Disc Brakes - Yes or No ??

[SpokeyDokey]

Discs are good stoppers but on road bikes the tyre contact patch is so small I'm not sure it makes much difference between disc and rim brakes - at least in the dry, maybe in the wet they are better?

Trouble with discs is they can be problematical - over the coming years road forums will become littered with my disc brakes squeal/howl/rub queries. Rubbing rotors used to drive me nuts - you can't hear them rub when hacking down a rough rutted hillside but as soon as you get onto a peaceful road section that shoosh, shoosh, shoosh can get right under your skin.

 

[HovR]

[QUOTE 2481332, member: 45"]You can get a good set of shimano hydraulics for less than the cost of BB7s, and they're way better.[/quote]


+1 for hydraulic discs. Having used and maintained both hydraulics and cable actuated disc brakes I much prefer the hydraulics, and they require very little maintenance.

 

[Pale Rider]

Magura discs on the Rose ebike which work well, no snatch, although as others have said they do make a noise from time to time.

Another point in favour of discs is wheel rim cleaning is much easier.

No brake dust to remove, and it doesn't matter if I use some slippery stuff such as GT85.

 

[HovR]

Magura discs on the Rose ebike which work well, no snatch, although as others have said they do make a noise from time to time.

Another point in favour of discs is wheel rim cleaning is much easier.

No brake dust to remove, and it doesn't matter if I use some slippery stuff such as GT85.

Note that there is still brake dust produced, although it's no way near as bad as rim brakes, and is only around the caliper area. Give them a quick wipe down every now and then to keep them looking shiny.

 

[NealM]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think I will go for disc brakes.

It seems to me that the better braking probably outweighs the potential problems (which may not occur anyway)

 

[summerdays]

Note that there is still brake dust produced, although it's no way near as bad as rim brakes, and is only around the caliper area. Give them a quick wipe down every now and then to keep them looking shiny.

And don't get the lube near the disk! (Having done that once - I'm definitely not intending to do that again).

Disk brakes for me - occasional noise (if wet!!! till I clear the water off braking), is worth it for the lack of gray grubby rims, reliable braking, knowing the exact braking point which doesn't change (hydraulic), and since you know that you don't get thrown over the handlebars as you know your brakes. I wouldn't want to go back on my main commuter bike. (Plus I once went through really mucky conditions with rim brakes which clogged with grit and became unusable until I could wash the bike down at home - good job it was uphill from that point mainly).

 

[HovR]

(Plus I once went through really mucky conditions with rim brakes which clogged with grit and became unusable until I could wash the bike down at home - good job it was uphill from that point mainly).

Similar thing happened to me, except so much mud got packed around the tighter clearances of the V-brakes that the wheel became impossible to turn until I'd removed some of the mud with a near-by stick!

 

[Shortmember]

Rim brakes are 19th century technology.A slight buckle in the wheel will render them useless, whereas a disc brake system will continue to work even if the wheel is egg shaped.