Disc brakes on road bikes

[rydabent]

Have you got shares in a company which manufactures discs or something?

Nope, they are just a a superior brake. And the big thing is they dont scab up expensive rims.

 

[AndyRM]

Nope, they are just a a superior brake. And the big thing is they dont scab up expensive rims.

Nah, it's all about centre pull cantis.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Nah, it's all about centre pull cantis.

Arghhhhh, I canna stop captain, brake factor 9…

 

[katiewlx]

The chunks of rim thing is poor brake pad choice. Years ago, I tried Clarks red pads because I couldn't get Kool-Stop salmon. They embedded chips of grit and alloy, and really grooved the rims. The Kool-Stops never do this, being harder - ironically, soft pads punish rims more due to the embedding issue.

RIm brakes are trivial to set up, unless we're talking 1990s cantilevers. Yes, the rims wear out, but if you can replace them yourself it's not a major problem. I commuted on a fixie with only a front brake, so the rim wear issue was just about non-existent, front brakes not being bathed in gritty water.

no they were V brakes, and its the conical/convex washer parts that act as like a socket ball joint, getting those set up properly so the whole pad contacts the rim at the same time flush (maybe with a bit of toe in on the angle so rear contacts fractionally first), its next to impossible to adjust them properly because they are infinitely adjustable and you cant hold them in place locked perfectly and tighten them up properly at the same time.

my disk pads, unscrew one bolt, they pop out, I pop new ones back in theyre already aligned, job done.

and I tried loads of rim brake blocks, largely because in winter I was getting through them so quickly, though you could never buy the same brand/make more than twice before it disappeared from sale. I tried from soft to hard, none of them made a difference, in fact one bike shop told me it was because the rim surface had already worn to an extent so was presenting a rougher surface, and so Id need new wheels to reset it all.

I get people are always going to have debates about this tech and claim theirs is better than yours. but for me theres no debate, disc brakes work for me, are a million times easier to maintain and I wouldnt buy any bike with rim brakes.

 

[rogerzilla]

Oh, you could have bought shoes with replaceable inserts. Setup is a one-off!

 

[itboffin]

Nope, they are just a a superior brake. And the big thing is they dont scab up expensive rims.

This is it 100% rim brakes are as good if not better but they will wear your rims quicker, the point is no pro rider has ever had to worry about rim wear. We’re being forced to buy new bikes for the purpose of new bike sales not because rim brakes are bad.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

This is it 100% rim brakes are as good if not better but they will wear your rims quicker, the point is no pro rider has ever had to worry about rim wear. We’re being forced to buy new bikes for the purpose of new bike sales not because rim brakes are bad.

Who's forcing you?

 

[Mike Ayling]

Who's forcing you?

The manufacturers by not providing rim braked bikes!

 

[AndyRM]

The manufacturers by not providing rim braked bikes!

Apart from Merida, Giant, Ribble, Genesis...

Although I think I'd be right in saying that @Vapin' Joe means you're not being compelled to buy a new bike, you just want to.

Which is absolutely fine, and sure discs are more prevalent, but it's still pretty easy to get a rim braked bike.