Disc brakes

[colmcrowley]

Hopefully a quick one.
lots of road bikes are going down the disc brake route, which other than a small extra weight seems very sensible for safety ( trad brakes in the rain are a nightmare).
However, is wheel changing/ puncture repair complicated by a brake on the wheel itself?
Are there any restrictions on events that can be entered with a disc brake; specifically triathlon/ duathlon?

 

[outlash]

However, is wheel changing/ puncture repair complicated by a brake on the wheel itself?

Um, the brake is still on the frame/fork, the disc is the braking surface instead of the rim. It doesn't make any difference in terms of taking the wheel off, just don't start pulling the brake lever if you have hydraulic brakes as the caliper closes and you need to prise it open again.

Are there any restrictions on events that can be entered with a disc brake; specifically triathlon/ duathlon?

Pass. I'd assume you'd need to check with the organisers for the event.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

which other than a small extra weight

Very minisule extra weight comparitively

trad brakes in the rain are a nightmare).

They are.

However, is wheel changing/ puncture repair complicated by a brake on the wheel itself?

Not at all

Are there any restrictions on events that can be entered with a disc brake; specifically triathlon/ duathlon?

May be event dependent but there are no rules against disc brakes currently in multisport.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Not sure about triathlons but in road racing and time trials discs are currently not allowed, though that is under review and likely to change sooner rather than later.

 

[colmcrowley]

Not sure about triathlons but in road racing and time trials discs are currently not allowed, though that is under review and likely to change sooner rather than later.

Thanks, hopefully very soon as it does seem like the way to go. Not easy this bike buying thing. Nothing on Triathlon England specifically prohibiting, but will check with my club and post an update here later.

 

[outlash]

Just out of interest, what club are you with?

 

[Pale Rider]

Hopefully a quick one.
lots of road bikes are going down the disc brake route, which other than a small extra weight seems very sensible for safety ( trad brakes in the rain are a nightmare).
However, is wheel changing/ puncture repair complicated by a brake on the wheel itself?
Are there any restrictions on events that can be entered with a disc brake; specifically triathlon/ duathlon?

Removing the wheel can be a fraction quicker compared to rim brakes that need unhooking.

With discs, all you need to be wary of is not to squeeze the brake lever with the wheel out.

The pads will close, and they can be a fiddle to prise open.

The bike might come with a stubby bit of plastic to shove between the pads if the wheel is going to be out for a while.

No point in doing that for a puncture repair.

 

[Drago]

trad brakes in the rain are a nightmare

99% sure I'm a lot heavier than you, that my brakes really have their work cut out, but I don't seem to have these problems. 30 years since I had a problem of the sort, and that was on raleighs with chromed rims and brake blocks make from bakelite.

 

[boydj]

Slightly more care is required when reinserting the wheel to get the disc into the gap between the pads first time, but then you don't have to fiddle with rim brakes if you have tyres wider than 23mm.

 

[Katherine]

No problem with taking the wheel on and off. No letting air out to get past the brake blocks.
Not as easy to clean the brake pads so you have to be really careful not to get any contaminants on.
Great braking.

 

[Pale Rider]

No problem with taking the wheel on and off. No letting air out to get past the brake blocks.
Not as easy to clean the brake pads so you have to be really careful not to get any contaminants on.
Great braking.

A nail file is good for cleaning/scuffing pads because there's no need to remove them.

 

[Katherine]

A nail file is good for cleaning/scuffing pads because there's no need to remove them.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Citius]

though that is under review and likely to change sooner rather than later.

Unlikely to change before the 2017 or 2018 seasons.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

A nail file is good for cleaning/scuffing pads because there's no need to remove them.

That is superbly simple.

 

[Drago]

That is superbly simple.

just like me!