Road hydro disc, real world experience.

[FatPom]

After 15 yrs faithful service and relentless crit racing and training abuse, my Ti frame has finally given up ( ironically, it's one of the non Ti parts that is failing).

So, choices are, rebuild another frameset using existing parts ( 2012 11sp Chorus), or finally make the leap to a dics brake bike. My regular roadie and TT bike will stay at home so this is a bike to keep at my Mum's house in Somt and will cover all non racing duties down there.

There are a few bargains around at the moment and a couple of them have Shimano 105 hydro discs fitted . (can't believe I'm typing Shimano after 30 odd years on Campag but hey ho).

This bike will exist in its own environment, so considerations like wheel swapping and car roof rack compatibility don't come into play. I am interested in hearing about the real world faff with squealing, disc contamination, disc warping etc. I build all my bikes from scratch usually, so need to get my head around tools and requirements.

Not interested in a 'don't need 'em debate, so stow that.

[undies]

I’ve been commuting (pretty much every working day, all weathers) on the shimano 785 brakes for nearly 4 years I think🤔. Useful, consistent, controllable braking is incredible. In the wet you’re slowing when all Tim brakes are doing is grating!
Maintenance is very simple with Shimano, only needing £10 of ‘tools’ you probably don’t have. I run shimano ice-tech 160 rotors, which I’ve replaced once and resin pads which I’ve replaced just over once per year. There’s a bit of howling when they first get wet, but that goes as they getter wetter on wet days, or if you get cleaner on them.
They’re not as ‘pretty’, but they are functionally brilliant. No cable drag or sticking, and very light at the lever. I have Dura ace and Record rim brakes, so I know what good rim brakes are like.

[FatPom]

cheers mate

[tin pot]

I'm pondering something similar - so far I'm between TRP Spyre and BB7.

I don't think there's much in it performance wise, but my concern is maintenance and on the road recovery so I'm edging towards Spyre.
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Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46

[JeffB]

Got the 105 ones on my Enigma, excellent but can be a shock going back to rim brakes on the other bikes.

They are two years old and they've had two winters use, the front one has started squealing a bit so I need to get it sorted.

I do regularly take the wheels off to put it in the back of the car though.

I have occasionally locked the back wheel, especially when it is greasy.

Jeff

[JeffB]

Should say I've never had to do any maintenance so not sure if it is a PITA or not, all the mountain bikers I know say it is a doddle.

Jeff

[Jorgan]

My new Canyon has Hydro brakes. Apart from it arriving with a warped front rotor (new one sent out immediately), they have worked very well. I was down on my knees for about 30 min trying to eliminate all rub, as the clearances are tight, but sorted now. I even managed to swap the levers back to the 'Euro' configuration easily (after shipping), as the brake lines have the junctions on them. With 28mm tyres too, having hydro discs makes descending pretty awesome in my experience. Maybe it's because I've been riding a TT bike all summer with carbon rims

Discs are the future, like it or not. At least now they're starting to pour the effort & technology into it on the road side. Even mainstream TT bikes are going to have discs in the next few years, once they've sold-off all the rim stuff. For me, disc brakes offer more performance advantage than electronic shifting, if you're having to choose between the two.
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27 Years since it all began....

[FatPom]

[FatPom]

Forgot to add. Initially I wanted to keep it around £1500 but also looking at 105 Cervelo C3 or a Synapse. The 2017 Synapse disc has thru axles only on the front and an alloy seatpost. The new Synapse has thru axles both ends, carbon post and bar ( I think) but it's £600 more.

I wouldn't consider a cannondale at all with the stupid pf30A but now you can get a CBear adaptor I'm not so bothered. I fitted a Praxis for Campag on my Bianchi and have been very happy and creak free.

Rim brake 2018 Synapse runs to £1500 but I think there are older frames slapped together to run out stock.

[Jorgan]

Just watch for some bikes that have 15mm thru axle front, but 12mm rear; not ideal imo. Canyon 2x12mm axle.
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27 Years since it all began....

[FatPom]

[Jorgan]

[FatPom]

[FatPom]

The more I'm reading about the Synapse disc frame, the more I'm liking tbh.

[kevb]