Disc brakes on road bikes

[Yellow Fang]

I am not very in touch with cycle racing. I used to find it more interesting to read about it than watch it. To illustrate my ignorance, I am watching O Gran Cumino, and I noticed the race bikes all had disc brakes. How long has this been? It is probably a good safety thing. Beloki's crash when his tyre came off, partly owing to the heat generated by his rim brakes, makes me wince whenever I think of it.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I am not very in touch with cycle racing. I used to find it more interesting to read about it than watch it. To illustrate my ignorance, I am watching O Gran Cumino, and I noticed the race bikes all had disc brakes. How long has this been? It is probably a good safety thing. Beloki's crash when his tyre came off, partly owing to the heat generated by his rim brakes, makes me wince whenever I think of it.

A good few years. Disc vs rim still elicits heated debate amongst road bike users! You would struggle to find many new rim brake bikes on the market these days, mainly discs. Rim brake wheelsets are virtually obsolete. I sold two pairs on ebay recently and both were snapped up at buy it now price within 48hrs as they are a precious commodity now!

 

[matticus]

Beloki's crash when his tyre came off, partly owing to the heat generated by his rim brakes,

He locked up his front wheel under braking.

So apparently rim-brakes are :
- not good enough for descending, and also
- too good for descending

(that's enough heated debate from me ... ;P )

 

[Alex321]

I am not very in touch with cycle racing. I used to find it more interesting to read about it than watch it. To illustrate my ignorance, I am watching O Gran Cumino, and I noticed the race bikes all had disc brakes. How long has this been? It is probably a good safety thing. Beloki's crash when his tyre came off, partly owing to the heat generated by his rim brakes, makes me wince whenever I think of it.

It is several years now since almost everybody has had disc brakes in the pro peleton.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Disc brakes on pro road bikes must have become widely adopted maybe around 2020, certainly a few years back.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

He locked up his front wheel under braking.

It was the rear, it locked then got stuck in the asphalt which had only been laid a few weeks before and still soft, which pulled the tyre off the rim.

Apparently Manolo Saiz had ordered Beloki to attack on the last two climbs even though he had teammate out front. He may well have won the Tour that year.

 

[rydabent]

Like them or not disc brakes have 3 great advantages. First better braking when wet, second discs do not scab up high priced rims, and third, rims on disc brake bikes can be lighter and more aero.

 

[De Sisti]

Heavier, not lighter. ;-)

 

[Alex321]

Heavier, not lighter. ;-)

If the rims are heavier, that is just plain bad design. There is no reason at all why they should be.

 

[Webbo2]

If the rims are heavier, that is just plain bad design. There is no reason at all why they should be.

I think they might have meant the bikes overall.

 

[Alex321]

I think they might have meant the bikes overall.

But they were responding to a post which specifically said rims.

Though TBH, unless you are an elite level competitive cyclist, the difference in weight is not enough to notice.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

He locked up his front wheel under braking.

So apparently rim-brakes are :
- not good enough for descending, and also
- too good for descending

(that's enough heated debate from me ... ;P )

The argument in favour of disc brakes is better modulation. in other words the ability to avoid wheel lockup.

Brake modulation describes the rider’s ability to precisely control braking force between full engagement and complete release. Rather than focusing on maximum stopping power, modulation determines how smoothly and predictably braking force can be applied, allowing riders to maintain traction, control speed, and avoid wheel lockup across varying terrain and conditions.

 

[Webbo2]

The argument in favour of disc brakes is better modulation. in other words the ability to avoid wheel lockup.

Brake modulation describes the rider’s ability to precisely control braking force between full engagement and complete release. Rather than focusing on maximum stopping power, modulation determines how smoothly and predictably braking force can be applied, allowing riders to maintain traction, control speed, and avoid wheel lockup across varying terrain and conditions.

I don’t think in 40 plus years I’ve locked up a rim brake bike. As for discs😱

 

[Webbo2]

But they were responding to a post which specifically said rims.

Though TBH, unless you are an elite level competitive cyclist, the difference in weight is not enough to notice.

My rim braked old best bike is 6:45 kilos and it cost £3,500 To get that in a disc braked I would need to get a mortgage and if you don’t notice the difference clearly you are not going up hills round where I live.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I don’t think in 40 plus years I’ve locked up a rim brake bike. As for discs😱

And some won’t just as you have smooth riders with smooth braking. But thst does not exclude all the others who do lock up their rim braked bikes.