Disc brakes on road bikes

[Robeh]

I have a new Synapse 105 disc, and I love it. It's my commuter in all weather, and the disc break feel great. Probably not necc much of the time, but the do work just as well in the wet and mud, (and Horse manure, given some of my commute is on country lanes!) Whether they're better or not, I do like them.

i have the 2015 model aswell and considering its not the lightest bike it rides really well and is smooth and very fast.
the brakes work very well.im well happy with it

 

[gavintc]

I have never used disc brakes, but I would imagine that wheel changing would be slower with a disc braked wheel than a rim brake system.

 

[Robeh]

No slower TBH i put 2 GP4000S Tyres on the wheels yesterday and it took me 5 mins per wheel.

 

[Banjo]

I think the geometry of a bike has more to do with comfort than if it has discs or not. If your stretched out on a bike your more likely to have your elbows locked straight where a more relaxed bike like a Synapse encourages you to keep a bend at the elbow which acts like a shock absorber.

Havent ridden mine very far yet but so far it feels great , comfortable and quick.

 

[Globalti]

I have never used disc brakes, but I would imagine that wheel changing would be slower with a disc braked wheel than a rim brake system.

No difference. With a disc you can just drop the wheel in and you don't even need to close the brakes. Discs can be a bit difficult to set up but usually once set up they are good for life.

 

[boydj]

No difference. With a disc you can just drop the wheel in and you don't even need to close the brakes. Discs can be a bit difficult to set up but usually once set up they are good for life.

I built a Croix de Fer this year with TRP HyRd brakes. Easy to set up and use, and very effective. While replacing a wheel is easy, I find I take just a bit of care to ensure that the disc slots in between the pads correctly before pushing it fully home, so not really any slower than rim brake wheels.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

However, much as I like them for my own bikes, I can't see them ever being used in the peloton. The gap between pad and disc is so small that having set it up for one wheel I can't see another wheel simply slotting in without a good chance of adjustment required. Also pity the mechanic in the back seat of the team car jumping back in with the too hot to touch wheel that he's just taken out, could cause some nasty accidents !

 

[MacB]

However, much as I like them for my own bikes, I can't see them ever being used in the peloton. The gap between pad and disc is so small that having set it up for one wheel I can't see another wheel simply slotting in without a good chance of adjustment required. Also pity the mechanic in the back seat of the team car jumping back in with the too hot to touch wheel that he's just taken out, could cause some nasty accidents !

I think they'll get around these problems/fears, too much money involved

 

[StuAff]

It will happen in the pro peloton, probably 2016. Planning by the UCI and manufacturers is ongoing.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I think they'll get around these problems/fears, too much money involved

Surely the cycle trade makes more money out of customers constantly needing new wheels/wheel builds from worn out rims ?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Surely the cycle trade makes more money out of customers constantly needing new wheels/wheel builds from worn out rims ?

So they'll make it out of hydro seals, pistons,pads,discs, bleeding and oil instead.

 

[MacB]

Surely the cycle trade makes more money out of customers constantly needing new wheels/wheel builds from worn out rims ?

I would have thought the mass upgrades of frames and forks moving over to discs would outweigh that and there's the other bits as TMHNET says

 

[cyberknight]

It will happen in the pro peloton, probably 2016. Planning by the UCI and manufacturers is ongoing.

Mamil mag C+ reviewed a bianchi disc ( i think ) that had a uci approved sticker on recently .....

 

[StuAff]

Mamil mag C+ reviewed a bianchi disc ( i think ) that had a uci approved sticker on recently .....

As a C+ subscriber..if it's the Infinito CV Disc (October issue) you were thinking of, that's not a UCI sticker on the frame- it denotes it as part of Bianchi's C2C range.

 

[Flying Dodo]

However, much as I like them for my own bikes, I can't see them ever being used in the peloton. The gap between pad and disc is so small that having set it up for one wheel I can't see another wheel simply slotting in without a good chance of adjustment required. Also pity the mechanic in the back seat of the team car jumping back in with the too hot to touch wheel that he's just taken out, could cause some nasty accidents !

There's at least a couple of mm gap. If a team is all riding the same type of bike with the same wheels, then it definitely wouldn't be a problem.