Franklin wrote:Calnago wrote:It's the hydraulics that give the feel... not the discs.
Anyone who has used both Magura Rim brakes and discs would tell you that you are absolutely and utterly wrong on this one.
Sorry to bust your bubble, but a disc is a much better braking surface than a rim, due to regularity, non-compressability, less water film when wet.
This is not in any way controversial or unknown, so why are people still pushing "Rim brakes are just as good" when they know that the evidence is massively against them?
Also, chalk up another disc win for a pro who clearly failed to read the memo of "Pro's don't want discs". It's the index shifting discussion all over again, once again with Campagnolo dragging it's feet which caused some pro's to scoff at the notion. At the same time everyone who went entry level 105 never looked back again to friction shifting (or single pivots). A few years later when Campagnolo lost their market share and followed sit the whole discussion was quaint. even by pro's standards. The move from rim brakes to discs is functionally just as big (bigger than dual pivots for sure)... and in a few years nobody will be talking about this anymore.
I've used both. I have a touring bike set up with Magura Hydraulic rim brakes. Finger easy to operate compared to cables, that's why I put them on. I have tried out discs as well and on balance, the cons outweigh the benefits to me. Yes, a disc is a good hard surface to brake on. Harder than alloy. Don't know about carbon. Carbon is much harder than aluminum for sure. But at the end of the day, the ease of braking and "feel" imo comes mostly from the hydraulics. That's coming from someone that has indeed used both. It's no secret I'm quite fine with rim brakes. A lot of people are. Disc brakes on nice road bikes gets a big fat "meh" at best from me. And it's quite apparent that the pros aren't clamoring for them either. Again, read the title of the thread. There are lots of uses for discs where they are great, but that's not what this thread is about. If I was commuting all winter and had to ride my bike every day, rain or shine regardless, then I would likely have discs, but along with those discs I would have full fenders and flaps. And there are many who prefer them... even in the dry, so good for you guys. Be happy you can ride what you perceive as something better than what the pros choose to ride. Yay for you. Don't sweat that the pros don't really care about them.
And it is not at all the same as the "index shifting discussion all over again". Riders couldn't get their hands on that technology fast enough. Not so with discs, despite how hard some, not all, manufacturers have been pushing them. And I don't know about any memos going around in the peloton, but I presume you're talking about Kittel's win on his disc equipped bike... hmmm... that's nice for him. I'm sure those discs really helped that sprint of his. But it was kind of interesting when he chose to use the rim braked bike, even during a wet mountain stage, over the disc bike, when his finishing time really was a factor to be considered.
All I've done was point out a very valid alternative to a complete redesign of frames, wheels etc.... that being hydraulic rim brakes. And even then, I'd still have the same reaction... "meh", simply because my current rim brakes are perfectly fine, for me. If I thought they were lacking, then sure, give me sommadoes discs or hydraulic rim brakes. But it sure would be whole lot easier to implement that type of change, which is not really what the industry wants if they're looking to create new markets and new revenue streams.
Anyway, it's all been hashed to death, but I will always stand up for the case for good rim brakes on high end road bikes until I feel that the advantages of discs outweigh those of rim brakes in all aspects, including frame design, performance, weight, aesthetics, etc., I don't care just how fast I or the guy in front of me can slam on the brakes coming to a stop sign. Whoopie, that's always pleasant in a group. I stood up and blasted the placement of the brakes on the Colnago VR-1 when it came out... it's nice to see that brake placement on road bikes has pretty much been abandoned now. And I got some backlash for daring to suggest that the Vias braking looked a little dodgy to me when they first introduced it. I listen to the arguments for both sides, and on balance still think there is a very strong case for rim brakes at the highest level of racing.
Again, to answer the original question of this thread... "Why is no one using disc brakes in the tour?", the answer simply boils down to a big fat "Meh". It's a bicycle. It stops just fine. So, come back and laugh at me when all the pros have been forced to adopt disc brakes and there are no more rim brakes around. But until then... enjoy your super stopping disc braked road bikes. Sccreeeeech.