Disc brakes on road bikes

[dodgy]

Yes, it's spinning discs of white hot metal that are the real danger. Not dozens of effectively piano wire strung between hubs and rims, or chinese throwing stars (cassettes) spinning on the back wheel, or the buzz saws attached near the cranks.

Oh no, it's the discs. Discs are bad.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Yes, it's spinning discs of white hot metal that are the real danger. Not dozens of effectively piano wire strung between hubs and rims, or chinese throwing stars (cassettes) spinning on the back wheel, or the buzz saws attached near the cranks.

Oh no, it's the discs. Discs are bad.

Everything new in cycling has always been bad. The mantra has always been, "If it was good enough for my dad it's good enough for me, unless I can find something that was good enough for my grandad".

 

[DRHysted]

Look at my avatar. I've had that since January, and it has run faultlessly (excluding the Sora groupset which got changed to Ultegra).
My commuter is a CX with disc, I have had issues with the rear wheel, but I think that is because it is not a good rear wheel, then again it has managed 3000 miles, with three snapped spokes (all went whilst not under stress), and the freehub is (almost) spent (and can't be replaced). New wheels next year.

The difference in braking was demonstrated quite well on the NF100 when I got rear ended (on the Roubaix) because the bloke behind had wet brakes, no damage to either bike. The feel is completely different, the confidence they inspire is great. They are IMHO the future.

 

[Globalti]

Definitely. We found the same when we went over to discs on mountain bikes in the nineties.

 

[upandover]

The disk is much thinner and much more exposed in cycling, especially the front disk. The rear disk is protected by the rear triangle, as is the rear cassette. Plus the riders arent wearing thick leather either.
I have disk brakes on my road bike, and a guy in the bike shed was amazed at how thin my disk was compared to his MTB disk. It realy is a bit like a circular saw.
You wouldnt want to be hit in the calf at 30mph by a spinning front disk.

Interestingly, those on my roadbike are the same thickness as the ones on my mtb....