Adding my $0.02 I like discs for mud and for "real" MTB applications: - For mud because that is when rims get more chewed up by rim brakes, - For MTB applications because it allows me more easily to run WIDE rims with big fat tires.
For Stopping in dirt situation I have generally found caliper brakes to be perfectly adequate. I break traction way before I reach maximum braking power anyway. For general riding (road, commuting, country riding, fire roads, touring) I much prefer traditional rim brakes (cantis, sidep, centerp, etc) for numerous reasons: - Needs less overbuild in frame and fork = more compliant - Easy to SEE how much pad life is left since they are out in the open - Work well with quick releases since the forces are less. For good disc braking experience through axle is the the only way to go unless you resort to RWS skewers IMO - More margin betw. rim and brake to adjust for rub. Disc brakes usually have much tighter clearances and make it a much more fiddly affair to get rid of rub (applies mostly to hydros) - Typically lighter weight - Less wheel dish for the same hub width - Pads tend to last longer - No fade (although new ice tec rotors fade negligibly) Of my 4 bicycles only the Jones Plus has discs and for that bike they are perfect. For my Boulder, Cheviot, and Bob Jackson I am much happier with rim brakes. That being said, the selection of quality rims and 135mm rear hubs for rim brakes is not growing. There is still a good amount left and no need for panic, but it is noticeable. Wheel size swapping is nice to have I guess but not a big selling point for me. I would rather ride the "right" size for a given frame. Clayton Scott SF, CA On Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 3:37:35 PM UTC-7, Hugh Smitham wrote: > > On Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 12:04:35 PM UTC-7, Steve Palincsar wrote: > > On 06/21/2017 02:56 PM, Philip Kim wrote: > > > Good points, I think bikers gotten along just fine with rim brakes > > > before disc brakes came along. And I also think that since then, the > > > options for the kinds of terrain that can be ridden on a bike have > > > really opened up. > > > > > > You can easily bike on sand, snow, rock gardens pretty easily. Of > > > course some of these routes and terrain have been traversed by rim > > > brakes, but aren't we here because the idea of biking comfortably > > > appeals to us? Sometimes that comfort can come in disc brakes, whether > > > really wide tires dictates, or whether we feel it has predictable > > > stopping power regardless of weather / terrain conditions. Sometimes > > > it can come in the form of suspension forks. > > > > > > I regularly took my canti brake VO Camargue out the local mtb trails > > > which are very rooty and rocky, and while it was fun the first couple > > > of times, I stopped going as it became less and less so. > > > > How will disc brakes make riding a rooty rocky MTB trail more > comfortable? > > In my experience, speed modulation on a dime so you don't hit that > obstruction and become uncomfortable in a thicket. > > ~hugh > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
