Disc brakes on road bikes

[Binky]

I've just returned from a brilliant weeks cycling in Mallorca.
Did a ton of climbing and of course descending. I took my Canyon Endurace which has Ultegra rim brakes. I have to say descending off Puig Major was not great as near to bottom the rims were making some odd noises so much so I stopped to check all OK. They were and I was able to brake OK etc but in the heat and with inner tubes some disturbing thoughts came to mind! Obviously pros used rim brakes for decades and descending way quicker than me so no reason to worry really but I have to say I'd have gone faster on discs.

 

[Webbo2]

I've just returned from a brilliant weeks cycling in Mallorca.
Did a ton of climbing and of course descending. I took my Canyon Endurace which has Ultegra rim brakes. I have to say descending off Puig Major was not great as near to bottom the rims were making some odd noises so much so I stopped to check all OK. They were and I was able to brake OK etc but in the heat and with inner tubes some disturbing thoughts came to mind! Obviously pros used rim brakes for decades and descending way quicker than me so no reason to worry really but I have to say I'd have gone faster on discs.

Pro‘s were using tubs when they were on rim brakes not inner tubes.

 

[Dadam]

Ridden plenty. Rim for road, discs for dirt.

Bizarre and wrong take. Discs are better for both

 

[Binky]

Pro‘s were using tubs when they were on rim brakes not inner tubes.

Exclusively? Anyway, still on rims.

 

[Punkawallah]

Bizarre and wrong take. Discs are better for both

Well, if -you- say so, it must be true . . .

 

[Dadam]

Well, if -you- say so, it must be true . . .

My post was in response to Milzy's patently false assertion that rim have better modulation and their frankly risible one that they cause crashes.

Anyway it's far from just me. It's most people who have (a) actually tried them and (b) aren't luddites. They're objectively better in most respects.

Discs have:
Better braking dry and especially wet.
Better modulation
Lower maintenance
No rim wear
Self adjusting (hydraulic ones anyway)

 

[Alex321]

My post was in response to Milzy's patently false assertion that rim have better modulation and their frankly risible one that they cause crashes.

Anyway it's far from just me. It's most people who have (a) actually tried them and (b) aren't luddites. They're objectively better in most respects.

Discs have:
Better braking dry and especially wet.
Better modulation
Lower maintenance
No rim wear
Self adjusting (hydraulic ones anyway)

Not sure that they have better braking in the dry. Better modulation, certainly, but you can get to maximum braking force (*just* before the wheels lock up) in the same time with either.

Otherwise, I agree with everything you say there. I wouldn't go back to riding a rim brake bike, particularly given that my riding is almost all in South Wales, which means quite frequently in wet weather.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Obviously pros used rim brakes for decades and descending way quicker than me so no reason to worry really

Ah, but pros will brake about 5% as much as you on the descents.

 

[Alex321]

Obviously pros used rim brakes for decades and descending way quicker than me so no reason to worry really but I have to say I'd have gone faster on discs.

But the pros also tend to crash rather more often than most of us mere mortals

 

[Binky]

But the pros also tend to crash rather more often than most of us mere mortals

I'm not ashamed to say I had some scary moments and going nowhere near the speed the pros do. These days I'm way more concerned with keeping upright than speed.
I always have a few goals in mind whenever I ride. First and by far the most important is safety. Not crashing/falling off overides all other considerations. Next is getting up every climb without having to stop for a rest.
Anything else a bonus.

Fortunately any offs I've had have been low speed which resulting in cuts and bruises and nothing broken. The thought of wiping out doing 50mph+ down a descent doesn't bear thinking about, especially abroad.

 

[rydabent]

I've just returned from a brilliant weeks cycling in Mallorca.
Did a ton of climbing and of course descending. I took my Canyon Endurace which has Ultegra rim brakes. I have to say descending off Puig Major was not great as near to bottom the rims were making some odd noises so much so I stopped to check all OK. They were and I was able to brake OK etc but in the heat and with inner tubes some disturbing thoughts came to mind! Obviously pros used rim brakes for decades and descending way quicker than me so no reason to worry really but I have to say I'd have gone faster on discs.

In the mountains, on really long descents, rim brakes have been known to heat up the rim enough to cause trouble.

 

[Binky]

In the mountains, on really long descents, rim brakes have been known to heat up the rim enough to cause trouble.

Yes and as it was hot day this was on my mind hence when I starting hearing some noise I stopped to check.

 

[Dadam]

Ah, but pros will brake about 5% as much as you on the descents.

I have more self-preservation (cowardice) than them.

 

[Dadam]

Not sure that they have better braking in the dry. Better modulation, certainly, but you can get to maximum braking force (*just* before the wheels lock up) in the same time with either.

Otherwise, I agree with everything you say there. I wouldn't go back to riding a rim brake bike, particularly given that my riding is almost all in South Wales, which means quite frequently in wet weather.

I suppose my statement more accurately should say they're capable of more braking force (torque), of which the maximum usable is limited by the tyre/road adhesion.

 

[Jameshow]

One hand between the rear tyre and the seat tube is also a brake - not a very comfortable brake to use, but still a brake.

E.

PS: Please don't ask...

SPD shoes on the floor are a brake.... Damhik...

Thankfully they were MTB shoes!

I'm literally the only one I have seen on rim brakes over 2 different clubs

Dinosaur!

*I'm on rim brakes too!