Rim or disk brakes?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,758
Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 496 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 192 Times
in
149 Posts
Did you mean to ask mechanical disc or hydraulic disc? Metallic may refer to the pad material for disc brakes. One type is semi-metallic.
I've had one set of hydraulic disc brakes (Hope brand) that was far better at stopping than any rim brake bike I ever rode. The downside was it was a very expensive set if it needed replacement.
I've had one set of hydraulic disc brakes (Hope brand) that was far better at stopping than any rim brake bike I ever rode. The downside was it was a very expensive set if it needed replacement.

#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,124
Mentioned: 205 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16649 Post(s)
Liked 11,746 Times
in
5,617 Posts
*yawn*
F-, assuming that is even possible.
Can’t wait to see how many take the bait.
F-, assuming that is even possible.
Can’t wait to see how many take the bait.

Likes For indyfabz:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 824 Post(s)
Liked 686 Times
in
514 Posts
A decent set of hydro discs are the best stopping and what I now tend to prefer in a new bike. Quality rim brakes are more then adequate to the task of stopping and will do just fine. Unless its a mountain bike or cross, then I always prefer disc for dealing with mud.

Likes For AdkMtnMonster:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Posts: 2,170
Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1059 Post(s)
Liked 226 Times
in
177 Posts
Ain't nothing better than SA DRUM brakes, fit and forget. 25,000+ miles with NO worries, no adjusting, no rim scratch or screech, no fade, no heating, 100% the same in any weather, very little chance of needing cleaning. I went over 20,000 miles with not changing the cable either.
Cable TRP Spyre is next best on other IGH's, like my Rohloff14.
Cable TRP Spyre is next best on other IGH's, like my Rohloff14.

Likes For GamblerGORD53:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,335
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2431 Post(s)
Liked 630 Times
in
389 Posts
The SLX discs on my MTB are the most amazing brakes I ever had.
The RS505 discs on my road bike are no better than rim brakes, except in the rain which I avoid. Actually rim brakes are slightly better. I won't buy another disc road bike.
The RS505 discs on my road bike are no better than rim brakes, except in the rain which I avoid. Actually rim brakes are slightly better. I won't buy another disc road bike.

#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 1,954
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 663 Post(s)
Liked 811 Times
in
446 Posts
Cantilever with carbon rims.

#12
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,869
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7835 Post(s)
Liked 8,375 Times
in
4,679 Posts
I use retro rockets. Calibration has been a bit tricky, though, and I don't recommend trial and error.

Likes For livedarklions:
#13
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,005
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '16 Motobecane Gran Premio Elite, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1464 Post(s)
Liked 1,537 Times
in
804 Posts

Aero braking... because, who doesn't like aero?

Likes For Phil_gretz:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northeastern MA, USA
Posts: 1,645
Bikes: Garmin/Tacx Bike Smart
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 630 Post(s)
Liked 275 Times
in
181 Posts
Dammit. I missed at least the first half of my bag of popcorn.
I'm looking forward for the return of coaster brakes.
I'm looking forward for the return of coaster brakes.

Likes For dmanthree:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,122
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2197 Post(s)
Liked 1,435 Times
in
908 Posts
O.P. looks like a newbie, it could be a legitimate question.
Answer depends if OP is Catholic, Presbyterian, or atheist. It's a question about religion, at least for some people. You need good, well adjusted brakes to stop you on a bike. There are good and bad examples of each. If you're just looking to buy a new bike, give it a test ride. Make sure the brakes will stop you. Think about coming down a hill to a stop sign and there's a cement truck rumbling down the cross street toward the intersection. Comfortable with that scenario? Yes, you're good to go; no, keep looking.
Answer depends if OP is Catholic, Presbyterian, or atheist. It's a question about religion, at least for some people. You need good, well adjusted brakes to stop you on a bike. There are good and bad examples of each. If you're just looking to buy a new bike, give it a test ride. Make sure the brakes will stop you. Think about coming down a hill to a stop sign and there's a cement truck rumbling down the cross street toward the intersection. Comfortable with that scenario? Yes, you're good to go; no, keep looking.

Likes For pdlamb:
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,122
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3572 Post(s)
Liked 2,046 Times
in
1,044 Posts
The only advantages that disc brakes provide is they prevent your rims from wearing out. Disc brakes are only better in certain conditions like winter time when there is snow, ice and a lot of road grit which is very hard on the rim's braking surface...If majority of your riding is on clean pavement then rim brakes are all you will ever need. A good quality rim brakes which are properly adjusted with good quality brake pads can have as much stopping power as disc brakes.

#18
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,869
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7835 Post(s)
Liked 8,375 Times
in
4,679 Posts

#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 438
Bikes: 1978 Raleigh Competition-1974 Raleigh Folder-1983 Austro Daimler-198? Fuji Monterey-Surly LHT-Surly Karate Monkey-Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 43 Post(s)
Liked 95 Times
in
53 Posts
For what it's worth... https://www.bikeradar.com/features/r...-need-to-know/

Likes For Charliekeet:
#22
more daylight today!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 12,487
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5114 Post(s)
Liked 3,610 Times
in
2,507 Posts
Depends. But in the grand scheme of things it probably won't really matter for the riding you will do.
If it does matter, then you'll have your answer. And it will be tailored to you and you alone!
If it does matter, then you'll have your answer. And it will be tailored to you and you alone!

Likes For rydabent:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,805
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3234 Post(s)
Liked 998 Times
in
599 Posts
The two overridding reasons for disc brakes is-------------one they dont wear out expensive rims, and two, they work better in the wet.

#25
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,265 Times
in
1,437 Posts
