How long before somebody invents a hydraulic road brake?

[Norm]

Why would anyone want a disc brake on a road bike? bulkier, heavier and probably would cause some drag also. I personally can't see a use for them on a road bike.

More reliable braking, stronger braking, not wearing out the rim, easier to remove wheels for cleaning / punctures... etc.

The negatives above I just don't see as issues. Bulk is irrelevant, weight difference, if there is any, is not material enough to concern me and I find them much easier to set up than rim brakes.

IMO, disks are much better brakes in every meaningful respect. I don't expect, or want, everyone to agree but, at the moment, those who do want them just don't have much choice beyond a handful of cx-style bikes.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It would be interesting to know whether (a) the weight penalty is negated by not having to add a braking surface to the rim; (b) the aerodynamic changes are significant. I see lots of people on road bikes obsessing about weight who would arguably be better off thinking about airflow, but I don't have a good instinctive understanding of what to look for

My only experience of disc brakes are on Mrs FF's Boardman hybrid, cable operated and IMO very overpowered for purely road use.
Maybe a disc brake for 23c shod road bikes could use a slightlysmaller rotor and pad assembly with sympathetic aerodynamics.

 

[albion]

Too much power in the damp on my v-brake and my rear end skids.Oh what fun I would have with hydraulics, though it might be useful just in case I put on 10 stone of weight.

 

[Red Light]

Too much power in the damp on my v-brake and my rear end skids.Oh what fun I would have with hydraulics, though it might be useful just in case I put on 10 stone of weight.

The beauty of good disc brakes though is the modulation. V-brakes will cause a skid easily but with hydraulic discs I can take it reliably to the point of skidding and then back of very slightly. Something you can't do with V-brakes.

 

[steve52]

so many seem to be thinking overpowerd? i love em on my scot and wish i could have them on my road bike, i have no problem switching between the two, so hears a tip if you find your brakes lock up easily ,squeez the leaver more gently

 

[Norm]

... so hears a tip if you find your brakes lock up easily ,squeez the leaver more gently

Minor spelling issue aside, +1 to that.

If a ham-fisted rider like me can find enough sensitivity to use disks to moderate my speed on a gravel / muddy descent, I'm not sure that concerns of them being too much for a tarmac surface are anything more than lack of experience.

Besides, as FF suggests, those currently being fitted were primarily intended for off road bikes. If they were designed from the outset for road bikes, they could be lighter, smaller, sleeker and, if anyone does think it necessary, less powerful than the current options.

 

[Bman]

I dont see the point either. I can easily lock up the rear wheel with just rim brakes.

Stopping the wheel isnt the problem. Its the small contact patch the tyre has with the road that is the weakest link.

 

[MacB]

I dont see the point either. I can easily lock up the rear wheel with just rim brakes.

Stopping the wheel isnt the problem. Its the small contact patch the tyre has with the road that is the weakest link.

have you read the thread?

 

[Bman]

Yes, and I still think the same. Rim brakes are sufficient for road bikes.

I see the benifit of making expensive wheels last longer though, but I doubt it is worth the extra weight.

 

[steve52]

I dont see the point either. I can easily lock up the rear wheel with just rim brakes.

Stopping the wheel isnt the problem. Its the small contact patch the tyre has with the road that is the weakest link.

the point is to save on rims, 2 set now need replacing and its not cheap!