I'm Amazed!!!

Anonymous

neeb wrote:

It's just like the well-known different approaches of NASA and the soviets to getting a writing instrument to work in zero g - the Americans developed the pressurised fischer space pen, the russians just used pencils...

hehe, that probably explains my lack of issues. the brakes on my bike are ancient Hope C2s, which are simple enough for a gorilla to understand. But they sure do work

Siechotic

It's just like the well-known different approaches of NASA and the soviets to getting a writing instrument to work in zero g - the Americans developed the pressurised fischer space pen, the russians just used pencils...

This has been de-bunked by NASA and Fisher the manufacturers of the Space Pen.

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/613/1

dannyr65

I realise the discussion on the brakes has kinda drawn to an end, and im repeating what has already been said, but it seems a shame to have read all that and not chuck in my two penneth now ive got to the end. Its all about what is appropriate for the riding ur gonna be doing on the bike. I have 3 bikes, all with different brake set-ups;

Bike 1 - Specialized S-Works Enduro, Avid Juicy hydraulic disc brakes front and rear.
The disc is required to keep the braking surface out of the way of all the mud and crap that would stop it working properly, and the hydraulics mean i can operate them with one finger and use the others to hold on over the bumps.
Extra weight, not only in the brake unit, but in the hub and spokes that are strengthened to accomodate them, but this isnt a problem on a heavy MTB. Hydrualic discs are also alot more expensive. Hydraulic discs also have a tendency of breaking, there are several occasions on which i have bent a rotor or sprung a hydraulic leak and had to limp home on one brake.

Bike 2 - Zoo pitbull trials bike, Magura HS33 hydraulic rim brakes front and rear.
Has hydraulics for the same reasons mentioned above, but doesnt have discs because it just doesnt need them as it never goes in deep mud. also the bike is very light and never goes at high speeds, the brakes are more about keeping the wheels stationary than stopping them.

Bike 3 - Bianchi C2C Nirone 7, RC-446E calipers front and rear.
Doesnt have hydraulics because you can afford to use the majority of ur fingers to really yank on the brakes if needed. doesnt have discs because it also never goes near mud. And the weight saving is much more beneficial than a bit of extra stopping power that isnt needed.

I have never found any of these set-ups inappropriate for the riding, i wouldnt want calipers on my S-works, but nor would i want 203mm hydraulic discs on my Bianchi.

wildmoustache

it's true that you have far more stopping power with disc brakes or even v-brakes.

there is a limt on how much stopping power a road bike can have due to the size of the contact area of the tyre (too much stopping force with a small contact patch will induce skidding).

Also there is the aerodynamics and weight ...

Really though road brakes do provide lots of stopping power if 1) they are set up properly 2) you have decent pads 3) the rims and pads are clean and grease free 4) you learn to use your body to assist with braking.

Mettan

johnnyc71 wrote:

at the difference between my old hybrid and my new racer.

What a rush!

Descending was great fun, climbing was certainly easier. I found myself pushing myself alot harder than normal (proberbly trying to justify the cost to myself).

The hybrid has 700cc wheels with 35mm tyres, but what really surprised me was the smooth ride on 25mm tyres. I thought there would be more vibrations / bumps. As it is - the racer is by far the smoother ride.

One thing - I miss the stopping power of disc brakes - I nearly overdid things and shot out into a roundabout on the road bike - need to mentally adjust my stopping distances!

Sounds good - one thing I noticed when moving from a Hybrid to a Road bike was the realtive ease with which the Road- bike coasts - certainly an improvement on my Hybrid.

thamacdaddy

Recently on the Giro coverage they were asked why road bikes haven't adopted disc brakes especially as they now are bring in the electronic gearing....

The replie was that the UCI/ASO etc felt it moved away from a "Road bike" set up or that of a bicycle hence why they are not sanctioned in road races....this could be BS btw. That with the weight it makes it a no brainer as now most even pro tour teams are using modified or straight factory setups hence the punter with 4k-6k can own a protour level bike.

Having both a mtb with hope minis since 01 and now a nice new roadbike I can agree with both camps. For me calipers are easy to set up (no bleed necessary ever) and a total dream to set up in comparison to both Disc and V Brakes.

To the original OP hope you got used to the braking its simply a little different rather than being any better or worse. Had my road bike two weeks and best bit of money I have ever spent bar my house. Makes me want to eat up more road on rides! 8)

DavidBelcher

Siechotic wrote:

It's just like the well-known different approaches of NASA and the soviets to getting a writing instrument to work in zero g - the Americans developed the pressurised fischer space pen, the russians just used pencils...

This has been de-bunked by NASA and Fisher the manufacturers of the Space Pen.

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/613/1

Also de-bunked by the QI team - apparently the wood and graphite particles would've been bad news for delicate spacecraft instumentation systems, whilst an ordinary Bic ballpoint would have done the job without any bother.

David

neeb

Double-de-bunked, oh well.... (I don't suppose that makes it "bunked" and hence true?)

The fisher space pens are great for writing on wet paper.

Swannie

Silly argument really.

Motorbikes use disk brakes because the power required isn't available with cables. Which, due to stretching, would be somewhat dangerous, as they would require regular recalibration.

MTB's use disk brakes because you are braking more than a road bike - you are generally doing "straight" lines on a road bike. Less so on a MTB. If you are braking more and can produce more power with less movement, with much less calibration, at the sacrifice of some extra weight, you're probably going to go for it. The added advantage, of having significantly cleaner braking surfaces to boot.

My hybrid uses v brakes. I like the modulation, though sometimes I wish I had a little more fine control (I'm a fine control freak... I do tai chi). I can easily lock up my wheels with little effort. I think they are prefect brakes for the bike.

My road bike, has cheap tektro callipers. When calibrated, the work fine, but they aren't as good as my hybrid's shimanos (think they are Acera). Aren't as good, meaning, I need to apply more force to get lock up at similar speeds. I suspect I could do with some better pads and new cables, though might just go for 105's if I find them significantly lacking in the near future. I would expect them to stop me better than the v's.

The right brakes for the right job. If there were aero, light, disc brakes, they would be on road bikes.

STEFANOS4784

redddraggon wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

There's no point, dragon, you're a dumbass, I get it.

No, you're the dumbass, all you're saying is "disc brakes are better" that's not much of an answer. Disc brakes might be better in certain circumstances, but they seem to do the job on the road for me.

You obviously used ill set up calipers or calipers with poor pads - I've got a bike with poor pads and I can definitely say they don't stop the bike. Decent calipers and decent pads well set up are more than sufficient.

So dumbass why are discs better?

I agree with dragon if you're to weak to pull your levers thenthats yourownfault, noneed to be b1tchy, i've hadexperiancewithdiscsandcalipers and i can, also, easily face plant with my 9 yr old105 brakes :P