bt

will rim brakes on most roadies become extinct?

StanSeven

Do a search. There are several recent threads on this subject and lots of various opinions.

bonz50

they haven't even become the norm on Mt Bikes yet. common yes, but they haven't obsoleted the rim brake quite yet.

LazurusTaxa

That's not really true. I haven't seen a serious mountain bike on the trails or in races in years which hasn't been using hydraulic disc brakes. Even the sub $1000 entry level bikes come with cable actuated discs.

Bacciagalupe

I don't think it matters.

In 2-3 years, we'll have hydraulic road disc brakes that work well and are acceptably light. If that setup works for you, it'll be available. If it doesn't, rim brakes will be around for a long time too.

Null66

I just built up a Surly Disc LHT. I'm 275lbs weight lifter. I also carry tools, spares, water and such. Easily well over 300 lbs before any cargo.

My previous bike had cantilevers, well adjusted. But even with a death grip, some hills they would only keep me from accelerating.

Disc breaks are GREAT! I can 2 finger stop in a ridiculously short distance even at speed.

slowride454

Are coaster brakes and drum brakes extinct???

merlinextraligh

That's because cantilever brakes mostly suck.

Disc breaks for various applications like touring bikes are a more compelling case, than a road bike which now uses caliper brakes.

Seattle Forrest

I see lots of bikes with drop bars and disc brakes. More every year.

Essex

I have some hydraulic brakes on my new bike. The jury is out for me. Certainly more weight, but they stop well. we'll have to try it in inclement conditions, or major downhills.

merlinextraligh

You live in Seattle.


Seriously,

I think it's somewhat questionable whether discs become standard on road bikes. As you point out you're seeing more drop bar bikes with discs.

You're seeing it in various applications, such as cross bikes, touring bikes, gravel grinders, bikes intended for commuting; not so much yet racing style road bikes, although that's started.

As the technology gets better adapted for road use, and the whole system gets lighter, you may see it more on road bikes.

However, I think it's not a foregone conclusion, and depends in part on the total system weight, and in part on the UCI's take on discs on race bikes.

Personally, I like my 622mm rotors and don't see a compelling reason to change anytime soon.

pallen

The might eventually become the norm on high-end road bikes, but considering standard road brakes are generally considered "good enough", I don't see them ever going away. I see discs becoming a common option for people who want to spend a little more and have better than average stopping abilities in all weather.

redcon1

Love 'em on the MTB, where braking modulation with limited traction is key. Don't feel I ever need them on the road bike.

Seattle Forrest

I do, and thanks for noticing and getting it right. I don't live in Kirkland, or Bellevue, or Issaquah, or Kent, or Renton, or Shoreline. I live in Seattle. City Limits.

Several years ago I had a funny REI bike with drop bars and disc brakes. There were only a few of those available at the time. I got mine used, and crashed it being stupid and testing my skills in the rain. Actually I discovered and joined this site because that was my only bike and I was like a crackhead going through withdrawls; I needed a new bike, wanted drop bars and disc brakes, and didn't know what my options were.

Nowadays there are more mainstream options than I can count for this setup. I haven't been paying attention to how many of them are 'true road bikes' (I guess that means skinny wheels?) versus cross bikes. I only have road bikes, so I don't leave the pavement except on foot, and I'm seeing them on rides. But then I rode my CX bike on the road a lot...

Anyway, it's a trend that's undeniably catching on. You're right that I live in a place where people benefit more from discs, at least several months out of the year. But it's also true that people who want this have a lot more options than we did just a few years ago, because it's starting to catch on.

Discs will never fully replace rim brakes, but that doesn't matter. What's important is that we can all ride bikes that are appropriate for us.

THSdrummer

I refuse to switch until Zipp makes 808s and Disc wheels with disc brakes (joking).

We can only speculate as to how disc brakes will affect the future of road cycling. Shall we revive this thread (amongst many others) in, say, 2018?

Bah Humbug

This thread or one of the several dozen others?

RJM

I highly doubt disk brakes will become the norm on road bikes. Maybe in some applications they will take over, but in no way will they make the dual pivots extinct. Rim brake are just a really big disk brake anyway.

Essex

On a engineering note - couldn't disc brakes manufacturers offer differentiated sizes of brakes and rotors?
I'm new to disc brakes - and to me all the rotors seem uniformly large? For racers maybe they could make a smaller, lighter option for those riders who don't weigh over 140-150 lbs. The one's I have on my new bike could probably stop a bike-riding moose down a 30 degree downhill incline.

Just wondering.

bonz50

while I tend to agree, I'm betting Trek/Spec/Giant/etc sell many more low end rim brake bikes than they do discs. and as far as I can tell, the low end discs absolutely SUCK performance wise so its nothing but a marketing gimmick imho

merlinextraligh

If anything, the rotors need to be bigger for road bikes. 140mm disc, designed for CX, may be fine for CX, that doesn't typically have prolonged braking. But it may well be too small for descending mountains on a road bike(particularly if you throw in some operator error).

As this evolves, I think you'll see larger discs, particularly on the front. Some road disc bikes are now coming with 160mm front rotor, and 140mm rear rotor.

pallen

They will be a requirement on BF once all the pros are riding them.

merlinextraligh

Hence my comment about the UCI. Rational, or not, road bike purchases are influenced by the what the Pro's ride. So the UCI's position is going to influence this.

And currently the UCI is effecting this in 2 opposite ways. Most directly they're currently not allowed for road racing.

However, the only reason disc brakes are on the table for road racing at all is the UCI 14.9 minimum weight requirement. It's pretty easy to get a bike well under 14.9lbs these days. That leaves room to put stuff on the bike that other wise would be too heavy. Thus, even if disc brakes add half a pound to the weight of the bike (all things considered) it won't matter if your still at the 14.9 limit.

If the UCI approves disc brakes for road use, and stays at the 14.9lb limit, you'll see disc brakes on Pro Tour bikes, and we'll follow like lemmings.

Essex

Thank you. I want to see Cancellara using them down the Alps.

Essex

jerrycan42

This...

Bostic

Volagi. 160mm front, 140mm rear. Makes sense.

Top of HW 9, a local 7 mile climb up to 2500'


View of Cupertino, CA. Near the top of a 20% grade.