Road bike with disc brakes?? Yes or no??

[Pale Rider]

My mate Chris the mechanic tells me full hydraulic roadie brakes are a fiddle to bleed because of the way the reservoir is mounted under the hoods.

I have hydraulics on three flat bar bikes and have only had to bleed a brake once, and there's no reason to think roadie brakes would need bleeding often.

 

[IBarrett]

Added weight? My disc brake bike is 7.6kg, lighter than many rim braked bikes and could be lighter still if I desired.

Just the extra gubbins needed for disc brakes. Might only be a bit though I'll grant you.
My disc braked bike weighs considerably more than my roadie with v brakes. But they are very different animals.

 

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

My mate Chris the mechanic tells me full hydraulic roadie brakes are a fiddle to bleed because of the way the reservoir is mounted under the hoods.

I have hydraulics on three flat bar bikes and have only had to bleed a brake once, and there's no reason to think roadie brakes would need bleeding often.

Why? The reservoir ports are on the top of SRAM levers as is the R785 Shimano. Nothing radically different to a mtb setup

 

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

Just the extra gubbins needed for disc brakes. Might only be a bit though I'll grant you.
My disc braked bike weighs considerably more than my roadie with v brakes. But they are very different animals.

7.6kg hydro disc braked bike.. There really is no discernible weight penalty, and bikes do exist at and below 7kg.. It's a matter of grams, not kilos as some would becry

 

[ianrauk]

Absolutely

 

[samsbike]

I really wish I could decide which way to go.

I like the flexibility of running tires between 28 and 37cc, but this means in most cases disc brakes. What I cannot seem to get my head around is front end comfort. My steel racing bike on 25c duranos feels a lot nicer that my other road bike with discs, carbon fork and 37c tires. But then I am also running a high quill stem and 26mm bars on the racer, which much give a lot more compliance as well.

Tbh when I ride the commuter the only time I really need discs is when its wet or mucky.
I can take both on light singletrack.

So if its a pure road bike - summer use and you are happy with up to 28c tires - discs are not necessary. Anything else and the answer would be yes.

It would be interesting to see if the manufacturers make their high end models disc only as that will drive the market as well.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Yes. But hydraulic only. Have tried cable operated BB7's and Spyres and they felt slightly 'notchy' at the lever. Maybe bad cable runs?

They work well in the dry. They work well in the wet. Lever pull feels lovely too.

They are not a faff to maintain - it's rare to have to bleed hydraulic brakes ime and it's not exactly hard to do when you have to.

Next bike for me will have hydraulic discs and thru axles both ends - the latter for no other reason than when you take the wheels off and put them back on they end up in exactly the right place so that there is no chance of disc rub.

 

[ianrauk]

BB7's and Spyres and they felt slightly 'notchy' at the lever. Maybe bad cable runs?

I would say they weren't set up properly in that case.

I have now had BB7's on 2 bikes and both have/do run very smooth.
No faffing about to maintain or set up either. Every now and again just dial in the pads when they wear down.

 

[jowwy]

Rim brakes have one big advantage,in that they are easily maintained and cheaper to replace.
But for stopping power without the rim wear,discs all the way.
Oh,and they stop you on a dime

Disc brakes are simple to maintain.....never had an issue with mine

 

[jowwy]

Yes I have SRAM...but I don't know what their disc brake options are? And trying to find a bike with it to try won't be simple especially as I will want a titanium frame (there are few Ti disc brake roadbike frames and all seem to have shimano, I'd need to talk to enigma and fatbirds I would think )

You can fit mechanical trps on sram levers and they work tremendously well....can also use bb7

If wanting to spend a little more then sram hydro is upwards of 350 soverigns

 

[jowwy]

Just the extra gubbins needed for disc brakes. Might only be a bit though I'll grant you.
My disc braked bike weighs considerably more than my roadie with v brakes. But they are very different animals.

Both my disc brake bikes come in under 8.5kgs......one is titanium the other is carbon

Trp spyres when used with compressionless outers work as good as hydros and weigh less than 105 calipers.....also there is no weight disadvantage cause heres no hydro port and the hydro tubing.....win win

 

[NorthernDave]

It's another yes from me.

The hybrid has Avid BB5's and they are a world better than the rim brakes on the road bike, even after upgrading to Swissstop brake blocks.

 

[Andrew_P]

3000 winter miles, not replaced the pads, not adjusted them and constant impressive instant braking. Weight penalty on my winter bike though. Waiting on 2016\17 slew of race geometry disc brake bikes to be released then will pick my Summer bike.

This is top of my drool list at the moment.. Cons - None

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/revi...zalco-max-disc-worlds-lightest-disc-road-bike

 

[Andrew_P]

Although I will prefer the SRAM Red version https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/focus-izalco-max-disc.html#egbEihtAIqh5Kd2R.97

 

[OskarTennisChampion]

Disc brakes are simple to maintain.....never had an issue with mine

Sorry,I should have said "easier"