This is true, but only when accelerating. It makes no difference going up a hill.
(A long debate is often had on this topic, but that's the physics)
Change come hard in the cycling community
- Thread starter rydabent
- Start date
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This is true, but only when accelerating. It makes no difference going up a hill.
(A long debate is often had on this topic, but that's the physics)
slow horse
Well-Known Member
I called that number with my credit card ready and a very sexy voice cried DON'T STOP DON'T STOP, which sends a mixed message if you ask me.... and increase your sex appeal!
Guys, you KNOW it makes sense - buy disc brakes. Call now on 0800-BIG-BRAKES, and have that credit card ready!
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
The point is that needing less force means you have more control. The closer you are to clamping your hands as tight as you can, the harder it uis to ease off just a little bit.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
That isn't relly true. Lighter rims may make up for the additional weight in the callipers, but then you also have additional weight in the forks, because putting the braking point near the hub but a lot more leverage on the forks, so they need to be built stronger.
matticus
Guru
I think that's speculation. ( and my hunch is that more movement-per-change-in force gives better control.)
Think about moving a mouse - a VERY light touch is required, but that doesn't always translate to precise control.
I might be wrong, and I'm sure scientists (especially those involved with mobility aids?) have looked into this!
rogerzilla
Legendary Member
If you want actual answers, they are:
Indexed shifting was resisted by a handful of riders because they didn't want rivals to hear them shifting to a high gear before attacking/going for the finish line.
Clipless pedals were adopted with virtually no pushback. Not the first Look models, which needed a hand lever to unfasten them - they weren't real clipless pedals as we know them. Trackies still use (double) clips and straps for some events involving sprinting, as feet can pull out of clipless pedals when you're putting down 2000W of anaerobic power.
Disc brakes weigh more, make wheel changes more difficult as they can rub, and the UCI thought they could be sharp in the event of a crash.
Indexed shifting was resisted by a handful of riders because they didn't want rivals to hear them shifting to a high gear before attacking/going for the finish line.
Clipless pedals were adopted with virtually no pushback. Not the first Look models, which needed a hand lever to unfasten them - they weren't real clipless pedals as we know them. Trackies still use (double) clips and straps for some events involving sprinting, as feet can pull out of clipless pedals when you're putting down 2000W of anaerobic power.
Disc brakes weigh more, make wheel changes more difficult as they can rub, and the UCI thought they could be sharp in the event of a crash.
Again the UCI is wrong. Discs have rounded edges.
matticus
Guru
Has no-one mentioned internal cabling?? What an oversight - how did we ever ride with those hideous washing lines 
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Discs have only consistently had rounded edges in the last ten years since manufacturers including Hope, TRP, SRAM and Shimano started using things like CNC mills to cut the corners off, in part to challenge a UCI blanket ban. https://bikerumor.com/rounded-rotors-rescue-uci-allows-disc-brakes-back-pro-peloton-2017/
There were also concerns about burns from the heat (same friction applied to a smaller area than the rim) in a pile-up and the greater likelihood of overheat failures on long descents (which rim brakes aren't exactly immune to). There have been a few burn anecdotes but not many.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Solved with TA's.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Indeed, but you're probably in something of a minority there (I'm in that minority too) Carbon frames were adopted as rapidly as the technology could be delivered.
Before you ask "why", ask "if".
Has no-one mentioned internal cabling?? What an oversight - how did we ever ride with those hideous washing lines
Internal cabling, like several other "improvements" comes with the unstated assumption that you have a captive mechanic on hand to sort out any problems.
External cabling, a fool like me can fix if problematic.
I would put carbon fibre as a more significant innovation in the last 30 years than any of those mentioned by the OP.
GPS and other electronic training aids too; both route planning and review for us plebs enjoyment and power meters, heartrate monitors etc for performance training.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Internal cabling isn't completely new. A few years ago I refurbed a steel 80s-ish era Peugeot and it had a hole at each end of the top tube (no, it wasn't rust) to hide the rear brake cable. A bit fiddly but did not defeat me
I have an old Peugeot with internal cabling too. Attach the new cable to the old one before removing it and then pull it through.
