Road Bikes, V Brakes?

[Cycleops]

Fact: This is opinion, not fact.

Okay that’s from experience but perhaps you’d like to explain why discs are becoming more commonplace?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Okay that’s from experience but perhaps you’d like to explain why discs are becoming more commonplace?

Not really interested in the question, to be honest.

I have both on different bikes, they have their pros and cons, which is "best" depends on what your application is IMO.

 

[Cycleops]

I have both on different bikes, they have their pros and cons, which is "best" depends on what your application is IMO.

Mine is stopping safely and quickly, what’s yours?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Okay that’s from experience but perhaps you’d like to explain why discs are becoming more commonplace?

Marketing....

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Mine is stopping safely and quickly, what’s yours?

Limited by surface, not brakes.

 

[Cycleops]

While I agree that marketing is responsible for the rise in popularity of Di2 which only give a notional increase in performance I like to think it has more to do with a desire to provide better braking performance. It’s happened with cars so why not bikes?

 

[Cycleops]

Limited by surface, not brakes.

Agreed but don’t both operate on all surfaces?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Limited by surface, not brakes.

Also limited by your ability to maximise braking force subject to the grip of the tyres on said surface. If the brakes has poor feel around that point you’ll either apply too much force or a lot less than you could.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

While I agree that marketing is responsible for the rise in popularity of Di2 which only give a notional increase in performance I like to think it has more to do with a desire to provide better braking performance. It’s happened with cars so why not bikes?

Bikes already had disc brakes - with very large diameter discs.

Again, I don't disagree there are pros and cons, just that it's not clear cut one way or the other across all bike types.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Agreed but don’t both operate on all surfaces?

Quite. So the type of brake makes little difference in many circumstances

 

[matticus]

While I agree that marketing is responsible for the rise in popularity of Di2 which only give a notional increase in performance I like to think it has more to do with a desire to provide better braking performance. It’s happened with cars so why not bikes?

Cars have considerably more rubber on the road, so the brakes are more of a limiting factor.
(there are many other factors that make car engineering, cost and performance very different to bikes, but the tyres are the biggest/simplest difference).

 

[rogerzilla]

RIm brakes are lighter (no disc, for a start, and the levers and calipers are also lighter) and can use a lighter frame and fork because the braking force is taken at an already strong point. Rim wear isn't a big issue if you use decent pads.

As for why road bikes don't have V-brakes, it's because it's hard to get enough cable pull with drop bar levers. These do exist but they generally suck.

 

[Fab Foodie]

While I agree that marketing is responsible for the rise in popularity of Di2 which only give a notional increase in performance I like to think it has more to do with a desire to provide better braking performance. It’s happened with cars so why not bikes?

Because bikes are lighter and slower?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Also, why do bicycles have such a large disc and pads (same size as the front) at the rear?

 

[Cycleops]

Because bikes are lighter and slower?

Bikes are quite capable of reaching the urban speed limit and above and unlike a car there is no metal box around you to protect you so being able to stop in the shortest time possible should be a primary consideration shouldn’t it?

Also, why do bicycles have such a large disc and pads (same size as the front) at the rear?

Not all do. My Specialized gravel bike has larger disc on the front than on the rear.