Disc brake users - your verdict?

Chrace · Joined: 28 Apr 2010 Posts: 2865 Location: Eating a Yorkie

So, for those of you have have gone for disc brakes on road or TT bikes - what's your verdict?

I magically sold my road bike the other day, with all accumulated swish trinkets added over the past 1.5 years, for 250 quid more than I paid. Took a whole 10 mins on Facebook for someone to bite which took me by surprise and has now left me without a bike. Cue complete luxury problem - I had to go shopping for a new bike.

So I've ordered a Spesh Venge Disc but curious what people's verdict of the change of brakes are?

The market for wheel upgrade from stock seems harsh. Too new I guess. Anything else positive or negative you have noted?
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Jorgan · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 10:31 am Post subject:

You won't regret it. Sure they can be noisy under hard braking, but they are a game changer in the wet imho. Hydro potentially a bit more faff, but there's always the LBS if you want.

Great example was a very fast, long and rough descent on an Audax I did. I went from the back of the strung out group to almost the front in about a minute; I felt like John Tomac! All because I could modulate my braking way better.
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explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 15953 Location: Farthingstone

my CX bike stops so quickly it often still surprises me....
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Whisk · Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 8691 Location: London

My HotChillee team bikes have had disc brakes for the last two years. I'm riding a Specialized Venge this year. For the previous two years, I rode bikes with carbon rim brakes, which were terrifying in the wet and had issues with heat build-up on long descents in the dry. My own bikes all have Dura Ace rim brakes with alloy rims.

There is no denying that disc brakes work. Regardless of the conditions, when you pull the levers you get instant deceleration. Brake too hard in the wet and they can be more prone to locking up, but once you get used to them, that isn't such an issue. A good rim brake with an alloy braking surface will stop you nearly as quick in most conditions, but in the wet you obviously get that slight lag as the pad clears the water off the rim. The disc brakes do seem prone to getting dirt in them in the wet, which can make a nasty grating sound until it clears off the pads.

I don't MTB or CX, so disc brakes are all new to me and not something that I really know how to maintain and fiddle about with. Fortunately, my team bike gets replaced every year, so I've not really had to service the brakes. I think that would probably be a trip to the bike shop for me rather than something I could do myself. Don't forget to put spacers between the pads if you are transporting your bike without the wheels in - if the levers get squeezed without a rotor between them then you might find the pads closed together and you'll need to prize them apart.

I think if I was in the market for a new bike then I probably would go for something with disc brakes. They're not going away regardless of whether they're actually needed or just a marketing gimmick. I don't think I would go out and buy a new bike just for the benefit of getting disc brakes, especially if I had "nice" race wheels which would be no use on my new disc bike. All of my own stuff is 10-speed though, so my good wheels wouldn't be much use on any new bike now Wink

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Jorgan · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 1:03 pm Post subject:

I also used my Canyon with carbon wheels all winter and in all weathers, because the rim doesn't get trashed like it does with with rim brakes; plus better performance in the wet obviously.
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PCP · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 1959 Location: Manchester

I have a Cube road bike with disks and love it. You actually stop, even in the wet.
Can screech a bit but the confidence that they give you when descending is wonderful, especially with the short, steep hills round I ride on.

I’d never buy another road bike without them.

Pebble 2 · Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 1389 Location: Rhondda land

What sealed it for me was last years Marmotte Sportive, coming off the Galibier in the rain, I was passing hundreds of people gripping their brakes in sheer terror trying to slow down. The Cannondale Synapse meanwhile allowed me to brake confidently before every bend and control my speed perfectly. Its a no brainer.....

Mungo · Joined: 29 Sep 2016 Posts: 395 Location: Preston

I don't ride in the rain unless I've got a number on.
The 70.3"s I do are flat.. ish.

With a new bike in the offing this Winter, and IMUK the target next year, if it's wet I'll loose lots of time on the downhills.
I'm climbing well and hunters is getting flatter month by month!
I don't want to give this time away descending.

Anyone rode a P5 with hydraulic brakes?
Better?

Not convinced on discs, I won't be doing any alpine switch backs or crazy hilly sportives anytime ever so maybe there not for me.
I've no doubt there very efficent.
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Jorgan · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:56 am Post subject:

Chrace · Joined: 28 Apr 2010 Posts: 2865 Location: Eating a Yorkie

Jorgan · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:46 am Post subject:

I would agree with the above about descending skills; even on some pretty poor carbon rim braking, I can out descend most triathletes in the dry. Conversely, in the wet, I have lost places on very technical wet descents, to people on standard road bikes with alloy wheels Rolling Eyes

I would say that a full aero helmet & disc wheel makes its presence known on long, fast non-technical descents, as I have closed gaps of 300-400m in no time at all in these circumstances too, by staying aero.

If & when I replace my ageing first gen Speed Concept 7, I'll go for a TT frame with disc brakes. I'm that converted now; and in a few years the choice and integration will be good.
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Andy916 · Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 700 Location: Cambridge

fenix · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 1179

jibberjim · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 8378 Location: Kingston

Jorgan · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:03 pm Post subject:

Even when I commuted on a CX bike with discs, I used to be in the "why do road bikes need disc brakes" crowd; but now I have a carbon road bike with hydraulic discs, I'm a convert.

I actually look at road bikes with rim brakes and think they are antiquated now Laughing

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