popeye

Says Chris Froome. Who am I to argue with Chris Froome.
"I don't think the technology is quite where it needs to be' says four-time Tour de France winner"
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chri...n-disc-brakes/

bruce19

Chris Froome is a professional. I am not. Our limits and requirements are different. I am not advocating for disc or rim. I have both. It's not a big deal for me as a recreational rider.

Andy Somnifac 

I'd love to hear his thoughts on running shoes too.

Andy Somnifac 

Exactly. I will never be in the TdF. My bike, and the gear on it, is not what is holding me back.

David in Maine

Took me a minute but...LOL!

David

Ogsarg

I guess if I was riding where I needed to be on the brakes constantly for 5-10 minutes at a time and having the rotors warp, I wouldn't be happy with them either. On the other hand, what happens to carbon rims if you're riding rim brakes for 5-10 minutes? I guess if you're a pro, you can replace them as often as necessary so it doesn't matter.

WhyFi

Yeah, this just boils down to him *****ing about a minor and temporary annoyance - rotors kissing the pads when they're hot. They're not robbing meaningful energy and they usually cool pretty quickly.

Zaskar

@popey makes a good point. Take it out of context - ever been in a race car? For anything but racing (on THAT track in THOSE conditions)... they really suck. Do I want race-driven and funded R&D on my bikes (and cars and running shoes) *$#& yeah I do. But that doesn't mean every bit of tech is ready for my needs - cost vs performance, etc.

Full disclosure... I have a few bikes with rim brakes and a couple with disc. I like the disc brakes a lot. They really are just better - for me... on my routes in my conditions ;-)

popeye

Dragging the binders is not proper form for disk or rim brakes.

surak

It's been pointed out elsewhere that ISN is sponsored by SwissStop, whose disc rotors and pads are apparently much more prone to overheating and warping than those offered by the big 3 manufacturers.

tomato coupe

Before COVID, I rode with several pros and ex-pros. They were all riding rim brakes. But, they also told stories like "I toasted a set of (carbon) wheels coming down such-and-such pass last week. Second set this year."

smashndash

I think for dry braking, the hierarchy is quite clear. Alloy rim brakes are at the top, then disc brakes, then carbon clinchers at the bottom.

I would go as far as to say that carbon clinchers are the main reason why disc brakes are so popular now.

tomato coupe

Other people will arrange that list differently. It depends on how each person prioritizes cost, performance, convenience, and the type of riding they do.

Maybe not the main reason, but certainly a major contributor.

Phatman

Err swap your top two on your list there. Hydraulic disc brakes are so much better at stopping than rim brakes, even in dry weather. I've got a set of the cheapest road discs (SRAM Apex) and some of the best rim brakes (Dura Ace) and its not even a comparison, the discs stop dramatically better. But you're probably right about the carbon clinchers, it does seem preferable to put heat from braking into the disc instead the rim when the rim could potentially soften from heat and allow the tire to blow off.

With that said, I tend to agree with Mr Froome. I can see where if you're riding and travelling a lot, its probably easy to ding a rotor and have to put up with a persistent *shing*shing*shing* sound. If I had to deal with that 30 hours a week I'd probably hate disc brakes too.

rubiksoval

I think what makes this more interesting than normal is the fact that he is a professional who is being paid to ride disc brakes, and yet he's still being vocal about it.

That's a bit of a rarity.

tomato coupe

Well, he's paid to ride for a team, and Factor sponsors that team. Factor happens to put disc brakes on his bike. He's not getting paid specifically to use disc brakes, same as he's not getting paid specifically to use CX-Ray spokes.

bahula03

Maybe they need to take a cue from their two-wheeled racing big brothers and throw a little duct on the front brake for cooling.

...oh wait, that'd probably cost 1.5w, and the unbearable horror of that proposition

veganbikes

Chris Froome bores me. His racing style is boring and his opinions I could care less about. I am sure as person he is just fine but marginal gains make me yawn. Disc brakes are just fine and if you are having issues you are probably doing something wrong. He has mechanics so he should be having issues unless using crap equipment but why would he do that. I haven't used SwissStop rotors but their pads are excellent so I doubt it would be that but maybe that is the problem or he has a really flexy frame that is causing issues which seems suspect. If his issue is over heating a larger rotor would help or learning how to brake better.

Ehhh...he might just want to start another debate on disc vs rim brakes because he was stalking the forum and realized we hadn't had one in while

rubiksoval

???

He's complaining about the team's equipment. Openly. That's not a common thing.

rubiksoval

You must not watch much pro racing.

He's done some very exciting things in races; surprise attacks on downhills, rolling breaks with Sagan, running up a mountain. Way more exciting than most everyone else.

noodle soup

Who descends by dragging their brakes for 5-10 minutes?Certainly not anyone hoping to win a race.

noodle soup

Froome needs to buy one of these, or he could use a crescent wrench.

veganbikes

Admittedly I should watch a bit more. But I am still never that excited by him.

big john

They sponsor the team to sell bikes. If one of their sponsored riders isn't happy with something on the bike, he shouldn't go public with it.

One of the early freeriders couldn't get much help from sponsors because he kept breaking frames. He was doing stuff nobody else was but still.

I know a guy who raced drag cars and paid his own way for everything. He was pretty good and got a ride in a car with full sponsorship, just show up and drive.
One day he mouthed off about the team owner's son to the paper, National Dragster. No more free ride.

SoSmellyAir

He did not say that he had to drag the brakes for 5 to 10 minutes. He raised an issue when "on a descent for long enough – five, ten minutes, with constant braking."

Chris Froome says he's 'not 100 per cent sold on disc brakes' as he reviews his new bike - Cycling Weekly

I understand that to mean a descent with "constant breaking" over a 5 to 10 minute period.

With rim brakes one quick look plus one squeeze of the brake lever confirm I am good to go. I can do both as I am lifting my bike off the wall onto the ground. I don't have a bike with disc brakes but I don't think it is quite that easy to verify their condition. That said, by the time the brake tracks on my wheels are worn out, lightweight alloy wheels for rim brakes may no longer still be offered, so I will have to switch to disc brakes then.