last edited by genejockey; 10-01-20 at 04:14 PM.
