Change come hard in the cycling community

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slow horse

Well-Known Member
... and increase your sex appeal!

Guys, you KNOW it makes sense - buy disc brakes. Call now on 0800-BIG-BRAKES, and have that credit card ready! :okay:
I called that number with my credit card ready and a very sexy voice cried DON'T STOP DON'T STOP, which sends a mixed message if you ask me.
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
People say that, and I confess I've only used hydraulic brakes on my motorbike, but surely press harder and you can lock the wheels, but press less hard and they don't lock. Same with any system. I'd assumed hydraulics just let you brake harder with less force, plus the benefit of being self adjustic

The point is that needing less force means you have more control. The closer you are to clamping your hands as tight as you can, the harder it uis to ease off just a little bit.
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
What little weigh penalty there is with disc brakes, is pretty much made up with lighter rims. Rims on disc brake bikes can be lighter, stronger, and more aero. Also for every ounce taken off the rims is worth 2 on the frame.

That isn't relly true. Lighter rims may make up for the additional weight in the callipers, but then you also have additional weight in the forks, because putting the braking point near the hub but a lot more leverage on the forks, so they need to be built stronger.
 
The point is that needing less force means you have more control. The closer you are to clamping your hands as tight as you can, the harder it uis to ease off just a little bit.

I think that's speculation. ( and my hunch is that more movement-per-change-in force gives better control.)

Think about moving a mouse - a VERY light touch is required, but that doesn't always translate to precise control.

I might be wrong, and I'm sure scientists (especially those involved with mobility aids?) have looked into this!
 

rogerzilla

Legendary Member
If you want actual answers, they are:

Indexed shifting was resisted by a handful of riders because they didn't want rivals to hear them shifting to a high gear before attacking/going for the finish line.

Clipless pedals were adopted with virtually no pushback. Not the first Look models, which needed a hand lever to unfasten them - they weren't real clipless pedals as we know them. Trackies still use (double) clips and straps for some events involving sprinting, as feet can pull out of clipless pedals when you're putting down 2000W of anaerobic power.

Disc brakes weigh more, make wheel changes more difficult as they can rub, and the UCI thought they could be sharp in the event of a crash.
 
OP
OP
R

rydabent

Guru
If you want actual answers, they are:

Indexed shifting was resisted by a handful of riders because they didn't want rivals to hear them shifting to a high gear before attacking/going for the finish line.

Clipless pedals were adopted with virtually no pushback. Not the first Look models, which needed a hand lever to unfasten them - they weren't real clipless pedals as we know them. Trackies still use (double) clips and straps for some events involving sprinting, as feet can pull out of clipless pedals when you're putting down 2000W of anaerobic power.

Disc brakes weigh more, make wheel changes more difficult as they can rub, and the UCI thought they could be sharp in the event of a crash.

Again the UCI is wrong. Discs have rounded edges.
 
Has no-one mentioned internal cabling?? What an oversight - how did we ever ride with those hideous washing lines :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
Again the UCI is wrong. Discs have rounded edges.
Discs have only consistently had rounded edges in the last ten years since manufacturers including Hope, TRP, SRAM and Shimano started using things like CNC mills to cut the corners off, in part to challenge a UCI blanket ban. https://bikerumor.com/rounded-rotors-rescue-uci-allows-disc-brakes-back-pro-peloton-2017/

There were also concerns about burns from the heat (same friction applied to a smaller area than the rim) in a pile-up and the greater likelihood of overheat failures on long descents (which rim brakes aren't exactly immune to). There have been a few burn anecdotes but not many.
 

Dogtrousers

Kilometre nibbler
Change will always be viewed differently depending on who you ask. For me, I don’t think I would ever trust a carbon bike and I find the continual push to carbon sad.

Indeed, but you're probably in something of a minority there (I'm in that minority too) Carbon frames were adopted as rapidly as the technology could be delivered.
can anyone tell me why the cycling community resists change with such vigor?
Before you ask "why", ask "if".
 

roubaixtuesday

self serving virtue signaller
Has no-one mentioned internal cabling?? What an oversight - how did we ever ride with those hideous washing lines :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Internal cabling, like several other "improvements" comes with the unstated assumption that you have a captive mechanic on hand to sort out any problems.

External cabling, a fool like me can fix if problematic.

Carbon frames were adopted as rapidly as the technology could be delivered.

I would put carbon fibre as a more significant innovation in the last 30 years than any of those mentioned by the OP.

GPS and other electronic training aids too; both route planning and review for us plebs enjoyment and power meters, heartrate monitors etc for performance training.
 

tyred

Legendary Member
Location
Ireland
Internal cabling isn't completely new. A few years ago I refurbed a steel 80s-ish era Peugeot and it had a hole at each end of the top tube (no, it wasn't rust) to hide the rear brake cable. A bit fiddly but did not defeat me

I have an old Peugeot with internal cabling too. Attach the new cable to the old one before removing it and then pull it through.
 
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