I don't know if I am going to Disc Brakes for Bicycle Touring

[mjr]

You can usually tell disc braked bikes in the rain. They're the ones making horrible horrible noises whenever the brakes are touched. Usually whistling, sometimes scraping. That can't be good for them.

I'm sure you're all mechanically brilliant and keep your disc brakes silent but it doesn't seem like that's common. At best, it seems like they need development to make them easier to set up silent.

 

[Jody]

At best, it seems like they need development to make them easier to set up silent.

At least they stop well when its wet rather than pulling the lever and having a gamble

Wet disc noises are a little frustrating though.

 

[mjr]

At least they stop well when its wet rather than pulling the lever and having a gamble

So do my hubs and rim brakes EXCEPT for the retro bike with steel rims. As others have mentioned, most bike brakes used now will cheerfully exceed the available grip and skid or flip you, so surely this discussion should be more about installation, setup and maintenance than stopping power?

 

[Heltor Chasca]

You can usually tell disc braked bikes in the rain. They're the ones making horrible horrible noises whenever the brakes are touched. Usually whistling, sometimes scraping. That can't be good for them.

I'm sure you're all mechanically brilliant and keep your disc brakes silent but it doesn't seem like that's common. At best, it seems like they need development to make them easier to set up silent.

At least they stop well when its wet rather than pulling the lever and having a gamble

Wet disc noises are a little frustrating though.

I think you’ll find amongst disc brake fans, those noises are described as wet, wine glass tunes.

 

[mjr]

I think you’ll find amongst disc brake fans, those noises are described as wet, wine glass tunes.

If only they could vary the note and not only the volume!

 

[Heltor Chasca]

If only they could vary the note and not only the volume!

I can play Beethoven’s 9th coming down Cheddar Gorge.

 

[screenman]

When was the last time you rode a bike with the same weight and power as a car?

Good point, can I turn that back and ask when was the last time you road a bike that had brakes as large as those on a car. Drum brakes on cars and lorries etc are nowhere near as good as disc, in my humble, lot seaier to service as well.

 

[Crankarm]

You're clearly missing the point regarding tyre traction. Once it goes it goes. Doesn't matter whether it goes under caliper, cantilever, v brake or disc, there's only so much braking force a bike can handle before the bike either flips or skids.
Night and day? Really? Rubbish.
Rims don't need to be 'dead true'. They can be anywhere up to about half an inch out of true and still be braked safely on. The same can be said of disc rotors. They can be an absolute nightmare to straighten once bent and without specialist tools, are near impossible to get true again.
Alot of the mess from rim brakes is due to the larger area of their braking surface. Disc brakes also leave residue in wet conditions but because of their smaller diameter it doesn't create as much. Both can be easily cleaned.
Rim failure through wear on long distance and rtw tours isn't at epidemic levels. In many cases, a replaceable rim can be easier to find than a warped disc rotor or worn pads.

Warning: Luddite alert!

 

[Crankarm]

Rim brakes for me, had cable discs on a MTB and they where no better than rim brakes, at present my run about bike a ridgeback flight that has hydraulic disc brakes they work very well but theres always the danger of a fluid leak or making a mistake when mending a puncture and the wheel wont go back in with out a lot of fun plus there can be fun with lever adjustment.

On there plus side they work well but are heavy and for road bikes have extra wind drag.

LoL!

 

[Crankarm]

You're clearly missing the point regarding tyre traction. Once it goes it goes. Doesn't matter whether it goes under caliper, cantilever, v brake or disc, there's only so much braking force a bike can handle before the bike either flips or skids.
Night and day? Really? Rubbish.
Rims don't need to be 'dead true'. They can be anywhere up to about half an inch out of true and still be braked safely on. The same can be said of disc rotors. They can be an absolute nightmare to straighten once bent and without specialist tools, are near impossible to get true again.
Alot of the mess from rim brakes is due to the larger area of their braking surface. Disc brakes also leave residue in wet conditions but because of their smaller diameter it doesn't create as much. Both can be easily cleaned.
Rim failure through wear on long distance and rtw tours isn't at epidemic levels. In many cases, a replaceable rim can be easier to find than a warped disc rotor or worn pads.

You are the one clearly missing the point and have failed to realise that technology has moved on, considerably. I haven't said V-braked bikes are inherently bad, merely highlighted their disadvantages compared to more modern disc brakes whose practicality and performance are much better. You win the Luddite Gold medal for today.

 

[Crankarm]

Good point, can I turn that back and ask when was the last time you road a bike that had brakes as large as those on a car. Drum brakes on cars and lorries etc are nowhere near as good as disc, in my humble, lot seaier to service as well.

Don't forget motorbikes!

 

[Jody]

@mjr Maybe my perception is skewed with mainly riding a MTB. I can only judge based on older brake types on bikes gone by and my road bike, which the rim brakes are very poor in comparison unless I’m on the drops. I wouldn't trust my road bike to stop at speed in the wet first time every time.

 

[mjr]

You are the one clearly missing the point and have failed to realise that technology has moved on, considerably. I haven't said V-braked bikes are inherently bad, merely highlighted their disadvantages compared to more modern disc brakes whose practicality and performance are much better. You win the Luddite Gold medal for today.

I looked for that. Did you mean this?

Well I suggest you ride a laden touring bike with good disc brakes down a long steep mountain pass and see how much later and harder you will be able to brake meaning you can ride faster and be a lot safer. It's like night and day compared with old technology rim brakes.

Who wants to optimise their brakes for riding laden touring bikes faster down long steep mountain passes? Is that a big part of anyone's cycling? And if I'm touring, I'd like to enjoy the ride more than seeing how fast I can downhill. As long as the brakes can stop me, I'll probably pick the ones that are easier to maintain and don't whine in the wet.

 

[screenman]

Don't forget motorbikes!

I did, boy can you remember them with drum brakes, horrible.

 

[Jody]

Out of intertest without wanting to derail the thread how come road bikes didn't move to V brakes?