Disc brakes on road bikes

[Milzy]

You have to get the toe in correct and the pads rub on the rim, and braking is uneven on anything other than a perfectly new rim and brake blocks. As to weight penalty, the biggest one is you.

It’s easy to toe in, I use card from an inner tube box. Never rub with a decent equal gap. At 70kg of lean mass I’m not too bad penalty. You can get old rim brake bikes under 7kg easily and cheap. Modern carbon disc bikes which cost 5 grand are weighing in at 8kg. It’s a joke. We’ve gone backwards thanks to money makers re inventing the wheel over & over.

 

[Milzy]

I used to go for the whole toe in thing, but I haven't bothered for the last 80,000 miles. Setting them up is just a 20sec job. Loosen the pad holder, pull the brake, and whilst keeping it pulled tighten the pad holder. I've never had a problem with things wearing over that time. The lighter you are though the more weight matters.

Sometimes I CBA with toe and set them perfectly in line. Still always stop as good. 🙄

 

[Dogtrousers]

I used to arse about "toeing in" new blocks. Then it occurred to me that they'd pretty soon be worn parallel to the rim, so it was a pointless exercise. I stopped doing it and lo! I was right. It was pointless.

 

[Milzy]

I used to arse about "toeing in" new blocks. Then it occurred to me that they'd pretty soon be worn parallel to the rim, so it was a pointless exercise. I stopped doing it and lo! I was right. It was pointless.

Exactly this! If I decide to use different wheels I’ll just adjust the cable to suit the width.
If you decide to change disc wheels you still have to adjust the pads to centre the rotor which will may from different wheel makes. Or the rotor is bent different than the previous.
Rim for the win!